Jamie Carragher names third best player in world behind Messi and Ronaldo

Jamie Carragher reckons Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is the third-best player in the world.

For the last five seasons, De Bruyne – who City signed from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015 – has been at the centre of the club’s success.

The Belgium international has been the conductor of the orchestra at the Etihad, scoring 50 goals and providing a whopping 90 assists in 223 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.

De Bruyne’s exploits during his second stint in the Premier League have won him plenty of plaudits, with many dubbing the midfielder “world-class.”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher agrees with that assessment of the 29-year-old and reckons he’s second only to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus ‘ Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I would say De Bruyne, when we talk about the best players in the world now, I would put him top of the second band of players behind Messi and Ronaldo,” Carragher said during an appearance on Sky Sports.

“I would put him top of that list, if you said to me who would I want in my team – it would be Kevin De Bruyne.”

De Bruyne was the star of the show in Manchester City’s Premier League opener on Monday night, a 3-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux.

1. Simon Weaver (Harrogate Town) – 11 years, 73 days

2. Gareth Ainsworth (Wycombe) – 7 years, 313 days

3. Sean Dyche (Burnley) – 7 years, 277 days

4. John Coleman (Accrington Stanley) – 5 years, 319 days

5. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) – 4 years, 299 days

6. Mark Cooper (Forest Green) – 4 years, 85 days

7. Chris Wilder (Sheffield United) – 4 years, 82 days

8. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) – 4 years, 32 days

9. Paul Warne (Rotherham) – 3 years, 248 days

10. David Artell (Crewe) – 3 years, 207 days

The Belgian grabbed a goal and an assist against last season’s surprise package, which prompted Carragher to say: “The numbers he gets with assists and goals, he’s a manager’s dream.

“He can play in the [no.]10 position, right of a three, and Roberto Martinez plays him central midfield for Belgium.

“I think he’s had great longevity in his career because I still think he’ll have the ability to play that deep role, maybe when his legs go a little bit because he’s got a great engine.

“But his passing ability is as good as anything we’ve ever seen in the Premier League. And he can play that role when he’s in his mid-thirties not a problem.”

De Bruyne and his City team-mates will be back in action on Thursday night, welcoming Championship side Bournemouth to the Etihad in the third round of the Carabao Cup.