SOCCER · 1 year ago

Who Are the Top 25 Soccer Players in the World Right Now?

David Connelly

Host · Writer

25. Cole Palmer | Club: Chelsea | Country: England
Cole Palmer is rapidly climbing the ranks as one of the top players in the world after a breakout campaign with Chelsea in 2023-24, followed by a strong showing off the bench for England at EURO 2024. The 22-year-old slotted 22 goals and dished out 11 assists in the Premier League last season, finishing second in both categories across the entire top flight. There's a case to be made he had the strongest attacking season among anyone in the league last year, and there is nowhere to go but up after inking a new deal with the Blues in August.
1. Kylian Mbappe | Club: Real Madrid | Country: France
There's little doubt that Kylian Mbappe is at the top of the soccer world right now. The Frenchman's move this summer from PSG to Real Madrid garnered worldwide headlines, with his personal tweet on the move reaching over one million likes on X. At just 25 years of age and at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, the world is at his feet quite literally for the next decade.
2. Erling Haaland | Club: Manchester City | Country: Norway
The hyperbole given to Mbappe could also be said for Erling Haaland, who has waltzed into the Premier League and netted a whopping 63 goals across two seasons. He also setting the single-season record in 2022-23 with 36. The level of attention and gravity he demands as the spearhead of the Manchester City attack is unprecedented, and he will likely battle with Mbappe for the top spot on this list for years to come.
3. Jude Bellingham | Club: Real Madrid | Country: England
At just 20 years old, Jude Bellingham has made the leap to superstardom that most expected to come another year or two down the road. His move to Real Madrid has panned out flawlessly, finishing the 2023-24 season as La Liga champions and leading them with 19 goals in 28 appearances. It feels like he still hasn't even achieved his ceiling, one that just might be comparable to both Mbappe and Haaland.
4. Kevin De Bruyne | Club: Manchester City | Country: Belgium
Kevin De Bruyne is our first player north of 25 years old on this list, and he has been one of the few constants for Manchester City throughout their reign of terror on the Premier League. In nine seasons with the club, he has accrued 68 goals, 110 assists, and six league titles. His 2023-24 season was hindered by a severe hamstring injury suffered back in August that kept him out for five months. However, he returned and looked like his old self for the back half of the season. With his style of play as a midfield maestro, he may still have a few high-level seasons ahead of him for the Cityzens.
5. Lionel Messi | Club: Inter Miami | Country: Argentina
While he may no longer be in his prime, the current-day Lionel Messi is still plenty good enough to be on this list. The Argentinian fulfilled his prophecy of a World Cup triumph in 2022 and is now spending his days terrorizing MLS backlines at Inter Miami. As he gears up for perhaps his final Copa America this summer, Messi has also announced that Inter Miami will be the final destination of his illustrious career.
6. Rodri | Club: Manchester City | Country: Spain
Rodri may be the least-recognizable name on this list, and that's because he does so much of the dirty work for Manchester City. When you have a club that has won four consecutive Premier League titles, players like Rodri are a requirement in order to find success. His dominance within the midfield, as well as his ability to score crucial goals - like the winner in the 2023 Champions League Final - are what make him the best holding midfielder in the world.
7. Vinicius Jr. | Club: Real Madrid | Country: Brazil
Vini has become the face of Real Madrid over the past few seasons, helping the club move into its next era following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. He has the versatility to kill backlines with his pace and dribbling out wide, while also having the technical ability and finishing to play more central on the pitch. It's what makes him one of the most feared attackers in the world right now.
8. Harry Kane | Club: Bayern Munich | Country: England
Despite being one of the most technically gifted strikers the sport has ever seen, Harry Kane is the only player on this list who is missing a major trophy in his cabinet. Despite smashing in 36 goals across 32 starts for Bayern Munich in his debut Bundesliga season, the club failed to win the league for the first time since 2012. Could Kane be cursed when it comes to winning a trophy? We'll see if he can check the box next season, should he remain with the German giants.
9. Mohamed Salah | Club: Liverpool | Country: Egypt
The Mohamed Salah era at Liverpool may be coming to a close as the Egyptian continues to flirt with a move to the Saudi League after seven memorable years with the Reds. Three Golden Boots, a Champions League, a league title, and an FA Cup headline his time at Liverpool, not to mention 155 goals and 68 assists in league play. Should this be the summer where he exits stage right, he'll be remembered as one of the best attackers the league has ever seen.
10. Phil Foden | Club: Manchester City | Country: England
Phil Foden creeps onto our list after taking a serious step forward as an attacking threat for Manchester City in 2023-24. After scoring 20 goals in the Premier League in the past two seasons, the Englishman took on a more central role. He exploded for 19 goals this season while also achieving a single-season career-high eight assists. Foden's future looks brighter than ever at just 24 years old and a vital member of an exciting new era for England's national team.
11. Virgil Van Dijk | Club: Liverpool | Country: Netherlands
Virgil Van Dijk has been one of the top defenders in the world for a few years now, and at 32, he continues to anchor the back line for both the Netherlands and Liverpool. His speed, size, positioning, and long-range passing make him one of the most versatile center backs the sport has ever seen.
12. Bernardo Silva | Club: Manchester City | Country: Portugal
One of the many unsung heroes of the Manchester City dynasty, Bernardo Silva is arguably the most agile player with the ball at his feet in the world. His ability to slalom through the midfield, effectively defend, and ping glorious passes and shots make him one of the best eights in the world.
13. Bukayo Saka | Club: Arsenal | Country: England
Bukayo Saka's rise to stardom has helped propel Arsenal back to elite status over the past few seasons. He's notched 41 goals and 27 assists with the Gunners in the past three seasons. Saka has become one of their primary goalscorers and may not be far from contending for a Premier League Golden Boot soon.
14. Lautaro Martinez | Club: Inter Milan | Country: Argentina
Lautaro Martinez has become an Inter Milan legend, tallying 20 or more goals in each of the past three seasons for the club. He has been their talisman since he arrived in 2018 and most recently led them to their second Serie A title in four seasons. Few in the world have the knack for goalscoring like Martinez right now.
15. Antoine Griezmann | Club: Atletico Madrid | Country: France
Antoine Griezmann has always had a nose for goal, but his recent seasons at Atletico Madrid, paired with his success with the French national side, have proven how creative he can be. His ability to impact the game in many ways as a free-roaming creator makes him a unique talent.
16. Neymar | Club: Al Hilal | Country: Brazil
It's tricky to rate Neymar right now for a number of reasons. The Brazilian has not touched the field since suffering an ACL injury on international duty back in October, he's now playing in Saudi Arabia, and he's pushing past his prime at 32 years old. We're not sure there are many high-level seasons of Neymar left, but his rich reputation is enough to keep him inside our top 20.
17. Heung-min Son | Club: Tottenham Hotspur | Country: South Korea
Sonny has been a fan favorite and a goal machine for Tottenham Hotspur over the years. He has scored at least ten goals across eight straight seasons for Spurs and has even found ten assists in three seasons. Since the departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, the onus has been put on Son to be the team's alpha, and we'll see if he can continue that in 2024-25.
18. Ruben Dias | Club: Manchester City | Country: Portugal
Dias has established himself as the anchor for both Manchester City and Portugal as he enters the prime of his career at 27 years old. He has everything you would want in a center-back with his physicality, speed, and ability to pass with both feet. Should he continue with both club and country, he could be a very decorated man by the time he hangs up his cleats u.
19. Julian Alvarez | Club: Manchester City | Country: Argentina
Another Citizen enters our list at the 19th spot in Julian Alvarez. Originally the understudy for Erling Haaland in the Man City attack, Alvarez was simply too good of a player for manager Pep Guardiola to keep on the bench. He worked his way into the starting lineup and exploded for 19 goals in 2023-24, and should be ready to keep the ball rolling into next season.
20. Alisson | Club: Liverpool | Country: Brazil
Our first goalkeeper to enter the list, it's hard to say Alisson isn't the best goalkeeper in the world right now. His reflexes, reach, decision-making, and distribution are all top-notch, making him the most well-rounded keeper in the sport and one of the all-time greats. He continues to make Liverpool's decision to make him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time at the time a genius move.
21. Cristiano Ronaldo | Club: Al Nassr | Country: Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has steadily fallen from being considered one of the top players in the world, mainly due to his loss of speed and stamina. He is now being utilized as a goal poacher, sitting up top and rarely pressing the ball while just waiting in the box for his moment rather than drifting wide and taking on defenders one-on-one. That said, he remains one of the most lethal finishers in the world and can produce magic out of nearly nothing at any time. Expect him to continue setting records for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2024-25.
22. John Stones | Club: Manchester City | Country: England
A backline leader for both England and Manchester City, John Stones has solidified himself as one of the top defenders in the world. His ability to defend, combined with his sense of composure with the ball at his feet, makes him the perfect center-back for teams that dominate possession, like The Three Lions and the Citizens.
23. Ilkay Gundogan | Club: Barcelona | Country: Germany
One of the engines in the side that made Manchester City go for so many seasons is Ilkay Gundogan, a magician in the midfield. He is one of the most well-rounded players in the world through his ability to play well in attack, defense, and possession. While he may not be a household name, his presence in the midfield for Germany and Manchester City has proven crucial to each team's success over the years.
24. Thibaut Courtois | Club: Real Madrid | Country: Belgium
Thibaut Courtois's masterclass in the 2022 UEFA Champions League Final against Liverpool remains one of the top performances in a major European final in recent memory. His plethora of accolades and domestic titles across the past decade with Chelsea and Real Madrid make him one of the more consistent stoppers of the 21st century and well worth a spot inside our top 25 on this list.
25. Cole Palmer | Club: Chelsea | Country: England
Cole Palmer is rapidly climbing the ranks as one of the top players in the world after a breakout campaign with Chelsea in 2023-24, followed by a strong showing off the bench for England at EURO 2024. The 22-year-old slotted 22 goals and dished out 11 assists in the Premier League last season, finishing second in both categories across the entire top flight. There's a case to be made he had the strongest attacking season among anyone in the league last year, and there is nowhere to go but up after inking a new deal with the Blues in August.
1. Kylian Mbappe | Club: Real Madrid | Country: France
There's little doubt that Kylian Mbappe is at the top of the soccer world right now. The Frenchman's move this summer from PSG to Real Madrid garnered worldwide headlines, with his personal tweet on the move reaching over one million likes on X. At just 25 years of age and at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, the world is at his feet quite literally for the next decade.

Who Are the Top 25 Soccer Players in the World Right Now?

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