Who Were the Top Soccer Stars of 2017 and Where Are They Now?
I still remember that electrifying 2017 football season like it was yesterday. The year when Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continued their otherworldly dominance, though I've always had a soft spot for Messi's magical dribbles over Ronaldo's powerful strikes. That was the year Ronaldo claimed his fifth Ballon d'Or, pulling level with his Argentine rival, while players like Neymar made headlines with his record-shattering €222 million transfer to PSG. Looking back now, what fascinates me most isn't just where these stars were in 2017, but how their careers have unfolded since - some reaching even greater heights while others took unexpected turns that nobody could have predicted.
When I think about 2017's standout performers, my mind immediately goes to Luka Modrić, who was quietly orchestrating Real Madrid's midfield during their Champions League triumph that year. Little did we know he'd go on to break the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly by winning the 2018 Ballon d'Or. Then there was the emergence of young Kylian Mbappé, who was just beginning to turn heads at Monaco before his eventual move to PSG. I remember watching him during that Champions League run against Manchester City and thinking, "This kid is different." His pace was just terrifying - I've never seen anyone accelerate like that with the ball at their feet. Meanwhile, veterans like Gianluigi Buffon, at 39, was proving age is just a number with his stellar performances for Juventus.
The journey these players have taken since 2017 reads like a collection of different footballing destinies. Ronaldo, now 38, has taken his talents to Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr after stints at Juventus and Manchester United. Messi, at 36, recently concluded his PSG chapter and now lights up MLS with Inter Miami - honestly, watching him still weave through defenders makes me feel like time stands still for geniuses. Neymar's path has been more turbulent, with injuries hampering what could have been even more spectacular years at PSG before his recent move to Saudi Arabia too. What strikes me about tracking these careers is how unpredictable football can be - the players we thought were at their peak in 2017 either soared higher or faced challenges nobody anticipated.
Mbappé has arguably exceeded expectations, becoming PSG's all-time leading scorer and winning the World Cup with France in 2018. Meanwhile, players like Eden Hazard, who was absolutely brilliant for Chelsea in 2017, saw his career take a disappointing turn after moving to Real Madrid before retiring last year. It's these contrasting trajectories that make football so compelling to follow year after year. I've learned that current form doesn't always predict future success in this sport - sometimes the brightest stars burn out quickest, while others find ways to reinvent themselves.
The business side of football has dramatically transformed since 2017 too. Transfer fees that seemed astronomical then have been repeatedly shattered, with Premier League clubs now regularly spending £80-100 million on single players. The emergence of Saudi Arabian clubs as major players has created new retirement destinations for aging stars, while MLS has strategically positioned itself as another attractive option. Watching this evolution has been fascinating from a fan's perspective - the global landscape of football has fundamentally shifted in just six years.
What continues to amaze me is how some players from that 2017 class have maintained their excellence. Robert Lewandowski, who was already world-class at Bayern Munich back then, moved to Barcelona and won the Ballon d'Or in 2022. Kevin De Bruyne has only gotten better with age, orchestrating Manchester City's treble-winning season. These players demonstrate that with the right mentality and physical care, elite careers can extend well into their mid-30s. Meanwhile, younger stars from that era like Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah have consistently delivered season after season, proving their 2017 breakouts were no flukes.
There's something bittersweet about tracking where these players are now. Some have retired, others are in less competitive leagues, while a fortunate few remain at the very top. The football world moves so rapidly that six years can represent multiple career phases for a professional player. What 2017 taught me is to appreciate these incredible athletes in their prime moments, because their careers evolve faster than we often realize. The beautiful game continues to produce new stars each season, but there's special nostalgia for that particular year when established legends and emerging talents created such compelling storylines. As I look at current football landscape, I can't help but wonder which of today's stars we'll be reminiscing about in 2029, and what unexpected turns their careers might take.
