His link-up play with his fellow forwards is arguably the best in the world, and his staggering ability to provide a pass and start an attack shouldn’t really be allowed for a player who’s already one of the best at putting the ball in the net. He appears determined to stop Kane from winning the Champions League with six goals in eight games so far and former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand puts Mbappe above Kane. The stats are stunning, 203 goals and 82 assists in 328 Liverpool games, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. There’s debate over whether City can sustain their treble-winning form from last season, but if they do then De Bruyne will undoubtedly be key.
Mike Maignan — Goalkeeper, AC Milan
On the season, Denver has allowed just one wide receiver touchdown, to Chris Godwin. And they’ve shut down DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Mike Evans, and the Jets receivers. Justin Fields’ second half against the Colts was truly a work of fantasy art. Overall he threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown while adding two rushing touchdowns and 55 yards rushing.
Ranking the NFL’s best players at every position for 2024
The Ballon d’Or is a ceremony founded and run by France Football, whereas The Best FIFA Football Awards were founded and run by FIFA. They are two separate awards, although between 2010 and 2015, they merged together to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or. This award celebrates the work of the best coaches in world football, and it ultimately decides which manager is considered to have been the best over the past 12 months.
Only Lionel Messi is better in one key area than Man City’s Phil Foden
That’s huge news for coach Diego Simeone, with the French World Cup winner arguably the most complete footballer in the world. De Bruyne sent shivers down the spines of Liverpool and Arsenal players with a stunning return from injury against Newcastle after four months out. The Brazilian has been forced off of the wing for the strikerless Madrid this season, and has shown that he could well end up being the main Brazilian over Vinicius thanks to his sublime all-round play. One of football’s great recent stories, Martinez went from a forgotten Arsenal loanee to a World Cup winner loved by Lionel Messi. Xhaka has proved to be the perfect system player for Alonso’s highly fullback-dependent plan of action, and his ability to dictate a game has stepped up from even his best displays at the Emirates.
Ten Hag explains controversial Man United substitution which sparked outrage in TV studio
Right-back was never the most glamorous position, but the game’s many evolutions have seen it become a thrilling and unpredictable spot on the pitch. The best in the game will marry a strong positional awareness with blinding speed, as well as the daring to surge forward and support their teams in attack. This year’s ballot had over 50 entries from all over the globe and from all areas of ESPN FC; from writers to reporters, from editors to producers, from behind-the-scenes staff to on-air talent. Gab Marcotti, Julien Laurens, Mark Ogden and Alejandro Moreno were just some of the key voters. Our rankings are divided into four lists and give readers the closest thing to a position-by-position “depth chart” across world soccer.
Alexis Mac Allister — Midfield, Liverpool
Signing Alejandro Grimaldo on a free transfer proved to be a transformative bit of business from Xabi Alonso.The former Benfica left-back was a constant source of goals in his first season at Bayer Leverkusen, helping the German side go unbeaten domestically. He’s won the World Cup and Copa America (twice) with Argentina and the Champions League, Premier League (twice again) and FA Cup with Manchester City. It’s no surprise that the forward got a little bored and decided to jet off to Atletico Madrid in search of more regular first-team football, where he will be hoping to add to his honours list up against city rivals Real Madrid and Catalan giants Barcelona.
Harry Winks: “It’s different for me because I’m a Tottenham fan”
“I hate playing as a number nine,” has been Rodrygo’s constant plea to Carlo Ancelotti, his manager, and the media, but on the pitch you can hardly tell. Unexpectedly helping Aston Villa to a Champions League push, manager Unai Emery’s high-risk high-reward tactics have left Martinez as a key last line of defence, and his one-on-one mastery is among the best in the world. Previously projected to be a future Ballon d’Or winner at Manchester City, Sane appeared to have run out of tricks, but manager Thomas Tuchel has revitalised him. Bayern Munich finally did exactly that last season in response to Manuel Neuer’s skiing accident, and while things didn’t quite work out for a shambolic Bayern side, Inter are now reaping the benefits. Considered the best of the rest for much of his career, many goalkeeping experts were continually baffled that no one tried to poach Sommer from Borussia Monchengladbach earlier.
Marquinhos — Center Back, PSG
- Federico Dimarco’s breakout performances at left-back for Inter saw the Italian giants quickly ditch previous signing Robin Gosens.His searing pace has become crucial for Simone Inzaghi and his sweet left foot is a proven threat in the attacking third.
- He boasts the knack of scoring critical goals in crucial moments – see the Champions League final – and in mid-January 2024, he struck a milestone of 50 games undefeated for City.
- Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best football players in the world in 2024.
- Analyze matchupsAnalyze the upcoming matchups for your players and opponents to determine which players to start in your lineup each week.
- The 25-year-old is one of the fastest footballers we’ve ever seen grace the field, with shooting technique like no other.
- Before transferring to Real Madrid, he had made quite an impact at the German Borussia Dortmund.
Luis Diaz was on the pitch more often than not to generate — and score — chances. In the four years since Bellingham traded the Black Country for the Ruhr Valley he has fulfilled that famed promise to his youth coach that he would be a 10, an eight and a four in one package. In his final year with Borussia Dortmund he was the tempo-dictating, ball-progressing player of the season in the Bundesliga. On his arrival at Real Madrid he plugged the great hole that Carlo Ancelotti had at center forward, weighing in with a big goal whenever required on his road to La Liga’s player of the season. When Vinicius Junior returned to full fitness and form, Bellingham became the man to bring balance to Madrid taking on a heftier midfield role. Sana, who made her debut in 2019 at the age of 18, is the rising star of Pakistan cricket and its great hope following its difficult recent run.
EA College Football 25 update: Travis Hunter now game’s highest-rated player
The Indian vice-captain is the second highest run-getter in T20 internationals with 56 half-centuries to her name. The 28-year-old from Mumbai led her Bengaluru franchise to their maiden Women’s Premier League title earlier this year and will look to help India do the same in T20 World Cup. Al Jazeera picks the 10 players to watch out for at the ninth edition of the tournament. From Smriti Mandhana to Abtaha Maqsood, Al Jazeera picks the 10 players who could light up the tournament in the UAE.
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Warren is a jack of all trades for Penn State, even playing wildcat quarterback and throwing touchdown passes. He is a tough, dependable receiver who fights for extra yardage and is a capable blocker. He is a throwback player who will be a great fit in any offense at the next level. With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, the league’s true insiders made their voices heard. ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This was the fifth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players moved up or fell off last year’s lists.
One of the most underappreciated attackers in the modern game, Rodrygo has often been left in the shadows by his Real Madrid teammates. Whether it’s Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior or Jude Bellingham, the Brazilian hasn’t always claimed the plaudits he deserves. However, he remains an exceptional dribbler and scorer of big goals for Los Blancos, regularly popping up in the latter stages of the Champions League with crucial strikes. While criticism still comes in domestically, those on the continent are ready to anoint the right back as one of the best players in the world for his astonishing array of passing and attacking prowess. The relative mystique of foreign leagues can often inflate a player’s reputation as we are fed their many highlights and rarely see their 4/10s, the days they’d rather not remember, their misses, their failures.
Records, stats and facts from a historic Olympic Games Paris 2024
When considering a possible drop in touches while also facing a team that is one of the top run defenses, the stars are not aligning for Moss. After starring in Ligue 1 with Lyon, Ferland Mendy departed for Real Madrid in 2019 and made an immediate impact. But he’s stepped up when it has mattered most and his well-rounded skill set means he’s one of the most complete left-backs in the world. Wendell was a late bloomer on the international scene, only making his Brazil debut in 2024. It did, however, come just in time to play as his country’s first choice left-back at that year’s Copa America.He has garnered attention for his role in Porto’s recent dominance in Portugal and could add to his trophy cabinet during the twilight of his career. Be prepared for bye weeksPlan ahead for bye weeks by having backup players ready to fill in for your starters.
Julian Alvarez — Forward, Manchester City
Euro 2024 was a coming of age tournament for Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal, who emerged from the competition with individual and collective glory. He became the youngest goalscorer in Euros history, won the Young Player of the Tournament, scored the Goal of the Tournament and was crowned a European champion when Spain triumphed over England in the final. The starlet was already a sensation at Barcelona but has now hit new heights. The Turkish star boasts a supreme passing range and is almost faultless from set-pieces. There are plenty of superstars across the planet, with the bulk of the most talented players plying their trade in Europe, but when it comes to comparing the top performers, the playing field is significantly more level. If he racks up another couple of 20+ goal seasons, he will hit the 200 Premier League goals mark, an unbelievable achievement for any player, let alone a winger playing out wide.
- If host Euro 2024 nation Germany is to have any chance of winning the trophy on home soil, Wirtz will need to be at his impactful best in order for them to succeed.
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- So far, the 49ers rank 11th in pass defense EPA and are third at pressuring quarterbacks.
- Now in his 30s, Kante is another player to make big bucks in Saudia Arabia – joining up with his fellow Frenchman Benzema at Al-Ittihad.
- “Sometimes, I score a goal and get an assist but I might still be unsatisfied with myself,” Sane said earlier in the season.
- Al-Ittihad are paying Benzema £85 million a year so the club will expect results.
- It slowly gained traction, incorporating a women’s award in 2001 alongside several other trophies.
- What makes Bellingham’s achievements all the more stunning this season is that he was never previously relied upon for goals in his career.
Golazo 100 countdown: Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr. top the best men’s soccer players in the world list for 2024
When he started to show all promise at Valencia a decade ago (how is he already 30 years old?), he looked destined for superstardom. Another Portuguese prodigy ripped from Benfica for big money, only to then play for Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona in a six-year span. He’s as fast as they make them, he can dominate you with his technical skill, and even though he’s a fullback, he’s an attack-minded player with all the potential in the world.
Rafael Leao — Left Wing, AC Milan
Freshmen receiver Drelon Miller lined up in the backfield for the first snaps of the season and actually got the ball on the first two offensive plays in the opener against North Dakota State. Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan (No. 143)There were lots of red flags last year with Edwards’ lack of production, but then he looked like Walter Payton in the national championship. I thought this was his year to be the man, but Kalel Mullings has taken over as RB1 and looks like the bell cow on a Michigan offense that must be mind-boggling to their fans. They didn’t upgrade their offense by adding an elite quarterback through the portal after the spring, and now their passing game is virtually nonexistent. “All professional players have been affected by these illegal rules (in force since 2001!) and can therefore now seek compensation for their losses,” Diarra’s lawyers Jean-Louis Dupont and Martin Hissel said in a statement. The CJEU ruling could also lead to other players affected by the Fifa regulations seeking damages.
Ranked! The 20 best Premier League players of 2023/24 so far
A tall, strong, physical presence, Rodri has all the muscle City require in a combative midfielder, combined with the grace, skill and drive of an attacking midfielder capable of drifting high up the pitch. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the two greatest footballers of a generation, the former earning the Greatest of All Time tag in many quarters after capping off an outrageous career with the World Cup, the ultimate prize. There’s always a level of uncertainty attached to a youth prospect, some of whom unfairly carry the hopes and dreams of idealistic supporters on their shoulders. Newcastle United’s £45 million bet in January 2023 to sign Anthony Gordon from Everton was a good one, though, and the 23-year-old’s stock is only rising after a career-best season with the Magpies.
The attacking midfielder has shone in Austria, also producing two goals and an assist in the Champions League this term. A player who was already idolised by Football Manager players across the globe, Bardghji truly announced himself to the world with a dramatic late winner against Man Utd in the Champions League this season. The Copenhagen winger slammed his volley into the https://st-bet.net/bonus/ ground and beyond Andre Onana, securing a famous 4-3 victory for the Danes. A left-sided midfielder capable of playing as a left-back, Barco appears to be yet another Argentinian gem. The 19-year-old’s stock has risen over the past year as he continues to blossom in Boca Juniors’ first team, even featuring in the most recent Copa Libertadores final against Fluminense.
- Besides the Norwegian striker, you’ll find Argentinian, French and English footballers on this list.
- There can be no higher compliment to his talent, work rate and tactical awareness than perhaps the greatest manager of all time relying on him so much.
- In 2023, the 11-time Pro Bowler earned the second-highest run-blocking grade from PFF (92.5) while helping to pave the way for the league’s rushing champion.
- Kennard has a nice toolbox of moves, including a great get-off, speed to power, and a quick inside move.
- The early signs are that he’s ready to take over both the league and Europe in order to jump to the top of this list next year.
- Sommer has made Andre Onana a distant memory, and is quickly becoming one of the most important players in a potentially titanic Serie A title bout between Inter and Juventus, with no team in Europe’s big five leagues conceding fewer than Inter’s 13 goals.
Besides the Norwegian striker, you’ll find Argentinian, French and English footballers on this list. They have all had an incredible 2023 season that manifested their placement at the top of this list. One of them is obviously the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi, and the 3rd place and French captain, Kylian Mbappe. McCaffrey flourished during his first full season in San Francisco, becoming the NFL’s rushing champion (1,459 yards) while leading the league in yards from scrimmage (2,023) and touchdowns (21) in 16 games played. The two-time All-Pro running back was the fireball within Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense, and opposing defenders had a tough time stopping McCaffrey, who led the NFL in yards after contact (949), according to Next Gen Stats. McCaffrey, whose breakaway speed makes him the prototypical backfield weapon, became the first 49ers player since Jerry Rice (1993) to win Offensive Player of the Year and his image will grace the cover of Madden NFL 25 following his best season to date.
- While Frimpong tends to hold his width and hover on the peripheries of attacks, Grimaldo has more freedom to glide around and get involved in the build up while still getting a sizeable number of penalty box touches.
- During their time at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema inevitably played in the shadow of Ronaldo – and although the pair ply their trade for different clubs in Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese legend still has the edge on salary – just.
- “I have very high demands of myself there, which I always want to meet.” While he is a key figure for Bayern, it remains to be seen how he fits in for Germany this summer with Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz potentially their first-choice front three.
- He’s won the World Cup and Copa America (twice) with Argentina and the Champions League, Premier League (twice again) and FA Cup with Manchester City.
- Moose Muhammad III, WR, Texas A&M (No. 148)I thought Muhammad had a Jimbo Fisher issue, but it turns out there’s likely more to it.
- The dependable spinner could turn this World Cup into a breakthrough international tournament for herself and her country, who are making their T20 World Cup debut.
- At FourFourTwo, we set about compiling a list of the 20 best players in the Premier League based on their performances so far this season.
The following summer he was gone, flown off to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. After concreting himself in Premier League history with first Leicester City, and then Manchester City, Mahrez jumped ship to Saudi Arabia, where he joined Al-Ittihad. Some of you might have expected Mbappe to be a little higher up this list but no, the Frenchman is on a meagre £300k per week at Real Madrid. Footballer wages are higher than they’ve ever been right now, with the sport watched around the world, TV rights skyrocketing, and the Saudi Pro League throwing cash at the sport with reckless abandon.
They are, of course, only a selection of the players at the top level on the global football scene. The next year will show whether they can keep their ranking at the top of the list or whether other top players will make their way to the list. The award celebrates the best 11 players in the world each year, and gives players who don’t have a realistic shot at winning the overall award, primarily defensive players, recognition for their work on the pitch. The appreciation and acclaim of Garrett continues as the Top 100’s highest-ranked defender. Cleveland’s daunting edge rusher was invincible through the first 11 games, securing 13.0 of his 14.0 season sacks during a span that included a memorable showcase of dominance against the Colts in Week 7.
GOAL OF THE MONTH WINNERElsewhere, our Goal of the Month prize has also been declared, with Christian Eriksen winning the accolade for the month of September. Wolvaardt will seek to captain her side to the final step having been runners-up at the last edition. The 25-year-old has a wealth of experience having made her debut as a 16-year-old in an ODI against England in 2016. The right-handed opening batter is fifth in the T20 rankings, her country’s highest in any discipline, and has one century and 11 fifties in 66 T20 innings for her country.
Vinicius Junior has just delivered for Real Madrid in the biggest game in football, again. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe continue to top the continent’s scoring charts. Just like their counterparts on the opposite flank, the best left-backs combine pace and intelligence to be a threat in attack or in defense.