{"sheets":{"players_FOR_SUBBING":[{"2024":"139","Rank":"1","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"59","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Ousmane Dembélé","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, Ligue 1, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b81d6dacc70542c36cc6a2b84dda2cd0cf1c82fc/2383_688_1370_1370/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0dc6e7c3eb96641ac89997bcf9497f2bca9e600d/384_68_4851_3881/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Dembélé has always been an enigmatic figure, even to himself. In an infamous clip dating back to his Rennes days, he couldn’t decide which was his stronger foot, and for years he was a destabilising but profligate winger, capable of dazzling and disappointing in equal measure, and incapable of living up to his early promise. Having worked with Dembélé at Barcelona, Luis Enrique knows him better than most and the PSG manager sparked an improbable reinvention. Converted into a No 9, the Frenchman was suddenly prolific. A metamorphosis that helped, in Emmanuel Macron’s words, “put Paris on the roof of Europe”. His 35 goals last season saw him awarded the Ballon d’Or in September – on top of the world, Dembélé is atop our standings for the first time, too.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"4","Rank":"2","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+2","Player":"Lamine Yamal","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"18","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, La Liga, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8ad4316e6718b694a5ed383b14609a384a1c3c0c/1154_0_1461_1461/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ea71a6539109c2eceedbd115f0a67a2fa24fd44c/606_153_3080_2465/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Heavy is the head that wears the crown but Lamine Yamal doesn’t mind. In fact, he seems to like it, embracing the expectation and the pressure, staging his own coronation with every goal. Still only 18, he’s certainly not shy, happy to declare his intention not just to win a Ballon d’Or but lots of them. At the end of Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final elimination by Inter, Lamine Yamal promised his mum he would be back, and while the presumptuousness and character doesn’t please everyone – and it can come back to bite him – it’s part of what makes him so compelling and so good.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"47","Rank":"3","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+44","Player":"Vitinha","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Ligue 1, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/045cc2debec7800a5b837f214e14441310f94ad7/656_44_582_582/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/689cc84c43078dbeb202cf23f4a8264eca834a5d/211_136_2525_2020/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"From Wolves reject to Champions League winner in the space of four years. It has been quite the turnaround for Vitinha, who was the beating heart of the Paris Saint-Germain midfield this year. The waspish Portuguese playmaker has often earned flattering comparisons to Marco Verratti, a player undervalued having played his prime years in France, but Vitinha has managed to eclipse the Italian, transcending borders to earn global recognition. It is hard to stand out in a midfield as gifted as PSG’s, but Vitinha manages it, even drawing Luka Modric comparisons and shouts for next year’s Ballon d’Or from World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"10","Rank":"4","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"2","Up or down":"+6","Player":"Kylian Mbappé","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, La Liga, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9c4f829bffe5f2ca227bd5c3120070963b157cbf/635_101_1748_1747/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3b66392b1096c986868a96923932bcec007858e3/365_76_1394_1115/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Mbappé said he hit “rock bottom” in December 2024, culminating in a missed penalty at San Mamés that provided the epiphany from which resurrection came, his timidity shaken off. Ten goals in 20 games until then became – by early December – 59 in 59. Mbappé’s first campaign at Real Madrid was a weird one: there were no titles and PSG’s treble twisted the knife, acting as a kind of accusation towards their former star. But his performances were extraordinary, that contradiction encapsulated by scoring a hat-trick in the clásico … and losing. He has 55 goals in 2025 at the time of writing, four off Cristiano Ronaldo’s single-year club record.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"6","Rank":"5","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"4","Up or down":"+1","Player":"Harry Kane","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"32","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, Bundesliga, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/53872fcce584f11693be7899df8e7877d670083d/1681_104_1084_1084/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3410216a99e60d037ae1a4418dc66c1f49120fde/730_55_3192_2554/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Usually as a top player heads towards his mid-30s, his career high is already set in stone, particularly if he is a centre-forward who has already become his national team’s all-time leading scorer. But what makes Kane extraordinary is the fact that, at 32, his star still appears to be rising. Perhaps it is down to joining one of European football’s elite clubs, Bayern Munich, at a relatively late stage of his career. Yet his match made in heaven with the German champions has helped him scale new heights as both a goalscorer and a playmaker. It is not difficult to imagine him in the Ballon d’Or race – and topping this list – next year.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"3","Rank":"6","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"1","Up or down":"-3","Player":"Erling Haaland","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Norway","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/865ff3fe3396ede45e470676fffb6dc225e5f0b7/1714_144_1866_1866/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/33d72b821037f58ffbcb863f98118fd877ef8da8/405_330_3187_2551/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"An unstoppable Haaland has plundered goals for club and country since the start of this season, netting 36 in his first 27 outings, but still slips three places in our chart. Held to a higher standard thanks to his past performances, the striker will be disappointed to have gone a calendar year without winning team silverware. Decided not to take a penalty in the FA Cup final defeat by Crystal Palace – Omar Marmoush stepped up and missed – in a low point for the 25-year-old, but he has done more than most amid Manchester City’s relative struggles to keep them challenging for trophies in what has been a transitional year for the club. On a brighter note, he helped Norway qualify for their first World Cup in 28 years.","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"56","Rank":"7","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"16","Up or down":"+49","Player":"Achraf Hakimi","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Morocco","Filters":"Other nationalities, Ligue 1, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/954646cfedc5ca98772bdae563647deb76fd011b/1914_81_1861_1861/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b96a5eee8c76d2598e8d5c3dcc1acab084bbe819/38_0_2111_1689/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"This was the year in which concerns about Hakimi's defensive shortcomings became irrelevant. The Moroccan's positive impact going forward far outweighed any perceived weakness in the other direction. No defenders in Europe's top five leagues bettered Hakimi's 30 goal contributions last season. His runs down the right contributed to Ousmane Dembélé's prolific campaign, with the full-back setting up the Ballon d'Or winner on five occasions in 2025. Off the pitch a shadow hangs over him, however, with prosecutors in France asking this summer that he faces trial for allegedly raping a young woman in 2023. Hakimi denies the accusation and his lawyer called the decision by prosecutors \"incomprehensible and senseless in light of the case's elements. If these requisitions were to be followed, we would obviously pursue all avenues of appeal.\"","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"25","Rank":"8","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"136","Up or down":"+17","Player":"Raphinha","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, La Liga, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/91ccc1f85558e8d6949a92f6b84023c8c0cdca38/1475_70_1775_1775/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6924e80a7fa02542160a94b20ec52edb1e6f3251/480_222_5125_4100/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Raphinha is a pain in the backside. That’s according to Raphinha himself, who admits there are times when teammates wonder why he’s talking so much. A bit of silence and they soon realise. Scorer of 34 goals and provider of 26 assists in 2024-25, it was his absence through injury this season that brought home just how significant he is, way beyond the stats: a relentless presence, an ultra-intense leader carrying his teammates with him. “I don’t know how he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or,” Diego Simeone said. Fifth there, eighth here – and, as Simeone suggests, both feel low.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"11","Rank":"9","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"3","Up or down":"+2","Player":"Mohamed Salah","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"33","Nationality":"Egypt","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/55187cdad0075acd160d1b10f07ba98e11a6d46e/769_111_998_998/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/944f7ec47c0475ef346bdd2ee41cab113404333f/888_177_2622_2099/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Egyptian climbs back into the top 10 and, really, that is because of his form in the early part of the year, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists for Liverpool to seal his status as the best player for the best team of the 2024-25 Premier League season. Salah has been a shadow of himself in this campaign, however, with age having seemingly caught up with the 33-year-old. Then, of course, there was that mixed-zone outburst which has left an uncertain cloud over the remainder of his Liverpool career. Nonetheless, there have been classic flashes of Salah's ruthless genius in red since August, along with two goals in his country's 3-0 victory over Djibouti in October that saw them qualify for the World Cup.","Writer":"Sachin Nakrani","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"39","Rank":"10","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"19","Up or down":"+29","Player":"Pedri","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, La Liga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/903a02b010a74f184e6ac579eb7bb0245b02027d/1226_363_778_778/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/114e2f6f80c99ad7bb7ca9bfb5e706a170a1caa6/178_0_2123_1698/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Imagine being good enough to be compared to Xavi or Andrés Iniesta; now imagine being compared to Xavi <i>and</i> Iniesta. That’s Pedri. Moved into deeper midfield, no one played like him in 2025 as he led Barcelona to a domestic treble and a Champions League semi-final last season. “Pedri is unbelievable,” says his teammate Jules Koundé. “He is just so complete. His vision, his technicality, he sees spaces way better than the average midfielder. He is very calm. And a thing that is underrated is his workload: he runs a lot. He’s a differential.” As Frenkie de Jong puts it: “Anyone who plays alongside him feels at ease.”","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"11","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"199","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Nuno Mendes","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Ligue 1, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/06dff2d433a5fcbcec100255aa3bc3bdf5b79317/1447_129_1187_1186/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/91a2d0a830926c2f87f897f50078e1e8590838d2/203_167_3556_2846/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The explosive full-back bursts into the Guardian 100 for the first time. Mendes has always shown promise, but injury issues held the Portugal international back. He made just 14 appearances across all competitions in the 2023-24 campaign but made up for lost time by playing 53 times for PSG last season, despite competing for a place in the side with World Cup winner Lucas Hernández. Like Achraf Hakimi on the opposite side, he is renowned for his attacking output (four goals and four assists in his first 16 appearances this season), but during Les Parisiens’ run to the Champions League title, he also kept Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka quiet.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"12","Rank":"12","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"219","Up or down":"No change","Player":"Cole Palmer","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/71f159fae95a7d049d7b60258efd2c442454a428/1778_232_1073_1072/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/affc130c4bc2d6a11cb9bc0a6011ddcee2758e7c/487_319_1146_917/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A curious year for the Chelsea star. He suffered a slump at the start of 2025, going through an 18-match goal drought, and his struggles to stay fit this season are perhaps why he has not moved up in the rankings. Still, retaining such a high position is a reflection of Palmer’s extravagant talent. The past 12 months have hardly been a bust. He helped Chelsea qualify for the Champions League, dominated the Conference League final and produced an incredible first-half display to defeat PSG in the Club World Cup final, scoring with two cool finishes before setting up João Pedro to seal a 3-0 win. ","Writer":"Jacob Steinberg","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"13","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"12","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Gianluigi Donnarumma","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Italy","Filters":"Italian, Premier League, Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5bec25f956bce95e31ea24d931e7b03ee9375dcd/461_120_2084_2085/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d98306655ad39f0702514a853f45a3c676af8a9e/1078_115_1721_1377/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Following PSG’s spectacular treble last season, the Italian is seen by some as the best goalkeeper in the world. But following the arrival of Lucas Chevalier in August, Donnarumma was seen by some at PSG as not even the best goalkeeper at the club, owing to perceived limitations playing out from the back. It was a surprise to see the 26-year-old sold in his prime for just £30.4m to Manchester City to play under Pep Guardiola, a manager who highly values ball-playing ability, but Donnarumma has started strongly in a City shirt. He is the highest-rated goalkeeper on this list by a distance, 18 places ahead of Thibaut Courtois.","Writer":"Michael Butler","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"49","Rank":"14","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"12","Up or down":"+35","Player":"Khvicha Kvaratskhelia","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Georgia","Filters":"Other nationalities, Ligue 1, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f071a79b1486efea7d55f51d7c5111ba886fb1dc/1253_393_1618_1618/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a0bffc60e2e4efd0e47038dbecc786a2ea7e8c10/1230_647_4001_3201/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"In many ways, Kvaratskhelia is the antithesis to the PSG’s previous “bling-bling” era. The Georgian arrived for big money in January, but he has a selflessness that eluded his predecessors. He is workmanlike out of possession, as demonstrated by his tracking back in the latter stages of PSG’s Champions League win. But he also has the ability to turn a game on its head in a single action, much like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. But while “MNM” often underwhelmed on the big stage for PSG, Kvara stood tall in 2025, saving his best performances for Champions League nights. ","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"34","Rank":"15","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"22","Up or down":"+19","Player":"Declan Rice","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/492ef451ef700e44a5a7ee28af891740e80324f5/1977_3_2956_2956/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9594d69be7603a7709eb0dc1bf55a4493b13b4a9/382_136_3023_2418/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A fantastic year that began with his two superb free-kicks against Real Madrid in the space of 12 minutes is ending with the England midfielder among the early contenders for the Premier League’s player of the season. Rice’s all-action displays in midfield for Arsenal have been the driving force behind their title challenge, not to mention his deadly deliveries from set-pieces that has made Mikel Arteta’s side the best in the business. A rise of 19 places from last year is a reflection of Rice’s growing global reputation – one judge placed him third and Arteta is hopeful that he could become a Ballon d’Or contender in the near future. “I hope so. That would mean that we have won a lot,” he said.","Writer":"Ed Aarons","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"16","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Désiré Doué","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"20","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, Ligue 1, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e26c9feb6bab966059db98770bee5f72cdef1a7e/872_46_1159_1159/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a5091b632c8f77e5cdbb492a29f795213f0eef64/316_124_2706_2165/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Inspired by Neymar, Doué has the former Barcelona forward’s gift of trickery, honed on the fields of Brittany rather than the beaches of Brazil. But the Rennes academy product isn’t some wannabe. It was thought that Neymar was the target of Kylian Mbappé’s “eat well, sleep well” jibe a couple of years back, but as Julien Stéphan, who worked with Doué at Rennes, said this year: “Everything is oriented towards performance” for the PSG forward. And he saved his biggest performance for the biggest night of his burgeoning career, scoring two goals in the Champions League final. He has a gift, and the mentality to boot.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"17","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"João Neves","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"21","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Ligue 1, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a48edaad311371885834a753a88fee77080ce77f/1514_21_1034_1034/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a24ed157cae17492da6be119d84737afa97786d0/1162_59_4734_3786/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Paris Saint-Germain’s pocket-rocket. Neves is a diminutive, zippy figure in PSG’s midfield, but he is also rugged, decisive and – despite his size – excellent in the air. Half of Europe seemingly sought to sign Neves when he opted to join PSG and he showed why in his debut season, as he seamlessly slotted into Luis Enrique’s midfield, playing an incredible 59 games in all competitions. He finished the season with 17 goal contributions. By early December this season he already had eight, three of which have been headed goals of his own, despite the midfielder measuring just 5ft 8in. A João of all trades, he masters them all.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"5","Rank":"18","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"2","Up or down":"-13","Player":"Jude Bellingham","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"22","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, La Liga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f84ff1c5fbed126e33334c635ebd00fcb47ee26b/797_305_1011_1010/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/059479307cee835a485d563ba778f311357a1037/370_0_3742_2994/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"“I didn’t think last season was a disaster: it was still 15 goals, 14 assists. But I know the general feeling was that it was worse. I was a part of how we didn’t play as well. There were still good moments but not the level I want to play at, not like the first year,” Jude Bellingham said, summing it up quite succinctly. After two years in the top 10, but carrying a shoulder injury that required heavy strapping and with his position at Madrid shifting, he slips to 18th now. Still undisputed at the Bernabéu.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"175","Rank":"19","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Scott McTominay","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Napoli","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Scotland","Filters":"Other nationalities, Serie A, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/09551adbb9c9e30221e66a06877636fb3d4e2d3c/1454_192_914_914/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/faccefca719068c657ddfc06ff3b45c20415154c/1303_261_3155_2524/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Napoli have won Serie A four times in their 99-year history. If their first two Scudetti are remembered above all for the magic of Diego Maradona, and the third for breakout performances by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, this year’s triumph will for ever be associated with Scott McTominay. In his debut Serie A season, the man they call McFratm (McBro) scored 12 goals from midfield, eight of which broke a deadlock at 0-0 – including a spectacular scissor-kick in the title-sealing win over Cagliari. No wonder he won both Serie A’s MVP award and the Italian Footballers’ Association’s player of the year award. He appeared on 162 of our judges’ voting slips, and one even had him in first place. He also helped Scotland to a first World Cup in 28 years. ","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"7","Rank":"20","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"13","Up or down":"-13","Player":"Lautaro Martínez","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Argentina","Filters":"Argentinian, Serie A, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a0b52c263d4616c7dad551702f745edbcef6c6ce/1226_151_1363_1363/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6a3a96d4050a417a301c9eee62e2d791b237ae61/350_70_2318_1854/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"No player did more to deliver Inter to a Champions League final than Martínez, who scored in both legs of the quarter-final win over Bayern Munich, then again at home to Barcelona in the semi. It had scarcely seemed plausible that he would even take part in the latter game after exiting the first leg with a thigh injury. This has been easily his best year in Europe’s top club competition – with 12 goals in 12 appearances in 2025 – so perhaps it was a dip in domestic form that led to him falling out of our top 10. He has been a fixture on this list now for seven consecutive years.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"85","Rank":"21","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+64","Player":"Michael Olise","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, Bundesliga, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/36ff0ac83d9f4387113fd68a220a6e8e444512bf/720_12_1219_1219/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c79afe2bb4bc4784f29672aa856f21ed09e766bd/173_456_1950_1560/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Nobody ever doubted Olise’s talent but some questioned whether his reserved demeanour left him cut out for superstardom. He has obliterated those suggestions since arriving in Germany, after a dazzling debut season of 20 goals in all competitions (more than he managed in three seasons at Crystal Palace) and 23 assists … and neither number fully describes the magic he has sprinkled on Bayern. Olise has also emerged for France at just the point where they needed him, and him exactly. A playmaker with craft, speed and imagination was the one thing that Les Bleus lacked. No wonder he has risen by 64 places from last year.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"2","Rank":"22","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"6","Up or down":"-20","Player":"Vinícius Júnior","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, La Liga, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3cab4a3fd82616827e9d1483307234d854fbed39/1118_193_817_817/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/cf4de107ee7a26e660157f697393bf1942eeb886/201_153_2432_1946/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Real Madrid refused to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony because Vinícius’s second place was considered an insult; now, it would be a huge improvement. Still an electric footballer, something shifted that night (not) in Paris. Viní went from eight goals and seven assists in the first half of the La Liga season (2024) to three goals and three assists in the second half (2025), and a solitary strike in the knockout phase of the Champions League. His 2025-26 campaign started better, but he endured a goalless spell from early October stretching into December. His shifting role and status with Kylian Mbappé’s arrival, stalled contract negotiations and relationship with Xabi Alonso all contribute to doubts.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"30","Rank":"23","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"2","Up or down":"+7","Player":"Virgil van Dijk","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Dutch, Premier League, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/dbb20a7c7b6ef464369a1389cd1c4b0ad839295a/558_61_565_565/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/000cab2c19c41a5d186505558f007d4360a31183/282_167_3589_2871/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Liverpool captain was back to his imperious, unflappable best as he put contract issues aside to help Arne Slot’s team win a record-equalling 20th league title. An ever-present on our list since 2018, the defender’s contribution to Liverpool’s unexpected championship saw him rise seven places on last year’s finish. Van Dijk has experienced a drop-off in form this season, in keeping with the entire Liverpool team, with changes at full-back and in midfield leaving Slot’s defence far more exposed. But the 34-year-old remains an indispensable leader on and off the pitch for Liverpool and will be key to any recovery.","Writer":"Andy Hunter","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"21","Rank":"24","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"1","Up or down":"-3","Player":"Robert Lewandowski","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"37","Nationality":"Poland","Filters":"Other nationalities, La Liga, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7ce7b39ce82b5b81a2e407232e119b3a2b4c488f/1366_540_926_926/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8d88d7e68fe5cbd7addb2d6fc374bed7bf953eb4/670_103_2631_2105/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"One of only three players to be in this list every year – no prizes for guessing the other two – the question now, at 37, would be: for how much longer? Discussions await over Lewandowski’s future with most assuming that this season will be his last at Barcelona. There were moments of doubt last season, times when Ferran Torres appeared a viable alternative, and that continues, but the Pole finished the campaign with 42 goals in 52 games, a significant improvement on the 26 in the previous season under Xavi. He already had eight league goals by early December. “He’s the Robert I always knew,” Hansi Flick said.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"55","Rank":"25","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"19","Up or down":"+30","Player":"Julián Álvarez","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Atlético Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Argentina","Filters":"Argentinian, La Liga, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1815c285d733cf69addd43f1f4bd280cb813adcc/995_168_720_720/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/23c91220af9511241bc97f382b85008c6101548e/79_122_1369_1095/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"When Luis de la Fuente revealed that he had put Alvárez among his votes for The Fifa Best in 2023, he felt the need to add: “I felt like it … and I wasn’t drunk.” These days, he wouldn’t have to. Nicknamed The Spider(-Man), every goal Alvárez scores is celebrated with Peter Parker <i>pe-choo! pe-choo!</i>s from his wrists and there have been a lot of them: 29 last season, 11 already this by early December. Asked how he could score a superb hat-trick in the autumn, his head coach Diego Simeone replied: “Because he’s very good.” Has slipped since though, his form faltering.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"13","Rank":"26","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"14","Up or down":"-13","Player":"Bukayo Saka","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, Premier League, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3971fa1ad2caecfccf968e94bbf6684e975255d1/986_0_1851_1851/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5fd69a3f8f6468058ff3ebea771f27d245c61c47/485_0_4850_3880/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Arsenal’s starboy is down 13 spots after missing a chunk of the year with a hamstring injury. However, when Saka has played, his quality has been evident. By early December the 24-year-old had the joint-most goals for his side this season and is at the heart of what may finally be a Premier League-winning team under Mikel Arteta. “If you look at his decision-making on the pitch, he’s always in the right position,” said the former Manchester City player and pundit Micah Richards. “He keeps the ball more often than not, and then he’s decisive when he gets into the box. In terms of his consistency and decision-making, he’s one of the best in world football.” ","Writer":"Yara El-Shaboury","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"44","Rank":"27","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"112","Up or down":"+17","Player":"Fabián Ruiz","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, Ligue 1, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/53928a115d53d592568b082db3e7b9c8a5506238/1087_59_936_937/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/12924cad31c5aad772d6b29a4616416e85f6ab71/700_113_3648_2921/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Luis Enrique’s arrival at PSG didn’t look to be great news for Fabián Ruiz. The midfielder had not exactly set the world alight during his debut season (2022-23) at the Parc des Princes and the arrival of the manager who dropped him from the Spain setup did not suggest a great future. But Ruiz has thrived. “It was an error to not call him up for the 2022 World Cup,” Luis Enrique has since admitted. Ruiz’s consistency for PSG in 2025 justifies the PSG manager’s revisionism. The most discrete of PSG’s midfield trio, the metronome is no less important.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"29","Rank":"28","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+1","Player":"Viktor Gyökeres","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Sweden","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/de2f52ae58f0df05a038875353ceca62015fc0b1/447_105_822_822/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/dadf613d3076b109992499342115b19992419002/307_0_3215_2573/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Given Gyökeres was awarded the Gerd Müller Trophy at September’s Ballon d’Or ceremony for the world’s best striker in 2024-25, the only surprise is that he has risen only one place from 29th in 2024. Fifty-four goals in 52 games last season for Sporting was a remarkable return for someone who was playing in the Championship in 2023, but the start of his Arsenal career has been hampered by form and fitness. Gunners fans are desperate to see Gyökeres’s masked celebration more often, which the 27-year-old invented on holiday with friends back in 2022.","Writer":"Michael Butler","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"57","Rank":"29","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"157","Up or down":"+28","Player":"Gabriel Magalhães","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, Premier League, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/acd860200848bdcf4f8a86c820d5fca2b3dcfe70/907_327_2047_2048/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1e771c6e841006979f1dd72a3db657bd6d074498/680_257_3899_3119/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another Arsenal player to make a huge jump up the rankings after excelling at the heart of the Premier League’s best defence. Supremely dominant in the air at both ends, Gabriel has emerged as the leader of Arsenal’s formidable back four. His absences due to injuries – a hamstring issue in April followed by the groin injury suffered playing for Brazil at the Emirates in November – have been to their detriment. “Every player brings specific qualities and Gabi’s is his leadership, his presence and that love that he has to defend, and to transmit as well, his body language to other players,” says his head coach, Mikel Arteta. ","Writer":"Ed Aarons","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"51","Rank":"30","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"9","Up or down":"+21","Player":"Thibaut Courtois","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"33","Nationality":"Belgium","Filters":"Other nationalities, La Liga, Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/bbc65394939f4099a8bbc2d7c3f19387b5386eb7/500_95_883_883/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7a58e24cb96777922df6cab69f6fe9b433a22bfe/1402_6_1654_1323/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Recently returned from a long injury layoff, Courtois wasn’t quite himself for most of last season – which still meant he was better than almost everyone else. This season he is Courtois again, a man who produces at least one miracle every game, if not more. At Anfield, he took his total to 29 saves in four games against Liverpool, the ridiculous routine. “He has no weaknesses: with his size, he moves as if he was 1m 80cm,” the former Spain goalkeeper Santiago Cañizares says. “He’s the best I have ever laid eyes on.”","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"37","Rank":"31","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"59","Up or down":"+6","Player":"Luis Díaz","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Colombia","Filters":"Other nationalities, Bundesliga, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/603e01accd0c08e1b62b89003265215025f604af/724_159_627_627/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c87dddba29ba2105c6e5b74f687d84806170f96f/1201_333_4386_3508/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"What a year this has been for Díaz, with his highest finish yet a reflection of a year in which he won the Premier League with Liverpool and has already taken huge steps towards following up with a Bundesliga title at Bayern Munich. The Colombian was an underrated huge part of Arne Slot’s incredible debut campaign and perhaps has been underestimated generally; Liverpool didn’t want to pay a 28-year-old top-level wages to extend his contract and many in Germany doubted Bayern’s wisdom in pushing the boat out for a forward pushing 30. However, his raw numbers and feverish work off the ball have added a new dimension to Bayern and proved doubters wrong.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"148","Rank":"32","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"102","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Moisés Caicedo","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Ecuador","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d26a9cf1c5bd12db74fc4d75b2f56ec1b9172689/559_87_766_766/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6bbe28856efff7303d9e27d7805a958d3e17708a/335_70_2816_2253/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Ecuador international is up there as one of the best midfielders in Europe. A new entry on the list, he has risen to new heights this year. He is vital for Chelsea, who do not function as well without him. Discipline can be an issue – a recent red card against Arsenal was earned with a rash tackle on Mikel Merino – but there is no doubt that Caicedo is showing value for the £115m Chelsea paid for him two years ago. His performance against PSG at the Club World Cup was outstanding – PSG’s brilliant midfield could not cope with his energy and tackling.","Writer":"Jacob Steinberg","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"28","Rank":"33","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"40","Up or down":"-5","Player":"William Saliba","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, Premier League, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/371c67ced111f15d4dfbc85f655d6f267d203396/678_0_814_814/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2cf202bf665b0a88c4b947b9234373571984102a/348_0_3007_2407/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Arsenal fans were delighted Saliba signed a new long-term contract at the start of the season, tying him down to the club until 2030. The Frenchman has become a cornerstone in the defence as the Gunners mount a title tilt, with his composure and reading of the game so crucial. Saliba is often deployed in the patient sweeper role but can also cover ground quickly and is sharp with his tackles. It’s no surprise that this is his third consecutive year in the top 40 of our list with the Arsenal sporting director, Andrea Berta, hailing the 24-year-old as “an incredible defender whose composure, intelligence and physical presence make him one of the best in the world”. His absence was keenly felt in the recent 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa. ","Writer":"Yara El-Shaboury","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"27","Rank":"34","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"1","Up or down":"-7","Player":"Lionel Messi","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter Miami","League":"MLS","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"38","Nationality":"Argentina","Filters":"Argentinian, Other leagues, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/403d8c0e03e9885e84d798cd0ce6e1e4d6819c22/1582_2_1520_1519/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8cc9f2e0ccfad843ea365f00e916f826c2b4238f/95_48_2787_2230/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"He’s the greatest of all time in the minds of many, but only 34th in the world in 2025, the season in which he turned 38 years old. It’s a spot well-earned by performances, not reputation. Messi has remained the driving force around which Inter Miami revolves, an easy selection for his second straight MLS MVP award. He’s scored 43 goals and added 26 assists in 49 games as his team lifted the championship title. The level of competition he is playing against may be lower than it was during his six times topping this list (he’s also one of three players to have appeared on every edition we’ve done since 2012), but his continued role with Argentina shows he’s still capable of performing among the very elite.","Writer":"Alexander Abnos","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"38","Rank":"35","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"47","Up or down":"+3","Player":"Alexis Mac Allister","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Argentina","Filters":"Argentinian, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/30669c8da899bbe6416d54f81ad6aa4ea78087c4/813_42_1602_1603/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/34e3c89b20cf37164eb3a1c1b857a5faa10fe2f3/409_39_3602_2883/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The midfielder was a huge yet sometimes underrated influence for Liverpool last season when he struck up a fine partnership with Ryan Gravenberch that more than compensated for the club missing out on Martín Zubimendi. The extent of Mac Allister’s influence has been clear for the wrong reasons this season. Injured at the tail-end of the title-winning campaign, the Argentina international took longer than anticipated to recover and missed most of pre-season as a result. Without his sharpness in the press and ability to dictate Liverpool’s rhythm, the champions have struggled at both ends of the pitch. ","Writer":"Andy Hunter","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"8","Rank":"36","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"48","Up or down":"-28","Player":"Florian Wirtz","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"22","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"German, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/62ea7dd5f98f29b72487452b457a342eb43a54f0/1099_76_1258_1259/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/57fe99e61f787653266e1de5b7685dd4d068a954/317_401_2366_1892/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Bayer Leverkusen were unable to defend their Bundesliga title in what proved to be Xabi Alonso’s final season in charge but the playmaker again impressed with 16 goals and 15 assists in all competitions. Such creativity encouraged Liverpool to pay a potential £116m for the 22-year-old, a British transfer record fee before the champions stumped up £125m for Alexander Isak, but there has been no immediate return on their investment. Wirtz is still coming to terms with the intensity of the Premier League, while his new teammates are adapting to his movements, and the Germany international has dropped 28 places on our list.","Writer":"Andy Hunter","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"20","Rank":"37","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"18","Up or down":"-17","Player":"Fede Valverde","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Uruguay","Filters":"Other nationalities, La Liga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/54aac427d1c2ea3072e00cf524da3a5318a9545e/1321_70_834_834/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4d53988589a3805e16dfa9d47c900e950546f0b6/0_0_3663_2930/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"“Now I even do overhead kicks; I didn’t know how before,” Valverde joked after he almost scored with one against Juventus at the Club World Cup. “I haven’t seen many with his physical level and I’m very happy to be coaching him,” Xabi Alonso said. “Every manager would like a Valverde. Fede can play anywhere.” Unfortunately, that’s not always where he actually wants to play. Used at full-back, wide, and in the middle, there’s a sense that he can’t control a game, at least not like Toni Kroos, despite inheriting his No 8 shirt, and 2025 has sometimes been a frustrating year.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"153","Rank":"38","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"52","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Dominik Szoboszlai","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Hungary","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2f51250fa7092b146745f17ec9d8134c109c0f02/2567_75_1253_1254/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3fa604fc2b019c0d384309b05d501ffe651b9bf0/164_237_2947_2358/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Hungary captain was a key part of Liverpool’s title-winning campaign, particularly after the turn of the year when Arne Slot’s side pulled clear of the chasing pack. Szoboszlai has shown that irrepressible form on a more consistent basis this season whether deployed in his favoured midfield role, out wide or even at right-back. His versatility has been invaluable to his head coach given the imbalance in Liverpool’s squad. The 25-year-old may have endured a painful World Cup elimination against the Republic of Ireland but has been Liverpool’s best player by a comfortable margin this term.  ","Writer":"Andy Hunter","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"43","Rank":"39","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"72","Up or down":"+4","Player":"Serhou Guirassy","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Borussia Dortmund","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Guinea","Filters":"Other nationalities, Bundesliga, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/437240323247c2285347c402afa4d91aa6caa4e9/2127_348_1524_1524/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/dab527f10b362c8b8401b7e3a8e156149fc1b83d/305_552_3228_2583/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The 29-year-old continues to rise through the rankings. Borussia Dortmund might fancy a subtitle to their Echte Liebe (True Love) motto – Break Glass for Guirassy. The Guinea striker arrived in 2024 as a big-time gamble, snared from an excellent Stuttgart side as the spearhead to take Champions League finalists closer to recapturing the Bundesliga. It hasn’t worked out like that at all and despite arriving with an injury, Guirassy has consistently hauled an often-dysfunctional Dortmund out of danger, with his extraordinary 38-goal debut season lifting BVB back into the top four and into the Champions League quarter-finals – a competition he ended as joint-top scorer with 13 goals, the first African to top the charts in Europe’s premier competition since George Weah in 1995.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"168","Rank":"40","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"97","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Denzel Dumfries","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Dutch, Serie A, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fd181ae3038eba0cc8aa283a147e756a52f7cf16/2482_1539_1482_1482/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0a65d2ad161a3f39deea8ebcf775ed2a573e1926/213_0_1812_1450/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"How many wing-backs have scored five goals in a month at the highest level, as Dumfries did this January? And how many have bagged two away to Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final, as he did in April? The player himself acknowledged recently that this year’s numbers might not be sustainable. “Adding more goals and assists, as a defender, is almost impossible,” he told the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant, before stressing that he still saw other ways to improve his game. He finished 25th in the Ballon d’Or voting this September and bounces back into our top 100 after ranking 97th in 2023.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"112","Rank":"41","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Ryan Gravenberch","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Dutch, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/cc593528be7de18ad7b30f5aa5fb8e1c46ddf61c/1184_0_1344_1345/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6107977881539ac34caa58d9f844509b7ef347c1/51_92_2160_1728/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Gravenberch is a newcomer on the list and fully deserves his place given the pivotal role he played in Liverpool’s successful pursuit of the Premier League title, featuring in every game for Arne Slot’s side from the turn of the year until the end of the season. The 23-year-old’s form during the current campaign has been somewhat patchy but in a struggling team he has still often displayed the talents that mark him out as one of the best and most unique No 6s in world football. He also played a crucial role in the Netherlands qualifying for the World Cup.","Writer":"Sachin Nakrani","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"199","Rank":"42","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"44","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Marquinhos","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, Ligue 1, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/287d627040481c88c1c4b2ad13be5b6055ff1128/1140_82_827_827/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d94f0d4df3506a03e7739ca16e03d5387184497d/212_83_1771_1417/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League win meant more to Marquinhos than to any other player on the pitch, as his tears that night showed. The Brazilian has been there since the beginning. Having joined in 2013, he is by far the longest-serving player in this PSG side. He has endured more continental failure – sometimes comical, always spectacular – than anyone else in the squad. In a youthful and overhauled side, Marquinhos has baggage and time was running out to win the title that had always eluded him. An ever-present in the PSG defence, his prime years may be in the past, but it is his experience that now proves so valuable.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"19","Rank":"43","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"20","Up or down":"-24","Player":"Jamal Musiala","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"22","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"German, Bundesliga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/857f066a9ef67f130ab66c667dcbf07dee249043/1908_309_983_983/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b3e588bd0943d2f73d0d74a3c5c681712aadb3d4/165_484_3747_2998/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"This is the first time that Musiala has finished outside the top 40 since debuting in 2022’s list, but his presence is an expression of just what an influential player he is in European football. The 22-year-old started the calendar year as an integral part of Bayern’s push at home and abroad, before a serious muscle injury in April kept him out of the home straight in the Champions League and ruined the Bundesliga giants’ chances. Musiala made it back for the Club World Cup and even scored a hat-trick against Auckland City before his horror injury against Paris Saint-Germain that means he is yet to play this season at the time of writing.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"44","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Willian Pacho","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Ecuador","Filters":"Other nationalities, Ligue 1, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f81bc2c619818d18718ebb7fc738e5dae7bf8184/681_333_1304_1304/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/917ba76c026569c64d567c5f09f8d5eb2c42e84b/348_0_3275_2621/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Finding a partner for Marquinhos has proved a difficult task at Paris Saint-Germain. Thiago Silva thrived in the role, but there have been plenty of failed experiments, too. Pacho did not arrive with a big reputation in the summer of 2024, but he has certainly forged one since. The Ecuadorian has responded perfectly to the physical demands of Ligue 1 and has proved a calming, imposing presence in the PSG defence. More than capable with the ball at his feet, he is the no frills, no spills defender that Les Parisiens have been calling out for.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"18","Rank":"45","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"18","Up or down":"-27","Player":"Martin Ødegaard","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Norway","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/33c866526dea71462c507a35aa9433f30208eaa8/2078_849_1924_1925/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7ce91d231ee1e00bf146c64850b52e9e171bba7c/500_0_4913_3930/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A drop of 27 places is a reflection on a difficult year that saw the Arsenal captain struggle with injuries and fail to hit his usual high standards. Ødegaard has only managed two Premier League goals in 2025, although he did score against Moldova for Norway in September as they went on to book a place at next year’s World Cup. That prospect and the chance to finally lead Arsenal to the title is an opportunity for the 26-year-old to recapture his best form.  ","Writer":"Ed Aarons","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"74","Rank":"46","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"9","Up or down":"+28","Player":"Victor Osimhen","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Galatasaray","League":"Süper Lig","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Nigeria","Filters":"Other nationalities, Other leagues, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/eed4209d513cc114ded0689ec8a0c7568993e4b9/462_51_1512_1512/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f477ba87d8002808a45eeac913e15b7c04496566/303_165_2716_2173/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Nigerian was ranked ninth just two years ago, after leading Napoli to the Serie A title. It is therefore somewhat of a surprise that he moved to the Turkish league last year, and even stranger that he stayed there for the entirety of 2025. His form at the age of just 26 suggests that he is worthy of playing for a top club, though Galatasaray may argue they are exactly that. Osimhen has scored 36 goals in all competitions in 2025 at the time of writing, and is taking the Champions League by storm. He scored eight times for the national team in the World Cup qualifiers too, but Nigeria eventually failed – and that is the one negative story of the year for the striker.","Writer":"Michael Yokhin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"184","Rank":"47","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"21","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Enzo Fernández","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Argentina","Filters":"Argentinian, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1ea56b0fc6ffefe4fe460cc38dbccef873cb58c1/1653_52_1579_1579/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/bb7081df8dd6910978a216506577b969a4d01185/436_77_2356_1884/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The £106.7m Argentinian put his indifferent form in 2024 down to playing through the pain of a hernia. He eventually had an operation to fix the problem and is looking far more sprightly now. The 24-year-old is getting around the pitch and has turned into a box-crashing midfielder for Chelsea. Fernández, who did not make last year’s list, scored Chelsea’s equaliser against Real Betis in the Conference League final and at the time of writing has 11 goals in 2025. However there is definitely room for improvement. He was placed 21st after helping Argentina win the World Cup in 2022.","Writer":"Jacob Steinberg","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"90","Rank":"48","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"87","Up or down":"+42","Player":"Alexander Isak","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Sweden","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4c695313b3a27cd7763cc259450bcd3bbf2980d6/2060_505_1127_1128/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e70954b26dfc69620519d6ba9bb6896b2a1af83a/212_0_1800_1440/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The Sweden striker has shot up 42 places on the back of another season in which he shone for Newcastle, scoring 27 goals in 42 appearances, one of which came in March’s Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool as the north-east club sealed a first piece of major silverware in 70 years. Isak’s subsequent £125m transfer to Anfield not only made him Britain’s most expensive footballer but was also a messy, ugly saga that has yet to appear worthwhile for player or club. It remains early days, however, and there is simply no disputing the 26-year-old’s prowess in front of goal. ","Writer":"Sachin Nakrani","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"79","Rank":"49","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"9","Up or down":"+30","Player":"Alisson","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"33","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, Premier League, Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/be3cbc14bb20849e3d6e2157d3364fb514ee9c0a/969_170_1299_1298/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/25652ee3bf3cb31b37353ee22ee10e6a7ff730d6/321_57_2141_1713/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Repeat hamstring injuries have affected his availability but, when fit, the 33-year-old remains among the finest goalkeepers in the world. A one-man-stand to deny eventual Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes, rated by Peter Schmeichel as one of the best goalkeeping displays he has ever witnessed, was a memorable highlight in a season when he brought authority and composure to a Premier League title-winning defence. Hence a rise of 30 places for the Brazil international in his eighth consecutive year on our list. Alisson’s absences have been felt by Liverpool this season.","Writer":"Andy Hunter","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"76","Rank":"50","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"11","Up or down":"+26","Player":"Joshua Kimmich","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"German, Bundesliga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5f570465a0f6865e8edde33a07cd81853d558ffe/458_108_1464_1464/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fd434dcf4d6af9b2aed25ec253b2cfbcbd5f1201/130_0_3277_2622/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Kimmich has been ever-present on the list since 2016, but the year in which he turned 30 will probably prove to be a pivotal one in the back half of his career. He began 2025 facing the serious possibility of leaving Bayern as his contract ran down but he ends the year committed for the long term after signing a new deal, and has reached 100 Champions League appearances for the club as well as a century of caps for Germany. Kimmich has found footballing security under the reign of Vincent Kompany, confirmed as his team’s midfield fulcrum and as the leader his club/country always needed.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"42","Rank":"51","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"1","Up or down":"-9","Player":"Cristiano Ronaldo","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Al-Nassr","League":"Saudi Pro League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"40","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Other leagues, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9f8b8453094f0628e38b0e82dde2102706f74551/1423_437_1609_1608/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e856b5591b7eb7c04e453f2197e63798cf0c9069/92_0_2947_2358/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The 40-year-old has slipped back into the bottom half for only the second time but he has made the list every year since 2012. On the pitch, Ronaldo may not be able to reach the heights of the past but is still banging them in and finished the Saudi Pro League in May as top scorer once more. This season, too, there have been overhead kicks and spectacular finishes. Ronaldo doesn’t play every game now for Al-Nassr, which leaves him fresher for international duty, and it has been another successful year with eight goals for Portugal and the Nations League triumph. Oh and he somehow had his three-match ban reduced to one with the remaining two suspended the week after he visited Donald Trump in the White House. That means he will be available for Portugal’s first game of the World Cup.","Writer":"John Duerden","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"32","Rank":"52","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"55","Up or down":"-20","Player":"Hakan Çalhanoğlu","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Turkey","Filters":"Other nationalities, Serie A, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/cdd3238bf392bcefc79a46988226d90bc15839f7/3722_5_3517_3517/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c51707b8e24d74606cd2fec23a84e2da69bacd9a/254_0_3484_2788/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"For a moment it appeared Çalhanoğlu might leave Inter this summer, the club’s captain Lautaro Martínez appearing to question his commitment after the Club World Cup elimination by Fluminense. But peace was made, and by season’s start Çalhanoğlu was once more running the Nerazzurri’s midfield – his distribution, goals and set-piece effectiveness as essential as ever. He was Serie A’s leading goalscorer come late November and reached a century of appearances for his national team, which he continues to captain, in October as well. This is his third straight year on our list, though he was getting votes as early as 2015.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"88","Rank":"53","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+35","Player":"Bradley Barcola","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Paris Saint-Germain","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, Ligue 1, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/09715e74d733ad811ccc46c88ca651674ed71b2a/1397_42_1040_1040/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2c0ca46101a1754ce2b8996a0a1dc0806c84cb5a/121_0_4049_3240/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Bradley Barcola’s 35-place rise through the Guardian 100 standings reflect the Frenchman’s growing stature at PSG. His explosiveness and directness down the left are reminiscent of a certain Kylian Mbappé. In patches he has matched the France captain’s output, but he still needs the consistency to be considered among the elite. He comes to life in bursts: 10 of his 14 Ligue 1 goals last season, for example, came in the first 11 games. That inconsistency is mirrored this season, too, but goals or no goals, his dribbling ability is always a big asset.","Writer":"Luke Entwistle","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"52","Rank":"54","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"79","Up or down":"-2","Player":"Alessandro Bastoni","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Italy","Filters":"Italian, Serie A, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/54797be997d3aefd404f63c8f8a13a2124627093/1208_281_811_811/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e6c305fe348b0be5a130684001c5beb707c10b0c/62_90_2557_2046/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Recognised as Serie A’s best defender for the second year running in the league’s awards for 2024-25, Bastoni continues to stand out as much for what he contributes going forward as he does keeping things tight at the back. He finished with five league assists last season and is on course to go even better with three already this time around. Rare numbers for a player who lines up most often on the left of a back three. His sheer consistency – even while adapting to new managers for club and country – is reflected in an almost identical ranking to last year. ","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"63","Rank":"55","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"16","Up or down":"+8","Player":"Bruno Fernandes","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester United","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ab23d7b7addbf3df956acb3e8b56cb893bdef490/564_122_943_942/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/818296f968c86ced5c6e14d5c51000db4df1b1ef/0_0_2241_1793/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The man that continues to hold Manchester United together on the pitch. He recently moved above Paul Scholes into fourth place of most Premier League assists at the club, indicating his consistent influence at Old Trafford. Appearing on the list every year since 2019, Fernandes has never been higher than 16th, coinciding with a constant era of flux at United. He lifted the fans’ and players’ player of the year awards at the club, the former for a record-equalling fourth time, joining compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo at the top. A Fernandes hat-trick in a 9-1 win over Armenia helped to secure Portugal’s qualification for next year’s World Cup.","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"56","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"257","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Eberechi Eze","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, Premier League, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2809292a2730d6a8735f690c7acff030c0aa1a50/2301_108_936_936/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8e49c3f42ea8d139a41dc6a64253141b40f27269/485_152_3992_3192/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It’s been some year for the player who was rejected by Arsenal as a teenager. After scoring his first England goal in March, Eze made history for Crystal Palace two months later when his strike was decisive in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Having made a £67.5m move to the Emirates after Tottenham were dramatically gazumped at the last minute, a hat-trick in the north London derby made him an instant hero and no doubt helped to earn him a place in our top 100 for the first time. ","Writer":"Ed Aarons","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"14","Rank":"57","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"169","Up or down":"-43","Player":"Nico Williams","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Athletic Bilbao","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, La Liga, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/8cc1becf2e35618359d119b26cf0a9c3dfbfe0c8/2054_632_2193_2193/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2aec2059581ee57f2e3d4d51dcac447edccf96a0/470_263_3640_2913/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Nico Williams was the star of the last two summers, his signing for Barcelona seemingly imminent in both; the actual seasons, alas, have been a little different. First pursued after a superb Euros, he instead stayed and was a key to Athletic’s historic Champions League qualification in 2024-2025 but without reaching the level of 2023-2024. This summer, despite initially making himself available to Barcelona again, the club convinced he was coming, he again ended up staying. Since then, limited by a groin problem and Athletic’s struggles, slipping from 14th to 57th on our list, he may wonder if he made the right choices.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"86","Rank":"58","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+28","Player":"David Raya","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, Premier League, Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a121801e48610cdcfd3c94437025d3757178fccd/1407_61_922_922/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4c325a869829249cb75fa23c013fea7890d6aa72/235_0_3050_2441/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The goalkeeper who cut his teeth on loan at Southport in the Conference Premier continues his spectacular rise after another stellar 12 months. In November, Raya broke a record that had stood since 1903 when he became the fastest Arsenal No 1 to record 50 clean sheets – in just 110 matches. A brilliant distributor with his feet, who possesses cat-like reflexes that have contributed to a string of spectacular saves this year, he looks on course to win a third successive Premier League Golden Glove award and is among the best goalkeepers on the planet.    ","Writer":"Ed Aarons","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"103","Rank":"59","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Estêvão","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"18","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, Premier League, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d260c324ccd923883ecc2d52f44ca0354dd4a847/1341_24_844_844/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4bfde8633f89e350f5cf8b269c9833359b70c311/177_0_3891_3114/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Not for nothing is the 18-year-old regarded as a future Ballon d’Or winner. Don’t believe the hype? Just ask Barcelona about Estêvão, who ripped the Spanish champions apart in the Champions League in November, humiliating them with a stunning solo goal. Chelsea have signed a gem. Estêvão joined in the summer, having helped Palmeiras reach the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup. He has adapted to English football, announcing himself with a last-minute winner against Liverpool in October, and is already starting for Brazil. A new entrant, the teenager will be one to watch at the World Cup.","Writer":"Jacob Steinberg","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"60","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"10","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Frenkie de Jong","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Dutch, La Liga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0cd45daa62595101c307057950ce1366d4f5d77f/1291_364_753_753/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/92b64982d475c2a9d1d572a365f2e79ab592f1cb/358_39_2577_2061/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"During an interview with El País not long ago, De Jong said he didn’t want to seek out press allies to talk him up; if he had played badly, they should say so. “Well,” he noted, laughing, “I almost always play well.” It was a joke but, De Jong admitted, he feels his game isn’t always appreciated: “People look at stats a lot and I don’t score lots of goals or give lots of assists.” As Barcelona won the treble there was, for perhaps the first time in Catalonia, appreciation for a player who was irreplaceable for Hansi Flick.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"15","Rank":"61","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"24","Up or down":"-46","Player":"Phil Foden","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7d8dfdd9470b63a14eaf9d0b908480b4f13c934c/1016_78_3073_3073/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fea822276e0fb2168908dec3b011e3a83a685ca4/203_149_4486_3589/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"No one will be surprised that Foden has dropped from 15th having endured a difficult 2024-25. By his own admission, matters away from the pitch were influencing his performances last campaign. He failed to score a goal for City from late January to the end of the domestic season, was in and out of Pep Guardiola’s side, and dropped by England. Things have looked more promising since August, and he is once again becoming a key player at City, dragging his team to victory against Leeds in late November with two vital goals, a feat he repeated days later at Fulham, showing the confidence that was lacking over the previous 12 months. ","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"46","Rank":"62","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"26","Up or down":"-16","Player":"Nicolò Barella","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Italy","Filters":"Italian, Serie A, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6e7e8d30e1d5440b6110c8d5e949bd24fec00f5a/1437_208_1750_1750/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/afb15d44ba9c090dc16b4c72f982e260a2cfe2f9/137_68_2547_2038/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The midfielder who played more minutes than any other player during Simone Inzaghi’s tenure as Inter manager has remained just as indispensable for new boss Cristian Chivu – lining up at times even as a playmaking regista, instead of his usual box-to-box role. He does not always leap out on the stat sheet in such obvious ways as some teammates, with three goals and six assists last season, but stands apart for the tenacity of his pressing and ball recovery. He has been ever-present on our list since 2020, finishing as high as 26th four years ago.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"72","Rank":"63","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+9","Player":"Marc Cucurella","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, Premier League, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9d9b0dc854e3a878cf85b3e87e6380a71bdca659/1495_141_1638_1638/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5383b73b1243df7aa7037efd59226699b62f728a/548_23_4348_3480/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Funny to think that the Spaniard was derided after joining Chelsea from Brighton for £62m three years ago. That feels like a different age. Cucurella has emphatically silenced the mockery and there is a strong case to be made that he is the best left-back in the Premier League. He provides a threat going forward, scored crucial goals for Chelsea last season and is tenacious at the back. He silenced Barça’s Lamine Yamal in November and has enjoyed another trophy-laden year, winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup. He also helped Spain reach the Nations League final. ","Writer":"Jacob Steinberg","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"163","Rank":"64","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"112","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Yann Sommer","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"37","Nationality":"Switzerland","Filters":"Other nationalities, Serie A, Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3409836a05d456089ff89601d1559ff73677f1ac/1641_146_865_865/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/43f96f4cb987a487764d0240d3ff9c9eef2c1dbe/231_204_1216_973/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It’s not often that a goalkeeper who concedes three goals can make a case to be man of the match, but Sommer’s saves from Barcelona’s Eric García and Lamine Yamal in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final were some of the most astonishing moments of one of the most memorable games of this year. He had given an interview just a few weeks earlier saying that he believed he was now “the best version of myself yet”, and our judges agreed, raising him on to this list for the first time after five previous seasons of finishing between 101st and 170th in the voting.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"67","Rank":"65","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"100","Up or down":"+2","Player":"Marcus Thuram","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, Serie A, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/d61dbecf22d589eeee0ad341c8e13bd016fd7101/1319_159_1363_1363/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/994cdd1d878e40f5d556524584588a00037fdfe5/123_40_2030_1624/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It’s tough being an older sibling sometimes. Thuram provoked media outrage and a reported in-house investigation at Inter this September for the crime of laughing with his younger brother Khéphren – a Juventus player – while losing in the Derby d’Italia. But there were moments of more unabashed happiness, too, and most memorably a fiendish backheel flick at the Camp Nou which became the fastest goal ever scored in a Champions League semi-final. Thuram found the net 14 times in Serie A last season – his best league return yet – though that was still not enough for an Inter side whose quadruple dreams all slipped away at the end.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"210","Rank":"66","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Fermín López","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"22","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, La Liga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a89b06a5ecda8dfd90a52b4f3b1fd62b0329f83a/855_173_897_897/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9469355be0e8b7b1bf82bb1e9b9eb870dfecb9e8/694_80_2857_2287/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Not in our top 200 in 2024, it’s only two years since Fermín López was playing at little Linares in Spain’s third tier. Chased by Chelsea, he took a couple of days to decide to stay at Barcelona, where despite not always being a guaranteed starter, there’s something about him that’s different to the rest, another type of midfielder. He has seven goals (celebrated with a salute in honour of his father, a soldier, and his close friend and Catalan musician Jan Raich) and four assists in 15 games this season at the time of writing. “He runs, he scores, he’s very complete, dynamic,” Hansi Flick says. “He has it all.”","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"67","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Hugo Ekitiké","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Liverpool","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, Premier League, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/34cb9693d41d89d308fe0d7a083dd2e1a8cbd0f3/2985_0_1785_1785/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/79edd24e5df69198705817b690ec68b0e3db810b/783_274_3680_2944/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Ekitiké is a newcomer on the list and showed in 2025 that he is here to stay. Firstly the forward played a crucial role in Eintracht Frankfurt finishing third in the Bundesliga and reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2024-25, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions. The 23-year-old then hit the ground running following his £79m move to Liverpool and in November scored his first goal for France’s senior side in a 4-0 victory over Ukraine. It has been a whirlwind 12 months for a wonderful young talent.","Writer":"Sachin Nakrani","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"81","Rank":"68","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"+13","Player":"Pau Cubarsí","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"18","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, La Liga, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/79ef6c1b4a80cdade1f6f8ea769a41ecc0f26b13/430_861_1355_1355/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/175f8d9a83b7f28a5624c01d40ffd386aec7c84d/738_259_4466_3575/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"“Pau Cubarsí is a special player with a supernatural talent: he seems older than he is,” the Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said in March. Few would argue then; they might now, as Barcelona struggle to adapt to life with that high line and without Iñigo Martínez, Cubarsí’s former centre-back partner who left last year. Stood out for his maturity and calmness when he made his debut the day before his 16th birthday, became a regular starter and was unlucky to miss Euro 2024. Now, there are occasional glimpses of his youth, a reminder that despite playing 100 games already, he’s still only 18.","Writer":"Sid Lowe","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"111","Rank":"69","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"60","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Bruno Guimarães","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Newcastle","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0510a13ca3c96cf3c33260a377a247821ac40a2e/877_141_2605_2605/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/777453710b84f0af64df02244b5d751a0b732062/150_107_3294_2635/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Back in March the Brazil central midfielder captained Newcastle to Carabao Cup glory at Wembley where they secured their first domestic silverware in 70 years, and also helped Eddie Howe’s team qualify for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. Feisty, indefatigable, full of finesse and blessed with an eye for goal, the 28-year-old known simply as “Bruno” is currently deployed largely as a No 8 but can play anywhere in midfield. A cult hero on Tyneside, the super-streetwise, widely admired former Lyon favourite is back in the top 100 after a one-year absence.","Writer":"Louise Taylor","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"107","Rank":"70","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"170","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Martín Zubimendi","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/631a1d734652aff0575c1f0b94d338e893595c29/1338_74_1069_1069/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9c532b2c010e40c2031dc5df71f34cdbf610c801/1342_224_3099_2479/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Could Zubimendi be the Premier League’s signing of the summer? The Spaniard’s flourishing midfield partnership with Declan Rice is arguably the biggest reason why Arsenal opened up a gap at the start of the season. After turning Liverpool down last year, Zubimendi was convinced to leave Real Sociedad this summer by a letter from Mikel Merino and a video call from Martin Ødegaard – former teammates in the Basque Country – and he appears the perfect fit for the Gunners. Rodri’s injury troubles have also meant a central role for Zubimendi internationally. “Rodri is the best midfielder in the world,” Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said, “but Zubimendi is the second best.”","Writer":"Michael Butler","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"145","Rank":"71","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Arda Güler","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"20","Nationality":"Turkey","Filters":"Other nationalities, La Liga, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fc3643d5ca283100ab9727c66f08fe5514b7810f/1233_140_3293_3294/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7cd0cc9a9792fc289875278afe7b8b7d44338440/0_727_4668_3733/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"One of three Turkey internationals in this list, Güler has become a regular for Real Madrid over the past two seasons and has benefited from the tutelage of Xabi Alonso since he replaced Carlo Ancelotti in the summer. The 20-year-old’s talent is unquestionable and he is most at home in a pocket of space in between the lines. Alonso continues to laud him, comparing him to his former teammates Guti and Mesut Özil – fellow left-footers. Turkey will be hoping Güler and Kenan Yildiz can lead them through March’s European playoffs to a first World Cup finals since 2002.","Writer":"Billy Munday","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"40","Rank":"72","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"11","Up or down":"-32","Player":"Bernardo Silva","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e4694e04ad4ee323d4bbadd1bd50b5189cd22188/1919_38_1099_1099/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ca976122fa593f884da61893cda6432c48291279/169_118_2005_1604/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"In what looks to be his final season at City, Silva is continuing to show his reliability and was named club captain after the departure of Kevin De Bruyne in the summer. He is able to play in a number of positions, offering control on the wing or centrally alongside Nico González in midfield. Like many of his City colleagues, he endured his most difficult season in England but maintains his position on this list, where he first appeared in 2017. The silver lining in 2025 was being part of Portugal’s victorious Nations League side. ","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"36","Rank":"73","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"4","Up or down":"-37","Player":"Kevin De Bruyne","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Napoli","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"Belgium","Filters":"Other nationalities, Serie A, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/624a93a9156857c3999bdf95c12a96ecc7f8e636/939_66_1326_1326/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a93348b695657f0854ac322bea82d69dc2b29c18/162_0_3147_2518/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"He began the year taking over the captain’s armband at Manchester City, but by June De Bruyne was on his way to Napoli – bringing down the curtain on a glorious decade in England. The newly-crowned Italian champions hoped the capture of one of the best performers in Premier League history would signal their growing ambitions, but De Bruyne, after a bright start, has been sidelined since October by an all too familiar hamstring injury. This is the lowest top-100 ranking yet for a player who has featured on this list for 11 straight years, and six times among our top 10.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"1","Rank":"74","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"5","Up or down":"-73","Player":"Rodri","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fa1bb611b7fb090c9f31dfe768e41cce5eea9c42/354_235_2049_2048/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7af00942bb2ee08130f852717261dffa11d99e93/76_36_1526_1221/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Having topped this list last year, Manchester City’s central midfielder has dropped 73 places but it is an easy slide to explain. Rodri suffered a cruciate ligament injury in September 2024, forcing him to miss eight months of the season. Able to return in May, he made a couple of Premier League cameos before travelling to the Club World Cup. Considering the severity of the injury, he recovered relatively quickly but is yet to recapture his best form. Frequent niggles have forced him to miss more matches this season and when he is on the pitch, he has lacked mobility. As of 9 December he had played only 15 games in the calendar year, completing 90 minutes twice.","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"171","Rank":"75","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"108","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Jérémy Doku","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Belgium","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/c29c0f539500cadb09231603dca5053a7e8efb6f/1014_136_2441_2440/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a21c48ff229473975ba4d8f173a966ffe03dfef0/416_109_3684_2948/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"After years of showing promise thanks to his undeniable dribbling talents, the Belgian finally breaks into this list having become a regular and reliable gamechanger at Manchester City. He narrowly missed out in 2023 and finished 171st last year, but now everything has clicked for one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League, a winger who routinely turns full-backs inside out. An architect of chaos, Doku has previously shown his capabilities in glimpses, but now his brain and feet are working in harmony. Witness his two crucial assists in the Manchester derby win over United in September.","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"76","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"João Pedro","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Chelsea","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, Premier League, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/5560439f8cb6c0a964085442d991d31328ae981a/620_108_828_828/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ecf4558ecf18dc5226c4ea2abeae27db2c993de6/401_185_2255_1805/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The 24-year-old makes his debut on this list after a strong year at two Premier League clubs. For the first half of 2025, João Pedro thrived at Brighton, excelling in a high-tempo system that suited his ability to drop deep and link play, make runs to stretch defences and showcased his versatility. He signed for Chelsea and cut his summer short to join Enzo Maresca’s side at the Club World Cup, where he announced himself with a double in the semi-final against his former club Fluminense, before scoring a third in the final against Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian has had a slight dip in form since the early months of the season but Maresca remains confident. “He can solve situations and problems in games,” the manager said. “We knew that João was a very good player. The scouting department did a fantastic job.”","Writer":"Jacob Steinberg","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"170","Rank":"77","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"184","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Bryan Mbeumo","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester United","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Cameroon","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/faa38d7a2b0e4ee20ffc949b3ac2522fb9e49cb1/205_0_2868_2869/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fdb5400d18dace2b7c4a545bde9a1be590d17b54/54_0_1667_1333/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"This was the year Mbeumo finally made his big-money move. On the back of a 20-goal season for Brentford, he joined Manchester United in the summer for a fee that could rise to £71m, capping a breakthrough 12 months in which he enters this top 100 for the first time. He has quickly become influential at Old Trafford, slotting into Rúben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system and scoring six goals in his first 15 Premier League games for the club. His year will end in Morocco, where he will be aiming to inspire Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"23","Rank":"78","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"20","Up or down":"-55","Player":"Emiliano Martínez","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Aston Villa","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"33","Nationality":"Argentina","Filters":"Argentinian, Premier League, Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/65ec8e909acaeadc59cc6f1a346d56d2ba6856eb/404_48_943_943/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/28611739d56f270607279a7f8c2adcda1dc40fc4/282_147_1793_1435/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A rollercoaster 12 months for Martínez, whose red card at Old Trafford on the final day of last season probably prevented Aston Villa from qualifying for the Champions League. A noisy summer followed, with a move to Manchester United apparently on the cards – only a bid never materialised. Doubts over his future overshadowed the start of the season, leading to an infamous Unai Emery interview, in which Villa’s manager would not answer questions about Martínez’s absence on the opening day, simply replying to three questions: Marco Bizot (Martínez’s understudy at Villa Park). But since then Martínez, awarded the Premier League’s save of the season award in May for clawing away Nicolás Dominguez’s header against Forest, has shown glimpses of his best. Wonder saves to deny Yerson Mosquera and Martin Ødegaard this campaign spring to mind.","Writer":"Ben Fisher","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"115","Rank":"79","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Tijjani Reijnders","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Dutch, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/6ceb0a00bea7b9111519a74116359c2a0a3dc45f/984_84_1400_1399/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e319bf8981b4c0026a8ae813e3f24a4164a5795c/426_98_2924_2339/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"In the year he left Milan for Manchester City in a deal worth £46m, the Dutchman makes this list for the first time, having finished 115th in 2024. Reijnders was named in the Serie A team of the season and won the best midfielder in the league award, an indication of his influence at San Siro. Brought in as the sort of box-to-box midfielder that City were lacking, he’s endured a stop-start beginning to his time in England as he adapts to the physicality of the Premier League. He is starting to settle, however, and is becoming a regular under Pep Guardiola.","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"87","Rank":"80","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"108","Up or down":"+7","Player":"Jules Koundé","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Barcelona","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, La Liga, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/cbef39380551c1d02a6d8f1c7e116e98d7394745/754_22_645_645/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/0e5394ff8ef8fd779a55b10796b956798ce54b3e/252_25_1819_1456/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The France international consolidates his position in this list after nailing down the right-back spot in the Barcelona XI. His work ethic has allowed Lamine Yamal to continue flourishing in front of him but the defender claimed a headline moment of his own in the Copa del Rey final. After marching on to a loose pass from Real Madrid’s Luka Modric deep into extra time, Koundé buried a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to decide a heated clásico and hand Barcelona one part of a league, cup and super cup domestic treble.","Writer":"Billy Munday","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"135","Rank":"81","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"86","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Mikel Oyarzabal","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Sociedad","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, La Liga, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/870616cf2c6795a378c364d9468bd18e7e1da77e/1862_245_739_739/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/621afde8d00da2a3a2d566d86940ef38962ea6ca/40_202_2853_2283/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Real Sociedad’s captain returns to this list for the first time since 2021 having followed up his winning goal in the Euro 2024 final with the best scoring season of his career. The 28-year-old’s knack for being in the right place at the right time, plus his composure in front of goal, yielded 18 goals in all competitions in 2024-25, including a double that helped send a dramatic Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Madrid to extra time. Nine goals in 10 games for Spain this year, including one in the Nations League final loss to Portugal, led to his national manager, Luis de la Fuente, calling him “a complete footballer”.","Writer":"Billy Munday","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"82","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Nick Woltemade","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Newcastle","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"German, Premier League, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/39d7f26ff597ab270caa89142cd81624ff3bcede/1218_153_1564_1565/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/668e72735c08c739d89a15b119c13259d614ef6b/933_46_1821_1457/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"WolteWow? The two-metre Messi? Newcastle’s £69m summer signing from Stuttgart has hit the ground running on Tyneside and scored six times in his first 11 appearances for Eddie Howe’s side. The endearingly unorthodox 1.98m Germany forward is not entirely dissimilar to Harry Kane and loves dropping deep to link play. All exquisite first touch and adhesive control, Woltemade may prefer the ball to his feet but has scored some fine headers. A very clever, unusually gifted striker, he is a new entry in the top 100. Tellingly 25 of our 216 judges included Woltemade in their personal top 40s. The debate still rages as to whether the 23-year-old is really more a No 9 than a No 10 but the hitherto little known Woltemade registered 17 goals in 33 games for Stuttgart last season before becoming the leading scorer at the summer’s European Under-21 Championship.","Writer":"Louise Taylor","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"83","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"131","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"André-Frank Zambo Anguissa","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Napoli","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Cameroon","Filters":"Other nationalities, Serie A, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f9d4e5e3fbd9da75dc7f9a628aa090bf4729781e/1684_76_1444_1445/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/ed7f5f16a10c17838fec8c86972cc931a12993b2/231_179_3089_2471/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Between their 2023 and 2025 Scudetto wins, Napoli changed their manager and overhauled their starting XI. Anguissa was one of few constants, a detail which has perhaps not received as much attention as it should. “He has the heart of two players,” said Romelu Lukaku as they celebrated together in May. “He makes teams win.” Anguissa has evolved his game further under Antonio Conte, becoming a total midfielder. His teammate Scott McTominay was a deserving winner of Serie A’s MVP award, yet it was the Cameroon international who won more player of the month prizes in 2025.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"35","Rank":"84","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"14","Up or down":"-49","Player":"Rúben Dias","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Premier League, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2ee289c50b84334c5c9a5b6c5e740c1bcaa8d478/429_287_2030_2030/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7acbf55d31dda1704167eda43088a6cfe88d0890/566_350_2055_1643/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"This is as far down the list Dias has found himself over the past five years, his drop linked to Manchester City’s struggles as they finished last season without a trophy. Yet he remains a key part of the leadership team within the squad and was appointed City’s vice-captain after Kyle Walker left on loan to join Milan. Dias was awarded a new four-year contract in the summer, potentially extending his stay in England to 2029. The centre-back scored a cracking long-range goal against Sunderland in early December, while he’s shown his class at international level, helping Portugal win the Nations League and qualify for the World Cup.","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"33","Rank":"85","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"74","Up or down":"-52","Player":"Álex Grimaldo","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayer Leverkusen","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"30","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, Bundesliga, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/a5d04b80e13227238974fc5e496db848bc47c526/184_97_1165_1163/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/dd36d05c284630137a3926cb43ca624eed164f14/312_165_2533_2028/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It has been a mixed 2025 for Grimaldo after the highs of Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic double season and Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph the previous year, which explains his drop of more than 50 places. Widely considered the most technically gifted wing-back on the continent, he had a tough start to this year, running out of steam at the same time as the Xabi Alonso era did. Since the manager’s departure for Real Madrid, the former Barcelona B player has soared back to his best, taking the captaincy and pitching in with goals and assists to prove he can thrive beyond his 30th birthday.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"86","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Nico Paz","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Como","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"21","Nationality":"Argentina","Filters":"Argentinian, Serie A, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/614750a049e39854b052f91901603cd1d39dccf0/1168_0_1088_1088/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/919ea1ae3763ad383b29f0cbf7daa765981d0472/410_0_3348_2678/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"How high is the ceiling for Paz? Cesc Fàbregas believes the Argentinian can “go wherever he wants to go”. Watching him dominate Serie A at 21 years old, it’s hard to disagree. Como’s No 10 won the league’s best under-23 player award last season after racking up six goals and eight assists in a newly promoted team and is close to passing those numbers already this term. The stats alone, though, miss the joy of a player who routinely does things to make your jaw drop. On the opening weekend he scored one of the prettiest free-kicks you could hope to see against Lazio, having already supplied the magnificent pass which laid on his team’s first goal in the 2-0 win.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"87","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"92","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Giorgian de Arrascaeta","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Flamengo","League":"Campeonato Brasileiro Série A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"31","Nationality":"Uruguay","Filters":"Other nationalities, Other leagues, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/487e4d8d25812532cd8ca46161eb2a4a912e8fcb/1081_47_834_834/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e32d5830bbc33444efb27408b5978913d9636c8d/18_0_1757_1406/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The majestic playmaker returns to the list after a two-year absence, after orchestrating a historic league and Libertadores double for Brazilian giants Flamengo. A career-best tally of 18 goals and 14 assists in the Brasileirão represents a staggering return from midfield and it was fitting that his perfect outswinging corner led to the decisive goal of a stodgy Libertadores final. Now a three-time winner of the competition and hailed by Diego Latorre as “the best player on the continent”, this year cemented De Arrascaeta’s legendary status among the Mengão faithful. He also helped Uruguay qualify for the World Cup.","Writer":"Tom Robinson","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"88","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Antoine Semenyo","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bournemouth","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Ghana","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/7b17237e546abe5b0c852b3b10886c7fbdda2fdb/1710_158_733_733/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2ec5da4d98d946ed84a3ef29dfa762a97c365e66/142_0_5693_4554/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A debutant on this list, Semenyo has become the latest Bournemouth player courted by Europe’s elite. Three of the club’s back four departed over the summer and it would be a surprise if a Champions League club did not trigger Semenyo’s £65m release clause, active in the first two weeks of the January transfer window, with Manchester City and Tottenham both mentioned as suitors. An Arsenal fan, he was rejected by the Gunners, Spurs and Millwall in his youth before finally breaking through at Bristol City. He was initially signed by Bournemouth as a No 9 but has flourished as a dynamic wide man, adept at finishing with either foot.","Writer":"Michael Butler","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"161","Rank":"89","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Kenan Yildiz","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Juventus","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"20","Nationality":"Turkey","Filters":"Other nationalities, Serie A, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1b2275027ada429457ec69009b030ee60ae6090b/1037_99_2663_2663/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/241c1dd592c536d5235d05910d56e9fcd3ff3714/485_168_3891_3113/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"For a sense of how important Yildiz has become to Juventus, one need only observe recent headlines fretting about delayed efforts to renew his contract. After all, the current deal runs through to “only” 2029. When Yildiz plays to his full ability, as he did in a 4-3 win against Inter then the 4-4 draw with Borussia Dortmund in September, it is easy to understand why fans want their club to build a future around him. Two managerial changes in the last eight months cannot have helped his development, but the new Juventus manager, Luciano Spalletti, is all in on a player he described as “the formation breaker. A gunshot in the night.”","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"131","Rank":"90","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"152","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Mikel Merino","Position":"Midfielder","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Arsenal","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"29","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, Premier League, Midfielders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/718d4ddb2bc252298219ea20e76219da9aa26f2d/1218_53_1107_1107/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/956638070b80d30598818d6ebcc2bc1066806ac7/0_52_1842_1474/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A Swiss army knife of a footballer who may just have found his speciality. After injuries to Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres, Merino has been such a potent stand-in striker for Arsenal that the midfielder is in danger of becoming the Gunners’ outright starting No 9. Having reached a combined 30 goals and assists for club and country in 2025, the Spaniard has been a revelation, showing deftness, timing and a physical presence of which other forwards dream. “I’m adapting and if there’s one thing I’ve always been it’s a battler,” he told the Guardian in March. “I like the contact, I never back down.”","Writer":"Michael Butler","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"61","Rank":"91","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"23","Up or down":"-30","Player":"Rafael Leão","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Milan","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"26","Nationality":"Portugal","Filters":"Portuguese, Serie A, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/1385243d4a60710dc8c908082a96207610b8b525/423_0_1149_1149/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e4f7cfab5aaf9ad7bc254b759f441798ccf8bd8e/572_109_3202_2562/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"When Sérgio Conceição took over at Milan a year ago, he insisted Leão could become the best player in the world. Instead, the winger slides another 30 spots down our rankings – trending in the wrong direction ever since peaking at 23rd in 2022. On paper this was not even a poor year. Leão’s dynamic performance off the bench helped turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win for Milan over Inter in the Supercoppa final, and he won the Nations League with Portugal. He is scoring freely so far under another new manager, Massimiliano Allegri, this season. But it is consistency, not excellence, that he most needs to prove.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"92","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"No","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Dean Huijsen","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"20","Nationality":"Spain","Filters":"Spanish, La Liga, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/9d205b7cedf45103509852de76c84c6e19a391d2/394_75_634_634/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/41b1ce9a9fad29f36b003adf2936d63c849ff470/0_100_2368_1894/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Few players have had such an extraordinary 2025. A year ago, Huijsen had only just established himself as a regular in a Bournemouth side that would go on to record their best Premier League finish. A series of unflappable displays for Andoni Iraola’s team sparked interest from Europe’s biggest clubs and Real Madrid triggered his £50m release clause in May, a couple of months after his Spain debut against the Netherlands, his country of birth. It is funny to think the ice-cool centre-back rejected Madrid as a 16-year-old at Málaga, favouring a move to Serie A with Juventus. Huijsen does not turn 21 until April, at which point he will probably be preparing for his maiden World Cup. Scored his first Madrid goal against Elche in November. Cue his “chill guy” celebration, first aired on the Dorset coast. “I’ve always been a pretty relaxed person,” he told the Guardian this year.","Writer":"Ben Fisher","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"45","Rank":"93","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"31","Up or down":"-48","Player":"Josko Gvardiol","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Manchester City","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"23","Nationality":"Croatia","Filters":"Other nationalities, Premier League, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/33b38c6cc202f43fa279168d86af2e5649b2195c/493_210_1368_1367/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b3094a7b8c1834f6709e0fee65648105c93cfde1/0_185_2358_1885/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Another Manchester City player who has suffered along with his club, forcing him 48 places down the list. Gvardiol has transitioned from left-back to playing in the centre of City’s defence and has actually been one of the more positive individual performers, earning him the club’s player of the season award for 2024-25. He clocked the most minutes of anyone at City last term but confessed he struggled to sleep during his team’s slump. “For me, it was the worst season I ever had in my career,” he said. “It was painful.”","Writer":"Will Unwin","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"151","Rank":"94","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"3","Up or down":"Re-entry","Player":"Manuel Neuer","Position":"Goalkeeper","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Bayern Munich","League":"Bundesliga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"39","Nationality":"Germany","Filters":"German, Bundesliga, Goalkeepers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/618a62f07edcdc111cf279775062fe34601950bd/1275_161_1002_1002/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/b359b16bc80fba0bc9a63fe7138ab48a48522520/1109_103_1936_1549/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Neuer returns to the list after a two-year absence and as he prepares to turn 40 in March, nobody has yet emerged to succeed him at Bayern, where his legacy is daunting. After a year in which experienced players, led by Thomas Müller but including Kingsley Coman and Eric Dier, took their leave, his leadership is more important than ever. At his best, he remains a jaw-droppingly great goalkeeper. Neuer is not immune to the rigours of age, however, with a few big errors creeping in and his daring sorties from the line less convincing than they once were.","Writer":"Andy Brassell","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"95","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"149","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Mason Greenwood","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Marseille","League":"Ligue 1","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, Ligue 1, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/fc3f1bed4b3d808aef097a1c55b217def89ce7d8/1289_137_1902_1901/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/62f099b2ebcfe4d0e185c9583b568015b468f8fd/0_0_2915_2333/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Since leaving Manchester United two years ago, initially on loan at Getafe and then permanently to Marseille, Greenwood has rebuilt his career. He led the scoring charts in Ligue 1 going into December, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side among the clubs challenging Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table. With the 24-year-old yet to decide on switching his international allegiance to Jamaica, speculation around what would be a controversial England recall persists. Greenwood was charged by Greater Manchester police with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault in October 2022. The charges were dropped in February the following year when the Crown Prosecution Service stated there was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction” after key witnesses withdrew their cooperation from the investigation. Greenwood has denied all charges.","Writer":"Billy Munday","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"160","Rank":"96","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"248","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Micky van de Ven","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Tottenham","League":"Premier League","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"24","Nationality":"Netherlands","Filters":"Dutch, Premier League, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/4016ea58d9e69a2f70a2ebd688a5a33f7375b8de/134_150_2245_2245/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/e2544a9a2f06b5dfe20161c30fe8d00e1d2cd92d/514_12_3672_2938/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Had he not played in a team that finished one place above the relegation zone last season, the Dutch defender’s maiden appearance on this list would surely have been higher. Van de Ven is a physical specimen; standing 6ft 4in, he is also officially the fastest ever player in the Premier League after reaching a top speed of 23.23mph in 2024, breaking the record previously held by Kyle Walker. Blessed with pace, power and an attacking threat, he scored one of the goals of the year in the Champions League in November, galloping from his own box past the entire Copenhagen team before finishing like a prime Gareth Bale. An absurd footballer.","Writer":"Michael Butler","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"-","Rank":"97","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"122","Up or down":"New entry","Player":"Antony","Position":"Winger","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Betis","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"25","Nationality":"Brazil","Filters":"Brazilian, La Liga, Wingers","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/44e0a72b59cb3837ab407e79bf3dbd975c1c5f67/1876_51_1824_1824/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f53d22e085113ec3fde5328e6c8fda193e6c1cd3/525_127_2259_1808/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"A year ago, the Brazilian was struggling at Manchester United with 12 goals in 96 appearances, having joined in 2022 for an £86m fee that made him the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history. But in January, he joined Real Betis on loan and did not look back, winning three consecutive player of the match awards, playing a key role in the club’s first victory over Real Madrid in five years and helping guide Betis to their first European final. This season, after making the move permanent, the 25-year-old has seven goals and four assists in all competitions at the time of writing. In 2023 the Brazilian was accused of physical assault by his former girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin. He was given leave of absence by Manchester United to deal with the allegations but returned to the squad three weeks later. In August 2024 his legal representatives said the Brazilian police investegation into the allegations had been dropped “without indictment”. He denies the accusations. ","Writer":"Yara El-Shaboury","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"66","Rank":"98","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"17","Up or down":"-32","Player":"Trent Alexander-Arnold","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"RIGHT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Real Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"27","Nationality":"England","Filters":"English, La Liga, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/3c88355ae17d4cc04792a89c8fc214f7d150ad0a/563_72_1022_1022/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/afe1afd3abfca5eda21204967807c531810b6e89/483_124_3146_2518/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"It has been a tumultuous year for Alexander-Arnold who helped Liverpool win the league before leaving his boyhood club to join Real Madrid on a free transfer. He has struggled to find form due to injury and competition from Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde (a midfielder by trade) limiting his game time but the Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso, has urged patience. “Trent is a top player and we need him,” he said. “It’s his first year, and this adjustment period is normal. We have to support him.” The 27-year-old tore his left thigh muscle in early December, hurting his already slim hopes of making England’s World Cup squad. The right-back is down 32 places on this list but has been an ever-present since 2019, when he finished as high as 17th.","Writer":"Yara El-Shaboury","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"53","Rank":"99","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"61","Up or down":"-46","Player":"Federico Dimarco","Position":"Defender","Position modifier":"LEFT","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Inter","League":"Serie A","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"28","Nationality":"Italy","Filters":"Italian, Serie A, Defenders","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/aff6fdf76172912ec5a26d24731eed98412a07ae/1116_121_2212_2212/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/2c93aa14d2b502e390a7e42deab150c116e67af4/802_96_2262_1810/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"The former Italy striker Christian Vieri, now a studio analyst for Dazn, recently observed that he has not seen a left-sided player who crosses the ball as well as Dimarco in the past 20 years. Hyperbole? Perhaps, though the Inter wing-back had the most successful crosses of anyone across Europe’s top five leagues in the first half of this season. That reflects, in part, his team’s updated approach under their new manager, Cristian Chivu. Then again, DiMarco’s 11 assists for Inter under Simone Inzaghi last term were hardly a meagre return.","Writer":"Nicky Bandini","Subbed":"","Revised":""},{"2024":"41","Rank":"100","Previous highest entry (pre-2024)?":"4","Up or down":"-59","Player":"Antoine Griezmann","Position":"Forward","Position modifier":"CENTRE","Club on 20 Dec 2025":"Atlético Madrid","League":"La Liga","Age on 20 Dec 2025":"34","Nationality":"France","Filters":"French, La Liga, Forwards","Image found":"","Video Path":"","Facewall cell image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/739f7df44c17a261c70260e8ebc50baab8490c84/669_0_1075_1075/500.jpg","Facewall cell image GRID attributes":"","Facewall main image GRID src":"https://media.guim.co.uk/25653268663ffb3beb96014a662490bb6a1ac40a/388_0_3315_2651/500.jpg","Facewall main image GRID attributes":"","":"","Profile":"Age is beginning to catch up with the French World Cup winner. A 16-game goal drought at the end of last season means the 34-year-old has largely been supplanted by Julián Alvarez in Atlético Madrid’s starting XI during this campaign. Still, he remains a trusted member of Diego Simeone’s squad and scored his 200th goal for the club against Eintracht Frankfurt in September, three days after his 199th in a 5-2 derby win over Real Madrid. “Talent has no age,” said Simeone that week. This marks Griezmann’s 12th successive appearance on this list but perhaps his last.","Writer":"Billy Munday","Subbed":"","Revised":""}],"furniture":[{"header_image":"day_4_BRyYQjfXh7.jpg"}]}}