Why Robben Is World's No. 3 Player — bleacherreport.com

Arjen Robben scored a goal and assisted two more on Friday night as Bayern Munich comfortably beat Koln 4-1. It was just the latest man-of-the-match performance for the Dutchman, who's been a thorn in the side of all his club's Bundesliga opponents all season long. At present, he has to be considered one of the top three players in the world. Robben's story is an improbable one—the 31-year-old being in the midst of what may well be remembered as the best season of his career individually. Mentally broken after missing two vital penalties as Bayern finished runners-up in three competitions in the spring 2012, he suffered another setback at Euro 2012 as his Netherlands side were humiliated with three group-stage defeats. Robben was injured for most of the fall campaign thereafter and relegated to a substitute's role in many of the club's biggest games (especially in the Champions League), as Franck Ribery, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller formed Jupp Heynckes' preferred first-choice attacking midfield trio.

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