Football is an ever-changing meritocracy, and it is therefore a difficult challenge to determine who the best player in the world is at any given time. That title could theoretically change hands after any match, depending on the level an individual footballer performs at, but allowing opinions to change so volatilely would lead to nothing but subjective anarchy.
For those within this category, it then becomes a question of clear evidence of immaculate form – whether that’s goals, assists, clean sheets, or passing the “eye test” for all-round play – and perhaps most importantly, against whom and in which competition this has been delivered. But equally crucial is how much you have to show for playing well. While ability, form, and overall impact are integral considerations, winning silverware is a vital ingredient for these Ballon d’Or contenders.
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Ranking Factors
So, how do we determine who the best player in the beautiful game is right now? Our criteria are as follows:
- Recognised as world-class: To be the best player in the world at the moment, you must first and foremost be recognised as elite.
- Well-respected: Be established as a top-level talent.
- Consistent: Have delivered the goods consistently over an extended period.
30. William Saliba
(Arsenal and France)
It would have been easy to choose either William Saliba or his centre-back partner, Gabriel, for the first spot on this list, simply because of how solid the duo have looked for Arsenal over many seasons. But it is the Frenchman who gets the nod first (but not the last, more on that in a moment).
Strong, quick, and a fantastic reader of the game, there is not much missing from Saliba’s inventory. He looks set to be the Premier League’s heir to Virgil van Dijk once the Liverpool player eventually hangs up his boots. The Gunners recently tied him down to a new contract that binds him to the Emirates Stadium until 2030 – a solid piece of business, indeed.
29. Cole Palmer
(Chelsea and England)
Cole Palmer is proving that he is a man for the big occasions. One year ago, it was Palmer who scored England’s equaliser against Spain in the Euro 2024 final. And towards the end of the 2024/25 season, Palmer produced two Man of the Match performances for Chelsea in the UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup finals.
Palmer helped Chelsea become world champions in July with a masterful performance against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final, scoring a superb brace and providing the assist for João Pedro’s goal. The 23-year-old was inconsistent during the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, but there is no doubt that he is Chelsea’s most important player – and one of the most talented footballers England has produced in years.
28. Alisson Becker
(Liverpool and Brazil)
Alisson is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has been the backbone behind Liverpool’s continuous quest for silverware in recent seasons. He regularly shows off his world-class qualities, and he is an extremely well-rounded keeper too – not just an exceptional shot-stopper, but also dominant in his box, fearless when coming off his line, and comfortable spraying passes around when required.
His composure at the back helps Liverpool start attacks, with his teammates and coaching staff knowing they can rely on him if something goes wrong. Injuries have at times hampered the Reds’ number one, but as soon as he is fit, he is straight back into the starting lineup for good reason, even with the underrated Giorgi Mamardashvili as his understudy. The No. 1 shirt will remain the Brazilian’s until he decides otherwise.
27. Rodri
(Manchester City and Spain)
Defensive midfielders often do not get the credit they deserve, so when one stands out enough to be named the Champions League Player of the Season and later wins the Ballon d’Or, you know they are a special player. Rodri’s performances are always of a consistently high standard, but his virtual ever-presence as Manchester City won the treble in 2023/24 shone a spotlight on his unsung heroics, while the winning goal in the Champions League final – a typically cool finish from the edge of the box – thrust him into the spotlight.
The worthy recipient of the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Rodri has unfortunately tumbled down this list after a knee injury ruled him out for practically the entire 2024/25 season. Now back in the squad after making a full recovery, the Spaniard has not quite been able to return to the peak of his powers just yet.
26. Gabriel Magalhães
(Arsenal and Brazil)
For so long, Saliba was seen as the most vital cog in Arsenal’s defence – which has conceded just one goal from open play after the first 12 games of this campaign – but Gabriel has since proven that he can do everything his partner in crime can do… and then some.
Since the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the Brazilian international has contributed to nine goals, often so-called “late winners.” He has also been more consistently available than Saliba, further strengthening his case as the crown jewel of a Gunners defence absolutely brimming with talent. To be fair, David Raya, Jurrien Timber, and Riccardo Calafiori are perhaps a little unfortunate to miss out on this list.
25. Nuno Mendes
(Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
Technically outstanding, the ball sticks to Nuno Mendes’ feet like glue, while he has also been named as one of the fastest players in the Champions League. His pristine close control means PSG players feel comfortable feeding him the ball in difficult situations, knowing he will emerge with it intact.
With the electric Achraf Hakimi operating on the opposite flank, Mendes is often tasked by Luis Enrique to be the more conservative full-back, meaning his output in the final third does not look overly impressive, but his stability has ultimately provided the French giants with the platform to secure four successive Ligue 1 titles, as well as a historic treble. With Portugal, he kept Lamine Yamal in check to secure his nation a second Nations League this summer, and after only recently celebrating his 23rd birthday, he could easily become one of the all-time great left-backs.
24. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
(Paris Saint-Germain and Georgia)
Should you ask any defender in Europe which winger is the scariest to mark, there is a likely chance that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s name would pop up in conversation quite a lot. His combination of sheer power and pace makes him ever so deadly on the left-hand side – and even if he does not have the goals and assists, there is much more to his game.
Kvaratskhelia is relentless. Much like his teammates – thanks to their side’s style of play, instructed by boss Luis Enrique – the Georgian is as compelling as he is direct. A true winger of sorts, judging by the fact he relishes the challenge of beating a man, the 24-year-old plundered 12 goals and nine assists last season.
23. Jamal Musiala
(Bayern Munich and Germany)
Since bursting onto the scene with Bayern Munich, Jamal Musiala has enjoyed a meteoric rise. A creative menace who is fantastic with the ball at his feet, he has been so important to the Bavarian giants and Germany for so many years that it is easy to forget that he is still only 22 years old.
After enjoying a decent 2023/24 season where he managed 12 goals and eight assists in all competitions, he then kicked on superbly in the most recent term, scoring an incredible 21 times. It is unlikely that supporters will see him on the pitch soon, following a horrible injury at the Club World Cup, but the German international will almost certainly show exactly why so many of his fellow professionals rate him so highly.
22. Désiré Doué
(Paris Saint-Germain and France)
If there were any doubts (to be honest, there should not have been) about Désiré Doué’s talent, his two-goal, one-assist display against Inter Milan in the Champions League final epitomised what he is about. A constant threat, the daring Frenchman can dance around opponents as if they are not there, and the fact that he can do it on the biggest stage of them all is, somewhat, hard to comprehend.
Whether floating inside, hugging the touchline, or finding space for teammates, there is very little that Doué – whose name, translated into English, means ‘desired gifted’ – is unable to do on the flank. A Stade Rennais academy graduate, PSG chiefs have not looked back since securing his services in the summer of 2024, and he is only poised to improve tenfold at the tender age of 20.
21. Federico Valverde
(Real Madrid and Uruguay)
Arguably one of the most underrated footballers in the world right now, Federico Valverde is worth his weight in gold to Real Madrid. Xabi Alonso had only been working with the Uruguayan midfielder for a few weeks when he compared him to Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, telling reporters: “I have not seen many players with his physical ability. He reminds me of Steven Gerrard. He can play anywhere and I am very happy to be coaching him. Every coach would like to have a Valverde in their team.”
A €5 million signing from Peñarol in 2016, the 26-year-old Valverde is now one of the world’s best midfielders. While he does not get the same attention as some of his Galactico teammates, there is no doubt that the tenacious South American is Real Madrid’s driving force and an essential player for both club and country.
20. Luis Díaz
(Bayern Munich and Colombia)
Liverpool’s decision to let Luis Díaz leave Anfield for Bayern Munich is looking increasingly suspect by the week, even if the Reds initially felt he was the one attacker they could have upgraded on. Arne Slot may also argue that the Colombian winger wanted to depart the club in the summer, and so a sale made sense for all parties, but the Reds have missed him during the opening weeks of the 2025-26 campaign.
Liverpool’s loss has been Bayern’s gain. In his first 12 games of the season, Díaz had already chipped in with eight goals and four assists. Bayern will be serious challengers for both the Bundesliga and Champions League this season, and a lot of that has to do with their new recruit, who has recently been clicking with Harry Kane and Michael Olise as though he has always played with them.
19. Bukayo Saka
(Arsenal and England)
Full credit must be given to Bukayo Saka for the hugely impressive manner in which he recovered after missing the decisive penalty for England in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Many players in his position would have crumbled after suffering such a crushing moment – particularly as it was followed by some appalling abuse on social media – but the shining star has gone from strength to strength over the past couple of years and is now one of the most effective wingers on the planet.
Especially in the absence of Ødegaard earlier in 2024/25, the Hale End graduate added another feather to his bow: becoming his side’s creator-in-chief. Aside from being a world-class wide forward, Saka is also one of the most universally popular players in football right now. A mild-mannered, humble 23-year-old, the Englishman deserves all the plaudits that are currently coming his way.
18. Virgil van Dijk
(Liverpool and Netherlands)
Since joining Liverpool in 2018, Virgil van Dijk has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in Premier League history. In 2023/24, the Anfield-based outfit only won one trophy in Jürgen Klopp’s final year as Liverpool manager. This trophy was the EFL Cup, where Van Dijk scored the winner in extra time and was the Man of the Match in an impressive victory against Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea.
Van Dijk’s necessity to Liverpool did not change following Arne Slot’s arrival, as the Dutchman continued to captain his side and guide them to Premier League success in 2024/25. Having agreed a new deal to keep him at Liverpool until 2027 at the back end of last season, however, he has not quite been up to scratch at the start of the current campaign.
17. Declan Rice
(Arsenal and England)
Declan Rice was comfortably one of the best signings of last season and, incredibly, still seems capable of improving each time he takes one of his long strides across the pitch. A tireless presence in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield, the England international has been an integral aspect of the club’s imperious defensive record.
Unshackled over the second half of last season by the inclusion of Jorginho and/or Thomas Partey, Rice has emerged as a two-way threat, adding an end product to his lashings of endeavour. That was on firm display in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, where he bagged two incredible free-kicks in the space of 13 minutes while being named Man of the Match in both the first and second legs.
16. João Neves
(Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
PSG’s João Neves can no longer be widely regarded as a highly promising central midfielder. Why, we hear you ask? Because he is already one of the best engine room operators. Manchester United and his Ligue 1 employers were interested in his signature during his Benfica days – but it was the latter who ultimately won the tug-of-war.
Albeit diminutive in size, Neves makes up for that in his ability to buzz about the pitch, make timely tackles, and break up opposition play. He does it like no other, in fact, and that makes him one of the many unsung heroes of Enrique’s dynasty in the French capital.
15. Michael Olise
(Bayern Munich and France)
Moving from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, Michael Olise has gone on to cement his status as one of Europe’s brightest forwards. The Frenchman possesses technical prowess which allows him to leave defenders baffled, while his passing and finishing allow him to be as creative as he is lethal.
Olise became one of Vincent Kompany’s most important players in 2024/25, scoring 12 goals and assisting a further 18 times in the Bundesliga. He also helped Bayern advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and he has hit the ground running at the start of the 2025/26 term, with the new season potentially set to be an even brighter year for him after already 12 direct goal contributions in 12 appearances across all competitions.
14. Raphinha
(Barcelona and Brazil)
Here is your reminder that Raphinha once plied his trade for Yorkshire-based outfit Leeds United. Now, he is ripping it up on a week-by-week basis for one of the biggest teams in Europe – and he certainly does not look out of place in Barcelona’s star-studded team. There was once a time, however, when his Camp Nou stint looked to be all but over.
In the form of his life under boss Hansi Flick, having plundered 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25, the critic-silencing Brazilian is enjoying quite the redemption arc and has every chance of guiding Flick and Co – alongside the likes of Lewandowski and Yamal – to great things. It is just a shame that his record-breaking Champions League campaign did not end in triumph, and Marcus Rashford has often started ahead of him in the new season.
13. Vinícius Júnior
(Real Madrid and Brazil)
Vinícius Jr has been at the heart of Real Madrid’s success in recent years. His elegance and skill on the wing have been crucial for Los Blancos. After an injury derailed his start to the 2023/24 season, Vinícius produced the best form of his career in the second half of the campaign, emphatically filling the void left by Karim Benzema’s summer departure and taking over the mantle of Madrid’s talisman alongside Bellingham.
The Englishman would be the first to laud his good friend and teammate, and, during Madrid’s 2024 La Liga celebrations, Bellingham spontaneously hailed Vinícius as “the best player in the world.” And, at times, it is hard to disagree – although his form in recent months has been a little hit and miss. As for his international career with Brazil, there is no doubt that Vinícius will have his sights set on inspiring his nation to glory at the 2026 World Cup.
12. Lionel Messi
(Inter Miami and Argentina)
The Qatar World Cup will forever be Lionel Messi’s crowning moment in football – above everything else – but the greatest footballer who has ever lived can no longer be considered the world’s best player, mainly due to the fact he is now plying his trade with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. As the Club World Cup demonstrated, other up-and-coming players have stolen his thunder.
That does not mean to say that Messi is no longer capable of producing magical moments on the pitch. He still does that regularly with his current employers, showing that he can still run rings around most footballers as he approaches 40. His continuing talent, combined with his legacy and the fact he still made European defenders look like paid actors at the Club World Cup over the summer, means he remains very much in the conversation. And anyway, the fact he has scored 29 goals and produced 17 assists in 28 MLS appearances this year is simply ridiculous.
11. Achraf Hakimi
(Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco)
Achraf Hakimi has taken his game to new heights under Luis Enrique at the Parc des Princes. Possessing phenomenal crossing ability and an engine which allows him to make gut-busting runs down the right flank for PSG, the Moroccan international has become indispensable to the way the Spaniard sets his team up.
Hakimi’s attacking ability made him crucial to the Parisian club’s dominance in 2024/25, as he racked up an impressive 11 goals and 16 assists in all competitions, including nine goal contributions during their historic Champions League run. Just as capable when defending, Hakimi’s well-rounded game has seen him earn Ballon d’Or shouts, and it is hard to say he does not deserve them.
10. Mohamed Salah
(Liverpool and Egypt)
There was a time when Mohamed Salah looked open to quitting Liverpool altogether to join Cristiano Ronaldo and co. in the financially well-endowed Saudi Pro League. Fortunately for supporters, the Egyptian King elected to stay at Anfield and absolutely flew out of the blocks in Slot’s debut year.
To conclude 2024/25, he recorded more than 50 goal contributions and claimed the Golden Boot to tie Thierry Henry’s Premier League record. His statistics up until this point are just as good as Lionel Messi’s prime years, and Salah has never looked more like a man on a mission. Having recently extended his stay with a two-year contract extension, he will be looking to help his side lift back-to-back top-flight titles, though a dry patch he is currently enduring suggests his age is finally catching up to him.
9. Jude Bellingham
(Real Madrid and England)
It is hard to remember any player arriving at Real Madrid and making an immediate impact quite like Jude Bellingham did in the 2023/24 campaign – let alone one that is still at such a tender age. As well as consistently impressing in the Champions League and scoring or assisting while with England on international duty, Bellingham has often offered himself as Real Madrid’s de facto chief goalscorer, excelling in a false nine role.
Having marked his debut year in Spain with a La Liga and Champions League double, there is no denying that he is one of the best players in the world when at his peak. An injury cooled Bellingham’s hot streak since the turn of the year, with him still struggling to get back up to full match sharpness, but he will no doubt soon be back being a big influence for club and country (if Thomas Tuchel gives him a call).
8. Robert Lewandowski
(Barcelona and Poland)
Robert Lewandowski’s “remontada” from being a seasoned, yet out-of-sorts, statesman to one of world football’s leading strikers is one for the history books. The enigmatic Pole, 36, is well-known throughout Europe for being incredible at what he gets paid the big bucks to do: score goals. Whether it was for Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, sides in Germany’s top tier were sick at the sight of the 158-cap Poland international thanks to his ruthless, timely finishing in front of goal.
A move to Barcelona beckoned in the summer of 2022 and the goals have continued to be provided in plentiful supply. Most recently, he led the line during his side’s treble-winning campaign under Hansi Flick, scoring 42 times in all competitions. He is not one of the top 10 goalscorers in football history for no reason, is he?
7. Vitinha
(Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
Every team needs a string-puller, do they not? In Vitinha’s case, you could bet your bottom dollar that he will chalk up north of 50 touches per game – without fail, that is. Always showing for the ball, it is crazy to think that he was once an outcast on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ books between September 2020 and June 2021. Now, he is one of the best midfielders on the planet.
And that is not by luck. You can see that Vitinha has perfected his craft of being a busybody in the centre of the park and last season, he was all-crucial to PSG’s victory in Munich when they beat Inter Milan 5-0. Albeit not involved in the goals, the engine room was run by the 25-year-old and the aforementioned Neves.
6. Ousmane Dembélé
(PSG and France)
Finally fulfilling his potential that many claimed he had almost a decade ago, what Ousmane Dembélé has done in the absence of Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain is quite extraordinary. The ambidextrous winger has been in scintillating form and last season, the French giants managed to achieve something they had never come close to doing: winning the Champions League, despite getting rid of several of the superstars that were supposed to lead them to European glory.
With a newfound sense of responsibility, Dembélé notched 48 goal contributions in 49 games – an astonishing record that also rewarded him with a coveted Ballon d’Or. At the start of this season, he has been a bit more leisurely with his forward play, but who can possibly blame him after last season’s graft?
5. Pedri
(Barcelona and Spain)
The last few years have seen several very impressive young players shine for Barcelona and one of those men is Pedri. The midfielder plays with natural-born composure and innate maturity that is well beyond his years. He never fails to dictate play for the Catalan giants from the middle of the park and has thrived under some of the biggest lights for them recently, including on the Champions League stage.
No matter the stage, the opponent, or the situation, Barcelona have been able to rely on Pedri time and time again to deliver when they need him to. At 22 years old, he is only going to get better going forward as well, which is a scary thought for the rest of European football, with manager Hansi Flick claiming he is the best in his position.
4. Erling Haaland
(Manchester City and Norway)
Erling Haaland is the kind of striker you would expect someone to design in a lab: tall, strong, powerful, and with an eye for goal more akin to a sniper. The Norwegian international has started this season in sensational form as Manchester City look to right the wrongs of last term, when they finished trophyless for just the second time since Pep Guardiola arrived in 2016.
Haaland has already powered in 18 goals in just 14 appearances, and with Phil Foden seemingly returning to the form that earned him the Player of the Season award two seasons ago, you can bet big money that Haaland will be chasing records once again this term.
3. Harry Kane
(Bayern Munich and England)
He may have only just secured his maiden trophy in professional football – although it should be mentioned that he has made five finals – but Harry Kane features on this list for one simple reason: he has continued scoring goals for fun since leaving his beloved Tottenham for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. If anything, the England international has taken his game to new heights since moving to the Allianz Arena.
Having bagged 36 Bundesliga goals in his debut season with the Bavarians, Kane followed that up with a fantastic 26-goal season, and he also assisted teammates 10 times. Having claimed a first league title, his sights will be set on retaining that trophy and Champions League success in 2025/26. His 25 goal contributions in 16 appearances so far are incredible, meaning he has been involved in over half of Die Roten’s goals this season.
2. Lamine Yamal
(Barcelona and Spain)
Those who follow La Liga will not be surprised by Lamine Yamal’s eye-catching displays during Euro 2024, but his stratospheric rise since the international tournament has been a sight to behold. The teenager, who still does not turn 18 for a little while, impressed everyone with his exceptional performances for Barcelona during the 2023/24 campaign, in which he made 50 appearances for the Catalan giants.
Aside from his extraordinary technical qualities, what makes Yamal different from the vast majority of players his age is his decision-making. Time and time again, the youngster makes the right decisions when it matters most. Once bathed by Lionel Messi as a baby, it would be a shock if Yamal does not go on to win the Ballon d’Or one day after having recently scored against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and becoming the youngest-ever player to score in a Champions League Round of 16, quarter-final, and semi-final all in one campaign.
1. Kylian Mbappé
(Real Madrid and France)
Big things were expected from Kylian Mbappé when he ended his spell at Paris Saint-Germain and began the next chapter of his career at Real Madrid – a transfer fans had expected for years. But the Frenchman, having not played at his best for his country at Euro 2024, was a little slow out of the blocks for Los Blancos.
By the end of 2024/25, though, Mbappé looked back to his best, ending the most recent term with 43 goals in 56 appearances. He has continued that into the new term for his employers, as he looks far more up to speed with what is being demanded of him, thus proving he could well be the best player in the world for years to come that many believed he would be after the Messi and Ronaldo duopoly came to an end.
