Contracts worth every penny in 2023

The year 2023 witnessed numerous transfers involving big names, and many of these moves proved successful at the players' new clubs. Here are the most impressive signings of 2023:

Top 10 overrated football stars

Top 10 great stars who never won the Ballon d'Or

1. Lionel Messi - PSG to Inter Miami

Since joining Inter Miami, Lionel Messi has had a tremendous impact on the team and American soccer. Messi played in 11 matches, contributing to 10 victories and securing the Leagues Cup, the club's first-ever championship. In these 11 games, Messi scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists. Unfortunately, an injury sidelined him later in the season, affecting Miami's performance.

2. Declan Rice - West Ham to Arsenal

Rice joined Arsenal for a £100 million fee in the summer of 2023 and immediately showcased his value. A crucial part of the Gunners' lineup, Rice played in all 18 Premier League matches, averaging over 86 minutes per game. With a passing success rate over 90% in the Premier League, he became irreplaceable in Arsenal's midfield.

3. Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United to Al Nassr

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Since moving to Al Nassr, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo scored 51 goals and provided 15 assists across club and national team competitions. In the current season alone, he scored 17 goals and made 9 assists for Al Nassr, leading the Saudi Pro League's goal-scoring chart. Remarkably, these impressive numbers come from a 37-year-old forward.

4. Jude Bellingham - Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid

Bellingham exceeded expectations in his debut season in Spain. With 17 goals and 5 assists in 21 appearances across all competitions, including 13 goals in 16 La Liga matches, the English star outperformed even Cristiano Ronaldo's initial period with Real Madrid. Bellingham's timely brilliance helped Real Madrid top the La Liga standings at the end of 2023, making him an early candidate for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

5. Harry Kane - Tottenham to Bayern Munich

Kane left his longtime club Tottenham to join the unfamiliar Bundesliga. However, he quickly adapted and became a crucial star for Bayern Munich. After 15 Bundesliga matches, Kane scored 21 goals and provided 5 assists. He became the fastest player in Bundesliga history to reach the 20-goal mark in just 14 matches, surpassing the goal-scoring records of the previous season's top scorer, Christopher Nkunku (16 goals).

6. Jeremy Doku - Rennes to Man City

At only 21 years old, Doku's seamless integration with Man City and adaptation to the Premier League showcased his maturity. This season, he played 11 Premier League matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 5 assists, including a notable four-assist performance against Bournemouth.

In the 1-1 draw with Liverpool, Doku successfully completed 11 dribbles, the highest number by a player in a Premier League match since September 2021 (Adama Traore vs Brentford - 11 dribbles).

7. Dominik Szoboszlai - Leipzig to Liverpool

Szoboszlai's presence rejuvenated Liverpool's midfield. He played in all 18 Premier League matches this season, averaging over 83 minutes per game. Szoboszlai contributed 2 goals and 3 assists, earning him the title of Liverpool's Player of the Month for August. As a playmaking specialist, he creatively provided accurate passes into the final third of the field, contributing significantly to Liverpool's attacking prowess.