1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)

It was a summer to forget for the little magician, after being found guilty of tax fraud, he endured another heartbreak after losing a third successive major final with national team Argentina, missing a penalty in the final shootout against Chile in the Copa America Centenario; the five time Ballon d’Or winner took the footballing world by storm, announcing his international retirement soon after the final, a decision he retracted to the jubilation of all, scoring a goal on his return, though continental honours eluded Messi, both on club and international level, he proved just why he is the most mesmerizing footballer of our time, coming off the bench to score a hat-trick against Panama and an exquisite free kick against the USA.