Wesley Sneijder

Our definitive countdown of the best players of 2010-11 continues with Inter's midfield maestro, who enjoyed a positive campaign despite fatigue and some niggling injuries.

It was always going to be a herculean task for Wesley Sneijder to emulate his feats of the 2009-10 campaign with club and country. The 27-year-old was an integral part of the Inter machine that steamrolled over the competition en route to a sensational treble.

He then scored five goals for the Netherlands on the way to the World Cup final where his country fell agonizingly short of claiming football's ultimate prize following a 1-0 loss after extra-time to Spain in Johannesburg.

Many believed his exploits would earn him the FIFA Ballon d'Or but he was inexplicably omitted from the final three-man short-list, and Barcelona star Lionel Messi went on to win the award.

"Yes, Sneijder's brilliant. He's been brilliant for the last year or so for Inter and Holland." -  Former Manchester United  star Paul Scholes

The previous winner of the Goal.com 50 suddenly had something to prove, but fatigue and turmoil at the club following Rafael Benitez's appointment as coach hindered the playmaker's progress in the early part of the new campaign.

MOMENT OF THE SEASON

COPPA ITALIA FINAL: INTER 3-1 PALERMO

The Dutchman capped a virtuoso performance by setting up Samuel Eto'o on two different occasions as Inter lifted the Coppa Italia thanks to a 3-1 win over Palermo.

He did not score for the San Siro outfit in Serie A until after the winter break, but did pop up with two important goals in the Champions League group stages. Just as it seemed Sneijder was rounding into form an injury at the Club World Cup in December derailed his momentum.

He returned with a vengeance in February, scoring in consecutive Serie A games and prompting Inter legend Alessandro Altobelli to say that Sneijder was living through a 'magical' moment.

Sneijder reinvigorated the squad and Inter reeled off 13 consecutive league victories at home, giving AC Milan a scare before conceding the Scudetto to its city rivals.

Despite failing to defend the Serie A and Champions League titles, Leonardo's men did win some silverware as they cruised past Palermo in the Coppa Italia final with Sneijder pulling the strings in midfield.

The Netherlands international has now found himself in the news on a constant basis after Premier League champion Manchester United allegedly upped its interest in him. Sneijder has maintained that he is content in the fashion capital, but has also refused to rule out a summer move to England.

"The playmaker returned with a vengeance in February, scoring in consecutive Serie A games and prompting Inter legend Alessandro Altobelli to say that Sneijder was living through a 'magical' moment."

Sneijder seems poised to continue his assault on opposing back lines but question remains whether or not he will terrorize deference in Serie A - or in the Premier League.