Liverpool’s Spanish star midfielder Xabi Alonso (pictured heading the ball) is back in the FTBL World Top 23 after boosting his personal rating by 19.05 points to 143.96 points over all following Spain’s 5:0 mauling of New Zealand in the Confederations Cup in South Africa yesterday.

Despite being among the world’s greatest at the moment, Alonso will need to work hard if he wants to remain in the elite group as he faces a high plank of 22 rating points to clear when Spain meet Iraq in the same competition latter on. Alonso set the plank in Liverpool’s 3:1 win over Hull City in English Premier League action, in which he grabbed the opener.

Villarreal defender Capdevila also broke into the Top 23 of defenders, as we predicted, after earning approximately 19 rating points in the game. Capdevila now has 128.29 points over all.