Forgot Real Madrid winker Cristiano Ronaldo or Barcelona's scampering Lionel Messi - Thierry Henry is the finest exponent of the 'beautiful game', according to the inaugural Castrol rankings.

Those reponsible for the list claim they use 'objective analysis and 100 per cent accurate data to measure every pass, every tackle and every single move of over 2,000 players and games' to determine the rankings.

The 32-year-old scored five goals and provided three assists during Barca's successful UEFA Champions League campaign last season and contributed a further 18 goals and eight assists in the Primera Liga during the 12-month 'ranking' period.

Pep Guardiola's all conquering side from last season contributes six players to the Castrol Rankings Top 10 with Liverpool striker Fernando Torres the only player from the Premier League included (5th).

Unbelievably, Chelsea flop Claudio Pizarro makes it into the Top 10, owed much in part to his sensational displays at Werder Bremen last season when he netted 25 goals in 44 games.

Overall, England's top-flight has more players (33) in the top 100 than any of the five major leagues, as Spain's Primera Liga contributes 28 players, Italy's Serie A and Germany's Bundesliga both contribute 15, while nine players are from France's Ligue 1.

Castrol Top 20 world footballer rankings:

1. Thierry Henry (Barcelona)

2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

4. Gerard Pique (Barcelona)

5. Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

6. Samuel Eto'o (Inter)

7. Rafa Marquez (Barcelona)

8. Luca Toni (Bayern Munich)

9. Carles Puyol (Barcelona)

10. Claudio Pizarro(Werder Bremen)