1. Micheal Carrick - Manchester United - There was massive hype about Carrick when he left Spurs for Manchester United in a deal worth around 16 million pounds. However after a first season riddled with injury and bench time, the hype died down aournd this player. He has now started to show the form that cost the Red Devils 16 million pounds. Having started almost all United's games this season Carrick is scoring goals, playing solid football and reminding the footballing world about his unacknowledged talent.
2. Maicon Douglas Sisenando (Maicon) - Inter Milan - Maicon has long been on my books as one of the best and most exciting right fullbacks in football. However how often do you hear his name among the top players in the world? Never. Evra, Ramos, Cole, Lahm, all wide backs with huge reputations and massive praise from the football media. However in my opinion Maicon is up there among them.
3. Peter Crouch - Portsmouth - This could be percieved as somewhat surprising as some people rate him very highly but here he is in 3rd. Crouch started his career with a hiss and a roar at Portsmouth, then transfered to their bitter rivals Southampton, after Southampton's relegation from the Premier League Liverpool jumped in and secured the services of the 6'7 striker. His time at Liverpool was far away from the 'golden era' that every player dreams of when hired by a big time club. He hardly started, struggled to perform and was compartmentalised as a player who relied soley on his head for his goals. However, after a summer transfer to Pompey, Crouch is now showing the world his true potential as a player. He is scoring fantastic goals with his head, aswell as his feet and is forcing his way into the England set up.
4. Thierry Henry - Barcelona - Do not shout at me too soon. Think about Henry's Barca life. He transfered from Arsenal to Barca at the doorstep of 30, after having the most prelific carrer in Gunner's history. In his time at Arsenal he was the most feared forward in the world and scored for fun. However in this time he never won the FIFA player of the year award. This is a blessing in disguise in some cases but for a player who, in my opinion, was by far the most deserving of it during the Arsenal "Unbeatables Era". This is reason number one that he is underrated. Number two is the critisism he recieved for his performances last year in Barca's awful season. This was underserved in my opinion as he still managed to be Barca's top scorer. Thus he is underrated again.
5. I would have a 5th, but I ran out of time to write one so i will add it later.