Choosing the 10 best footballers in the world is never easy, but after a year of historic tactical shifts and individual brilliance, these names have truly separated themselves from the rest.
10. Pedri (Barcelona & Spain)
Imagine being good enough to be compared to Xavi or Andrés Iniesta; now imagine being compared to both. That’s Pedri. After moving into a deeper midfield role, he became the architect of the game in 2025, leading Barcelona to a domestic treble and a Champions League semi-final.
“Pedri is unbelievable,” says teammate Jules Koundé. “He is just so complete. He sees spaces way better than the average midfielder. And a thing that is underrated is his workload—he runs a lot. He’s a differential.”
9. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt)
The Egyptian King returns to the top 10, largely due to a blistering start to 2025 that saw him seal Liverpool’s status as the Premier League’s premier side for the 2024-25 season. While age has sparked some inconsistency in the current campaign, his ruthless genius remains; he recently notched two goals against Djibouti to ensure Egypt’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
8. Raphinha (Barcelona & Brazil)
Raphinha describes himself as a “pain in the backside” for his vocal leadership, but his stats do the talking. With 34 goals and 26 assists in the 2024-25 season, he has become an ultra-intense leader for Barcelona. Diego Simeone famously remarked, “I don’t know how he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or,” after the Brazilian finished high in the voting but still feels underrated by many.
7. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain & Morocco)
2025 was the year Hakimi silenced critics of his defensive work by becoming Europe’s most dangerous attacking defender. No defender in the top five leagues bettered his 30 goal contributions last season. His synergy with Ousmane Dembélé was vital to PSG’s European success. However, a legal shadow remains as he continues to fight allegations from 2023, which his legal team maintains are “senseless.”
6. Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal)
From a difficult spell at Wolves to a Champions League winner in four years, Vitinha is now the heartbeat of Paris. Often compared to Marco Verratti, he has eclipsed that comparison by finding a global stage for his waspish playmaking. Legend Blaise Matuidi even drew parallels to Luka Modric when discussing Vitinha’s 2025 Ballon d’Or credentials.
5. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
At 32, Kane is defying the traditional trajectory of a centre-forward. His move to Bayern Munich has transformed him into a hybrid of a clinical scorer and an elite playmaker. In December 2025, he set a record as the fastest player to reach 100 goal involvements in the Bundesliga, achieving the feat in just 78 games. He remains a perennial favourite for individual honours.
4. Erling Haaland (Manchester City & Norway)
Haaland has been unstoppable, plundering 36 goals in his first 27 outings this season. While City lacked team silverware in the last calendar year, Haaland personally dragged them through a transitional period. On the international stage, he finally achieved a lifelong dream: leading Norway to their first World Cup qualification in 28 years.
3. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
Still only 18, Yamal embraces the “crown” with a confidence that borders on coronation. He finished as the runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or and won the Kopa Trophy, cementing his status as a generational talent. Whether it’s staging a comeback or declaring his intent to win multiple Golden Balls, his character is as compelling as his footwork.
2. Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain & France)
The ultimate reinvention. Under Luis Enrique, the once-prolific but inconsistent winger was converted into a lethal No. 9. This tactical shift led to 35 goals and a historic Champions League title for PSG. His “game-breaking brilliance” earned him the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or in September, completing a journey from “unpredictable talent” to the best player on the planet.
1. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid & France)
After a self-described “rock bottom” in late 2024, Mbappé’s resurrection has been terrifying for defenders. He scored 60 goals in the 2025 calendar year, joining Messi and Ronaldo in an exclusive club. While his first year at Real Madrid was light on team trophies, his individual output—including a hat-trick in El Clásico—was extraordinary. He enters 2026 as the world’s most feared goalscorer.
