The 25 best footballers in the world right now – ranked in order

Football is an ever-changing meritocracy, and therefore, deciding the best player in the world at any precise moment is a difficult challenge. That title could theoretically change hands after any given match depending on the level of performance an individual footballer has produced, and yet allowing opinions to change with such volatility would lead to nothing but subjective anarchy.

For those within that bracket, 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, who and in what competition that has been delivered against. But also crucial is how much you’ve got to show for playing well. While ability, form and overall impact are integral considerations, winning silverware is a vital ingredient for these 2024 Ballon d’Or contenders.

Ranking factors

So, how exactly do we name the best player in the beautiful game at this very minute? Our criteria are as follows:

• Recognised as being world-class: To be the best player in the world at the moment, you have to first and foremost
• Well-respected: Be established as a top-level talent but also have
• Consistent: Produced the goods consistently throughout an extended period.

26 Ederson

Manchester City and Brazil

There were concerns that Ederson would leave Manchester City this summer. Al-Nassr of the Saudi Pro League reportedly offered the Brazilian goalkeeper an extraordinary £500,000-a-week. Pep Guardiola’s side were able to keep hold of Ederson, though, and so far he has started the season in fine form.

He registered his fourth assist for City during their 2-1 victory against Brentford on Saturday, 14th September. His accurate long ball was finished off by Erling Haaland as they secured their fourth win in a row. Whether Ederson leaves the club at the end of the season remains to be seen, but the summer transfer interest from Saudi Arabia doesn’t seem to be affecting his early season form.

25 Cole Palmer

Chelsea and England

Cole Palmer has been one of the breakout stars in world football in the last year. After moving to Chelsea from City in the summer of 2023, the attacking midfielder scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists in 33 Premier League matches. These performances earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, where his minutes were largely limited. He did make an impact in the final, though, scoring from off the bench against Spain.

Palmer has now extended his contract at the Blues to 2033. He has started the 2024/25 season with a goal and four assists, helping Chelsea win two games in a row. In terms of the rest of 2024, the attacking midfielder will be hoping to lift the London club into the Champions League places and secure his spot in Lee Carsley’s team.

24 Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen and Germany

Florian Wirtz played a leading role in Bayer Leverkusen’s title-winning campaign in the 2023/24 season. He registered 23 goal contributions in 32 Bundesliga appearances, earning himself the league’s player of the season award. He also won the DFB-Pokal under the management of Xabi Alonso, meaning he was called up to the Germany squad for Euro 2024. They exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage to the eventual winners, Spain, but Wirtz was a consistent performer throughout.

The midfielder has shown no signs of slowing down in the early part of the 2024/25 campaign. In the five games he has played, Wirtz has scored three and registered an assist. It will be an uphill battle for Leverkusen to defend their title, as Bayern Munich have recruited some star players, including Michael Olise and Joao Palhinha.

23 Virgil Van Dijk

Liverpool and the Netherlands

Since joining Liverpool in 2018, Virgil Van Dijk has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Last season, the Reds only won one trophy in Jurgen 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.

He was a consistent performer in the Premier League as well, earning himself a place in the PFA Team of the Year. Euro 2024 was a disappointment for the Dutch defender, though, as they succumbed to a late defeat to England in the semi-final. With only a year left on his Liverpool contract, there is uncertainty around Van Dijk’s long-term future in the Premier League, with the possibility of a new challenge elsewhere in Europe not out of the question.

22 William Saliba

Arsenal and France

William Saliba has been one of the most important figures in Arsenal’s revival under Mikel Arteta in the last couple of years. The Gunners conceded only 29 goals in the Premier League last season, which was the lowest figure in the division, with the French defender part of a formidable partnership with Brazilian centre-back Gabriel. Saliba’s consistent performances have earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year for two consecutive years, but he will be keen to add some domestic and international trophies to his career in the near future.

He was one of France’s best players at Euro 2024, as they were knocked out in the semi-finals by the eventual winners, Spain. The defence was not an issue for Didier Deschamps’ side in Germany, conceding only three goals in six matches. Aged only 23, Saliba will have plenty of opportunities to win silverware for Arsenal and France, though.

21 Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid and France

Antoine Griezmann has always been a phenomenal footballer, but a few underwhelming seasons at Barcelona seemed to bump him out of the conversation when it came to debate over the world’s best players, despite finishing third in the Ballon d’Or in 2016 and 2018. Yet a permanent return to Atletico Madrid in 2022 has allowed the French World Cup winner to rediscover his best form, and the last 18 months have been particularly fruitful for him.

He was the best player in La Liga throughout the previous calendar year, although clinching the silverware to demonstrate that has been a tougher task with Atletico. The capital club’s domestic ambitions have been undermined by dire away form while they were dumped out of the Champions League knockout stages by surprise finalists Borussia Dortmund. Nevertheless, at 33, Griezmann appears a player reborn, and he’ll remain a key figure for both club and country for the foreseeable future.

20 Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid and Germany

Arguably the best centre-back in world football right now, it’s fair to say that Antonio Rudiger has exceeded expectations since joining Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2022. The unconventional German centre-back showed glimpses of being a top central defender at Stamford Bridge, but few would have rated him as the world’s best player in his position back then.

A true leader on the pitch, the 31-year-old has enjoyed huge success at the Bernabeu. He was an integral part of Los Blancos winning both La Liga and the Champions League during the 2023-24 campaign.

19 Martin Odegaard

Arsenal and Norway

Martin Odegaard and this modern iteration of Arsenal suffer from the same problem – if you can call it that. Everyone is so swept up by their feats of silk and skill on the ball, that the defensive work is often overlooked.

“When you look at our counter-press,” Odegaard has been keen to point out, “how we win the ball back, it’s so hard for opponents.” Arsenal’s 25-year-old skipper is arguably the most important element to the team’s ferocious approach off the ball. Dutifully running himself into the ground each time he takes to the pitch, Odegaard leads by example, orchestrating his colleagues in a well-drilled constriction to steal back possession and show off his immense talent.

18 Bernardo Silva

Manchester City and Portugal

Appropriately nicknamed ‘Bubblegum’ by his teammates because of the way the ball appears to be magically glued to his boots, Bernardo Silva is unquestionably one of the most technically gifted players of his generation. The 5ft 8in attacking midfielder is blessed with remarkable vision and close control and he also has a keen eye for goal.

An integral player during Pep Guardiola’s hugely successful reign at Manchester City, there’s no doubt that Bernardo would walk into virtually every other starting line-up in world football. The Portuguese maestro turns 30 in August, but City will surely want him to stick around at the Etihad Stadium for at least a couple more seasons.

17 Lautaro Martinez

Inter Milan and Argentina

Lautaro Martinez was at the sharp edge of Inter Milan’s charge to the Serie A title after surpassing the 20-goal mark for the third consecutive season. Of course, the Argentine excelling is nothing new.

‘El Toro’ has been a phenomenal player for the Nerazzurri ever since he was snapped up from South American football back in 2018, while he was also part of the Argentina squad that lifted the World Cup at the tail-end of 2022, albeit losing significance in Lionel Scaloni’s side as the competition went on. When Martinez is at his best, he can be unstoppable and the past 24 months have seen him enhance his reputation.

16 Jamal Musiala

Bayern Munich and Germany

In terms of dribbling past opponents, Jamal Musiala is arguably the best in the business right now. With the possible exception of Messi, who is still capable of ghosting past players despite being 37 years old, nobody comes close to Musiala in this particular aspect of football.

The 21-year-old, who represented England at various youth levels before deciding to represent the country of his birth at senior level in 2021, leaves fans and television viewers on the edge of their seats thanks to his direct, attacking approach. Capable of making any defender on the planet look silly, the sky truly is the limit for this outstanding young talent.

15 Lamine Yamal

Barcelona and Spain

Those who follow La Liga won’t have been surprised by Lamine Yamal’s eye-catching displays during Euro 2024. The teenager, who only turned 17 on July 13, impressed everyone with his exceptional performances for Barcelona during a 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 doesn’t go on to win the Ballon d’Or one day.

14 Mohamed Salah

Liverpool and Egypt

The year 2023 was a largely frustrating one for Mohamed Salah. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League, exited the FA Cup and League Cup in the early rounds and were dumped out of the Champions League in the first knockout round. There weren’t any major individual accomplishments to speak of either, and at one point it even looked as though he was open to quitting Anfield altogether to join Cristiano Ronaldo and co. in the financially well-endowed Saudi Pro League.

Salah started the following campaign with a typical torrent of goals but struggled to replicate his best form after picking up a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with Egypt in January. The fleet-footed forward looked jaded and let his frustration boil over during a public spat with Jurgen Klopp at the end of April. Yet, even a relative dip in form for Salah still affords him a lofty ranking compared to every other player.

13 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 behind the club’s imperious defensive record.

Unshackled over the second half of last season by the inclusion of Jorginho or Thomas Partey, Rice has emerged as a two-way threat, adding end product to his lashings of endeavour. Mikel Arteta has described Rice as Arsenal’s “lighthouse” – he makes his teammates shine. But the magisterial midfielder, who is just as important for England, deserves some of the spotlight himself.

12 Bukayo Saka

Arsenal and England

Full credit must go 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 Saka has gone from strength to strength over the past couple of years and is now one of the most effective wingers on the planet.

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 22-year-old, the Englishman deserves all the plaudits that are currently coming his way.

11 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’s 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. Injury has hampered the second half of his season, but he’s undoubtedly one of the best players in the world.

10 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’s ever lived can no longer be considered the world’s best player, mainly due to the fact he’s now plying his trade with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. That doesn’t mean to say that Messi, who turned 37 in June, is no longer capable of producing magical moments on the pitch because he still does that regularly with his current employers. He also deserved to win a record-breaking eighth Ballon d’Or award in October due to the fact he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory less than 12 months earlier.

Will he win a ninth Ballon d’Or this year? It seems very unlikely at this stage, although you certainly wouldn’t bet against him if he helps Argentina retain the World Cup in two years. There’s a big question mark over whether the Barcelona legend will even be at that tournament, but a huge part of him will undoubtedly want to be part of the squad that defends his country’s world title. Even at the age of 39, the GOAT will still be miles better than the vast majority of professional footballers on the planet, so rule him out at your own peril.

9 Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City and Belgium

Kevin De Bruyne missed the first five months of the 2023-24 Premier League season due to injury, but he quickly rediscovered his decisive edge after making his comeback. On his return to action, the brilliant Belgian helped Man City beat Newcastle 3-2 at St James’ Park with a spectacular goal and stunning assist.

He can create chances for his grateful teammates at the drop of a hat and put the ball on a sixpence from just about any position on the pitch. Despite missing such a large chunk of the campaign, De Bruyne racked up more than 15 assists across all competitions.

8 Phil Foden

Manchester City and England

Phil Foden has taken his game to new levels this season under Pep Guardiola’s management at Manchester City. The 24-year-old shattered his previous personal bests for goals and assists last season, rising to the fore in De Bruyne’s absence and, while Haaland misfired to deservedly claim the Premier League Player of the Season award.

One of the most talented players that England has produced in years, Foden can cement his status as one of the very best players of his generation. Provided he continues to keep his feet on the ground, works hard, and remains focused on football, anything is possible for this exceptionally gifted attacking midfielder.

7 Harry Kane

Bayern Munich and England

He may still be looking for 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’s 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. The 30-year-old is enjoying the most prolific campaign of his career and has chipped in with a healthy supply of assists, too. The pick of his goals was this incredible wonder strike against Darmstadt from inside his own half. Sadly for Kane, Bayern missed out on Bundesliga glory to Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen and were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid after the striker had been substituted. From an individual point of view, the Englishman could hardly have done much more during his debut season in Germany.

6 Erling Haaland

Manchester City and Norway

Erling Haaland wrapped up another Premier League Golden Boot award with 27 goals last season and has already started the 2024/25 campaign in sparkling form. In the first four Premier League games, he has scored nine goals, including consecutive hat-tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham. If he were to continue at the same scoring rate across a 38-game season, the Norwegian striker would notch 85 league goals.

There are debates over the Norway striker’s overall qualities as a footballer in the purest sense of the word, but there is little substance to the argument that City are better off without him. Roy Keane may joke that Haaland has had moments that would make a “League Two player” blush, but even the inscrutable Manchester United icon cannot begrudge the Norwegian’s enduring quality.

4 Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid and England

It’s hard to remember any player arriving at Real Madrid and making an immediate impact quite like Jude Bellingham has done this season – let alone one that’s still just 21 years of age. Unfortunately, the midfield maestro couldn’t end his Borussia Dortmund career with a Bundesliga title after they missed out to Bayern Munich last season on the final day of the campaign, but he marked his debut campaign in Spain with a La Liga title.

As well as consistently impressing in the Champions League and scoring or assisting while with England on international duty, Bellingham has somehow established himself as Real Madrid’s defacto chief goalscorer, excelling in a false nine role. Injury has cooled Bellingham’s hot streak since the turn of the year, although he is still capable of squeezing out bright moments. Also ranked as the best young player in the world, the sky truly is the limit for the English phenomenon.

3 Kylian Mbappe

Real Madrid and France

Kylian Mbappe has ended his spell with Paris Saint-Germain and will begin the next chapter of his career at Real Madrid after completing a dream move to the Bernabeu this summer. As expected, Mbappe will wear the No. 9 shirt in the Spanish capital.

Despite the fact he knew his time at PSG was coming to an end, Mbappe knuckled down during the final months of the 2023-24 campaign and ranked as the most prolific forward in the French top flight once again. The world-class forward was disappointing for France at Euro 2024, but that’s largely because he suffered a broken nose early in the tournament.

2 Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid and Brazil

Vinicius Junior 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 season, Vinicius 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 will be the first to laud his good friend and teammate. During Madrid’s La Liga celebrations, Bellingham spontaneously hailed Vinicius as “the best player in the world”. It’s hard to disagree. As for his international career with Brazil, there’s no doubt that Vinicius will have his sights set on inspiring his nation to glory at the upcoming Copa America tournament.

1 Rodri

Manchester City and Spain

Defensive midfielders often don’t get the credit they deserve, so when one stands out enough to be named the Champions League Player of the Season, and finishing fifth in the Ballon d’Or rankings, you know they’re a special player. Rodri’s performances are always of a consistently high standard, but his virtual ever-presence as Manchester City won the treble 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 to centre stage.

Also named the Player of the Tournament for the 2023 Nations League as Spain lifted the trophy, Rodri has excelled for both club and country over the past couple of seasons. One of the leading contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Rodri has continued to go above and beyond for Man City, producing consistently outstanding performances and chipping in with big goals.