We Ranked the World’s Greatest Soccer Players

Germán Ezequiel Cano Recalde is an Argentine who plays as a striker for Fluminense. He was born on January 2nd, 1988, in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina. Cano is one of the world’s top scorers. He’s a rare example of a soccer player who has reached his peak at a more advanced age. During his time with Independiente de Medellin, he scored a spectacular 54 goals in 94 matches.

Cano became well-known in Columbia and Mexico, but it wasn’t until he joined Vasco da Gama in 2020 that he came into his own. He gave his best to the team, but they finished 10th place, and in 2022, Cano joined their rivals, Fluminense. The Fluminense coach, Fernando Diniz, called him one of the best strikers in the world.

Virgil van Dijk was born July 8th, 1991 in Breda, Netherlands, plays as a center-back for Liverpool. He’s widely known as one of the best defenders of his generation. He is fast, strong, and a great leader. Liverpool’s manager said of him, “Virg is the best defender in the world.”

Van Dijk often uses only his first name on his kit. According to his uncle, this is because his father abandoned the family during his childhood. This clearly isn’t keeping him back, as he is considered the obvious choice to succeed Jordan Henderson as the team’s captain.

Eduardo Camivinga was born November 10th, 2002, in Cabinda, Angola. He plays as a central midfielder for Real Madrid. He was born in a refugee camp and fled with his family to France when he was only two. His family’s home burnt down in 2013, and Camavinga stated this was a source of motivation for him to do well in soccer.

He signed his first professional contract when he was only 16, which made him the youngest professional for the club at that time. Real Madrid’s coach says of Camavinga, “He has extraordinary quality in every sense: physically, technically… tactically, he’s improving,”

Bruno Fernandes — born September 8th, 1990 — in Maia, Portugal, plays as a midfielder and captain for Manchester United. As a child, Fernandes played soccer on the streets with his older brother, who was also a professional soccer player.

In 2012, Fernandes joined Novara in Italy, but at first, he had a hard time fitting in and struggled with the Italian language until his girlfriend joined him. As the team captain, Fernandes leads them to a lot of goals, but his on-pitch manner often leaves something to be desired.

Born on May 28th, 2000, Phil Foden plays as a midfielder for Manchester City. Foden won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball in 2017 and broke into professional soccer. In December of the same year, he was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year.

In 2018, he was the youngest recipient of a Premier League winner’s medal. By December 2023, Foden had 14 goals and 10 assists for Manchester City, but he has fallen down the rankings. Niall McVeigh said, “Foden may be the victim of high expectations and his own versatility.”

William Saliba, born March 24th, 2001, in Bondy, France, plays as a center-back for Arsenal. He is widely considered to be one of the best center-backs in the world. Saliba was coached by his father from the age of six and signed his first contract at the age of 17.

Saliba suffered a back injury in March of this year, which emphasized how pivotal he is to Arsenal’s defense. On July 7th, 2023, he signed a long-term deal with Arsenal until 2028, and he was given the number two shirt.

Thibaut Courtois, born May 11th, 1992, in Bree, Belgium, plays as a goalkeeper for Real Madrid. He’s known as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, with great reflexes, aerobatic saves, and excellent command of the penalty area. Courtois won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

There was some conflict over his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2018, but eventually, Courtois was transferred for a rumored 35 million pounds. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Courtois played his 100th match for Belgium against Croatia in a goalless draw. He was the first Belgian goalkeeper to accomplish such a feat.

Leroy Sané, born January 11th, 1996, in Essen, Germany, plays as a winger for Bayern. Sané is well-known for his dribbling ability and his pace. In 2017, he was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. Sané was the first German ever to win the award.

Sané is the son of Regina Weber, former German rhythmic gymnast, and former soccer player Souleymane Sané. Sané’s two brothers are also soccer players for major German soccer clubs. He had already matched last season’s league goal and assist figures by early December.

Kim Min-jae, born November 15th, 1996, in Tongyeong-si, South Korea, plays as a center-back for Bayern. He has only been in the European game since 2021 and is already one of the top players. He comes from a family of athletes, so maybe it isn’t any surprise he has a 50-million-pound release clause.

Min-jae attended Yonsei University after high school, but despite the university’s attempt to dissuade him, he dropped out to try and fulfill his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. Bayern is now building their defense around a player who is seen to be brave, quick, and physical.

Karim Benzema, born December 19th, 1987, plays as a striker and captain for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Benzema is known for his technical skills and versatility and for being one of the best strikers of all time. When he played for Real Madrid, he won 24 trophies.

Benzema’s Real Madrid manager, Ancelotti, described him as being “the best striker in the world” in 2021. His recent move to Al-Ittihad surprised some, but he will most likely be an excellent addition to the team. Benzema carries on a proud tradition of never finishing below 55th on The Guardian’s list of top players.

Alisson Becker, born October 2nd, 1992, in Novo Hamburgo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, plays as a goalkeeper for Liverpool. Becker, or just Alisson as he’s widely known, is of German descent and multilingual. He was known as “The German” while he was at Roma. He speaks Portuguese, English, and Italian.

Becker was voted player of the season for Liverpool in 2023. He has the highest save percentage in the league. He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League now and should go on to do even better this season.

Marc-André ter Stegen, born April 30th, 1992, in Mönchengladbach, Germany, plays goalkeeper and captain for Barcelona. Ter Stegen was regarded as highly promising as a young player and has gone on to be one of the best goalkeepers in professional soccer.

He was made captain in 2023, and Thibaut Courtois said, “The fact that Barcelona is top is down to Ter Stegen.” He had a back injury in November but hopefully will recover soon enough to help Barcelona to another great season in 2024.

Rodrygo Silva de Goes, known as Rodrygo, born January 9th, 2001, in Osasco, State of São Paulo, Brazil, plays as a winger or forward for Real Madrid. He signed his first professional contract in 2017, agreeing to a five-year deal. Rodrygo’s father is a former professional soccer player in Brazil.

2023 was a massive year for Rodrygo as he climbed 60 places in The Guardian’s list of top players. In 2023, he earned a new contract with a reported 1 billion euro release clause. It remains to be seen how new players will affect his role in the team.

Pedro González López, also known as Pedri, born November 25th, 2002, in Bajamar, Spain, plays as a midfielder for Barcelona. Pedri was transferred from Las Palmas to Barcelona in 2020. In November of 2021, Pedri won the Golden Boy award for being the best player in European soccer under the age of 21.

Xavi, Barcelona’s coach, says, “If we’re talking about pure talent, Pedri is the best player in the world.” The problem is that Pedri has had many injuries and hasn’t played as much as he could have. “Pedri is a super-class; we’re counting on him for everything,” says Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s manager.

Fede Valverde, born July 22nd, 1998, in Montevideo, Uruguay, plays as a central midfielder for Real Madrid. Valverde is one of the most versatile midfielders on the field. He became a key player for the club in the 2019-20 season, scoring his first goal for Real Madrid.

Valverde is already the captain of Uruguay and is expected to one day become captain of Real Madrid as well. He has a fantastic work ethic and consistency, which is something to be modeled for the rest of the team.

Rafael Leão, born June 10th, 1999, in Almada, Portugal, plays as a left winger for AC Milan. When asked why he always smiles, he said, “Everyone has their own tics, their own way of showing when they do something they don’t like,” he said. “And mine, since I was younger, has always been showing my teeth and expressing what I like to do.”

At times, Leão can seem unfocused, but when he’s switched on, he’s almost unbeatable. Leão is tall and has excellent speed, which makes him a powerful forward.

Nicolò Barella, born February 7th, 1997, in Cagliari, Italy, plays as a central midfielder for Inter Milan. He is often recognized as one of the best midfielders in the world based on his technical skills, creativity, and work ethic.

Barella was the only Italian nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, and he scored twice in Milan’s quarter-finals against Benfica. Barella was named the best young Italian player born in 1997, two years in a row. He looks to be a player to keep our eyes on.

Pablo Gavira, or Gavi, born August 5th, 2004, in Spain, plays as a central midfielder for Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Gavi won both the Golden Boy Award and the Kopa Trophy in 2022. Gavi started strong, scoring 95 goals for his youth team, Real Betis.

Coach Xavi said of Gavi, “He’s the heart of the team, fundamental. He’s an exemplary player.” Unfortunately, Gavi had an anterior cruciate tear this season, which means he’ll miss out on much of the next season and Euro 2024.

Cristiano Ronaldo, born February 5th, 1985, in Portugal, plays as a forward and captains both Al Nassar and the Portugal national team. Ronaldo left school in the sixth grade to focus all his time on soccer.

A year after leaving school, he was diagnosed with a heart condition and underwent surgery. Ronaldo’s determination shows in his game. He became the first male player ever to reach 200 international appearances.

John Stones, born May 28th, 1994, in Barnsley, England, plays as a center-back or defensive midfielder for Manchester City. Stones was the world’s second most expensive defender when Manchester City signed him for 47.5 million pounds.

Stone’s nickname is the “Barnsley Beckenbauer,” and he lived up to it in the Champions League Final. Stone is a versatile player, and in the last season, Manchester City didn’t lose once with him in the starting line-up.

Luka Modrić, born September 9th, 1985, in Croatia, is one of the older players on the list. He plays as a midfielder for Real Madrid. Modrić began his early life as a goat herder when he was only five years old.

Despite him not playing as much anymore, Modrić’s team relies on him for his leadership and experience. He’s an excellent guide to the club’s younger members. Luka Modrić won the FIFA Cup with his team in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022.

Son Heung-min, born July 8th, 1992, in South Korea, plays as a forward and captain for both Tottenham Hotspur and the South Korean national team. He has an incredible record of 145 goals in 372 matches. In the 2022-23 season, he scored his 100th Premier League goal.

Heung-min’s stamina and courage are apparent when it was revealed that he played the entire last season with a hernia, only undergoing surgery in May. His team was struggling, and he didn’t want to leave them down a man.

Moraes, known simply as Ederson, born August 17th, 1993, in Brazil, plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester City. He is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world due to his accuracy and skill. Ederson holds the Guinness World Record for the longest soccer dropkick.

Ederson joined Manchester City in 2017 for 35 million pounds. At the time, this made him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time. He had an excellent last season, but unfortunately, a foot injury might cost him some field time next season.

Declan Rice, born January 14th, 1999, in the United Kingdom, plays as a defensive midfielder for Arsenal and the England national team. He won the Premier League Cup in 2016 with the under-21s, showing his potential early on.

Some players find their transfer fees to be much pressure, but Rice seems to be handling his 105-million-pound fee just fine. His positional sense, determination, and physicality are a great addition to his team and give hope for a great upcoming season.

Rúben Dias, born May 14th, 1997, in Portugal, plays as a center-back for Manchester City. His aerial ability is renowned, and he is often considered one of the best defenders in the world. Dias was born and raised in Amadora, Portugal, and he has an older brother who is also a professional soccer player.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City’s captain, considers Dias a crucial part of his defense. He played every minute of the game during the Champion League’s knockout stages. The team only gave up three goals in seven games, much of that due to Dias’ great defense ability.

Jamal Musiala, born February 26th, 2003, in Stuttgart, Germany, plays as an attacking midfielder and winger for Bayern Munich. He is nicknamed “Bambi” for his incredible dribbling ability. Musiala is considered one of the best young players in the world.

His team already relies heavily on his abilities, so hopefully, he won’t end up with more muscle injuries that plagued him at the beginning of the season. Musiala, born to a British-Nigerian father and a German mother, grew up mainly in England, where his family moved when he was seven.

Julián Álvarez was born on January 31th, 2000, in Argentina. He plays as a forward for Manchester City and the Argentina national team. The Club World Cup is the 14th major trophy for Álvarez. “To be – in a short time – world champion with the club and with the Argentinian national team is a source of pride,” he says.

Álvarez has a flair for the spectacular with his curling strike and has so far scored 25 goals for Manchester City. He is only 23 but is showing himself to be an asset to the game of soccer and is a player to keep our eyes on.

Martin Ødegaard, born December 17th, 1998, in Drammen, Norway, is a striking player who is known for being one of the best midfielders in the world. He plays as a midfielder and captains both for Arsenal and Norway’s national team.

Ødegaard’s father, Hans, is a former soccer player and helped to instill a love of the game in his son.  Martin played in the club Drammen Strong, with his father as the coach. Ødegaard is considered one of the most prized midfielders in the Premier League.

Robert Lewandowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, on August 21st, 1998. He plays as a striker for La Liga Barcelona and captains the Polish national team. He is widely considered to be one of the best strikers of all time.

Lewandowski won the Best FIFA Men’s Player award in 2020. He has achieved a considerable amount of both trophies and recognition over the course of his career, including being the second-highest goal scorer in the Bundesliga with over 300 goals.

İlkay Gündoğan, a German midfielder for Barcelona, was born on October 24th, 1990. Gündoğan grew up in Gelsenkirchen, where he played soccer until he was eight when he had to take some time away due to growth issues.

Gündoğan recently moved to the Barcelona team, and his absence from Manchester City is keenly felt. He is already an essential player to Coach Xavi, with him playing the full 90 minutes in all but two matches since August.

Antoine Griezmann, born March 21st, 1991, in France, plays as a forward for Atlético Madrid and the French national team. He is considered to be one of the best players of his generation. His father is a town councilor whose family is originally from Germany, and his mother is of Portuguese descent. His maternal grandfather was also a professional soccer player.

Griezmann was the best player in La Liga in 2023, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists. “He has something special,” Diego Simeone, Argentina Manager, says: “A supremely talented soccer player, clever and efficient, at the heart of absolutely everything, but who works as if he was rubbish. He’s extraordinary: he understands where the team needs his effort.”

Bukayo Saka, born September 5th, 2001, in London, England, is a right winger for Arsenal. Many consider him to be one of the best young wingers in the world. He is the younger of two children, and his parents emigrated to England from Nigeria, looking for a better life.

Saka had 14 league goals and 11 assists in 2022-23, a massive help for Arsenal, bringing them back into the Champions League after six years. He told The Guardian, “The more you play, the wiser you get and the smarter you get – there are things I can definitely improve on.”

Lautaro Martinez is an Argentinian-born striker for club Inter Milan, or Internazionale. He was born on August 22nd, 1997, and is 26 years old. His father was also a professional soccer player, something which runs in families. He was only 17 when he was signed to the Racing Club in Argentina.

In the past, criticism of Martinez was that he was inconsistent, with him alternating between prolific games and then long goalless periods. He has gotten more consistent in the past season, as he is doing better than ever. This player is one to keep our eyes on.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was born in Tbilisi, Georgia on February 12th, 2001. The 22-year-old is a much-loved left winger for Napoli and the Georgian national team. At 16, he began playing for Dinamo Tbilisi and soon won two Russian Premier League Best Young Player awards.

Kvaratskhelia received the MVP award for 12 goals and 10 assists last season. He is considered an “underdog,” having been signed for only 10 million euros. He has been nicknamed “Kvaradona” after the much-loved Napoli legend Diego Maradona because his dribbling style is similar.

Silva was born in Lisbon, Portugal, on August 10th, 1994, and plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger for Manchester City and the Portugal national team. He speaks fluent English, having attended an English-speaking school. He also speaks Spanish and French, along with his native Portuguese.

Silva has come into his own this season and is much loved by fans, his manager, and teammates. He’s versatile and creative, making up for his more diminutive stature with passionate play. He was described by Michael Butler of The Guardian as an “elite talent in a modest shell”.

Lionel Messi, universally known as Messi, is a given for the top ten of this list. He was born on June 24th, 1987, in Argentina. He plays as a forward and captain for Inter Miami and the Argentinian national team.

Messi grew up in a soccer-loving family and has played the sport his whole life. He is known for celebrating his goals by looking up and pointing to the sky as a tribute to his grandmother. Messi helped lead his team to a spectacular World Cup win in 2022. It’s hard to compete with that success.

Victor Osimhen, born December 29th, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria, plays as a striker for Napoli and the Nigerian national team. He is known for his pace, strength, and elite finishing and is widely thought of as one of the best strikers in the world.

Born in Nigeria, he began his senior career in Germany before moving to France at Lille. He missed a few games last season because of injuries but still managed to bring home 26 goals. In the Champions League, he scored four times in three games, and his team was eliminated in the one match he couldn’t play.

Kevin De Bruyne, born June 28th, 1991, in Belgium, plays as a midfielder and captain for Manchester City and the Belgium national team. He is one of the greatest soccer players of his generation. De Bruyne is multilingual, speaking Dutch, French, English, and German. He spent a large part of his childhood in England.

There was a conflict between him and Courtois over a woman. De Bruyne wrote in his autobiography about how his then-girlfriend left him, “Although I still cannot believe what Courtois has done, we continue to work together professionally.” Despite being injured since August, De Bruyne played a spectacular season.

Mohamed Salah, born June 15th, 1992, in Egypt, plays as a right winger or forward for Liverpool and Captains the Egyptian national team. He has excellent speed, dribbling, and finish. Salah and his wife have been married since 2013 and have two daughters.

Salah was voted for possibly over a million times in the 2018 Egyptian election, with voters crossing out both names and writing his name instead. Salah scored 30 goals in the last season, proving his team’s faith in him when they rejected a 150-million-pound offer for his transfer.

Vinicíus Júnior was born July 12th, 2000, in Brazil. He plays as a winger for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. His career began in 2006 when his father took him to Flamengo, near where he lived. Since he was from a low-income family, he began to receive help from Flamengo, who felt he was worth investing in.

Jude Bellingham said of Júnior, “Probably the best player in the world.” He was probably the most fouled player last season, some think, because he was the most feared as a powerful attacker. He has been the victim of repeated racial abuse, but he’s taken it upon himself to effect change.

Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, better known as Rodri was born June 22nd, 1996, in Madrid, Spain. He plays as a defensive midfielder for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. He is well-known for his skillful control of the ball, tackling, and passing.

Rodri is a physically strong player, which, along with his height, often gives him an advantage during tackles and aerial duels. He made his debut for the Spanish national team in 2018 and joined Manchester City in 2019, and he has helped the team win three consecutive league titles.

Harry Kane, born July 28th, 1993, in the United Kingdom, plays as a striker for Bayern Munich and captains the England national team. Kane, who is from an English/Irish family, has played soccer since he was very young. He joined a local club at only six.

Kane cites his influencers as David Beckham, Jermain Defoe, and Ronaldo. As Kane already has more Bundesliga goals than last season’s top scorers, it looks like he’s fulfilling his childhood dreams.

Kylian Mbappe, born December 20th, 1998, in Paris, France, plays as a forward for Saint-Germain and captains the French national team. His father is originally from Cameroon and is both his agent and a soccer coach. His mother is a former handball player.

Mbappe was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year for the fourth time this season. He averages more than 1 goal per game during league play. His regular summer contract stand-off and his potential involvement in the Olympics are looking like he might be heading somewhere else soon.

Jude Bellingham was born June 29th, 2003, in the United Kingdom. He plays as a midfielder for Real Madrid and on the English national team. In 2023, he won two significant awards, the Golden Boy and the Kopa Trophy, showing he is an up-and-coming soccer player.

At only 20 years of age, he has a long career ahead of him, which will only get better if he isn’t sidelined by injury. When asked who his idols are, Bellingham replied, “Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner, and Lee Bowyer.”

Erling Haaland, born July 21st, 2000, was born in England of Norwegian descent and plays as a striker for Manchester City and the Norwegian national team. During his debut season, Haaland broke the record for the most goals scored in a single season.

Haaland was born in Leeds, England, as his father was playing for Leeds United. When he was three, his family moved back to Norway. Haaland scored a remarkable 50 goals in 2023, which puts him firmly at the top of the list.