Best Player in the World 2025: Top 10 Football Players (Ranked)

Since football is an ever-changing and ever-evolving game, deciding the best player in the world for a certain time period always proves to be a challenging mental exercise. The title for best player in the world 2025 can be awarded either based on the level of performance an individual footballer has produced in nerve-wrecking matches or based on opinions from certain experts of the game, which at times is termed as subjective analysis of the players rather than unbiased opinions.

Hence, to eliminate this possible bias, we at the Sportsdunia football desk have decided to take stats-backed evidence of footballers' form over a particular timeframe as a primary factor to identify the best footballers in the world in 2025. Whether it's the no. of goals, assists, precise passing, or clean sheets, in which competition a particular player reaches such an exceptional level of performance. Though racking up impressive numbers consistently across different metrics is a crucial factor, in the end, a player winning a silverware is also a vital factor.

List of Best Player in the World 2025

Now, after acknowledging the query that our thousands of football fanatics might be having, and revealing the approach taken by us to answer the million-dollar question, “Who is the best player in the world 2025?”, let's have a look at the compiled top 10 list below. Our experts at Sportsdunia football desk have considered the overall stats of the 2024/25 domestic season, 2025 Fifa Club World Cup & as well as the recently started 2025 domestic season, to an extent. The reason behind prioritising 2024/25 season stats is the fact that the data pool available to measure performances of the ongoing season is small, since it only started recently.

How We Ranked Best Player in the World 2025?

At the beginning of this article, we provided a glimpse of our methodology for determining the best player in the world in 2025. Here, though, our readers will gain a detailed understanding of the ranking factors considered by us, with the primary factor being goals and assists, followed by the measurement of a player's impact on their club & national team, as well as major trophies won.

• Goals & Assists: Number of goals and assists scored by a footballer has been considered the most important ranking factor while compiling the list of the world's best footballer, as it's an indication of that player's consistent performance at the highest level for both his club & country.
• Honours: Apart from Goals and Assists, we have considered the individual honours as the second factor in deciding the best footballers in the world. It is a recognition of a player's contribution to club & country. For example, Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been awarded the Ballon d'Or an impressive 5 times as a recognition of his stunning performances for Real Madrid.
• Impact on the team: As a third ranking factor, best football player in the world 2025 must leave an everlasting impact on the club or country he plays for with his game-changing performances
• Major Trophies Won: Last but not least, a footballer is called as best player in the world 2025 if they have something to show for after delivering exceptional performances. Yes, we are talking about the trophies won. The greater the no. of trophies won, the higher the chances of a footballer being the best.
  Note: The mentioned numbers are taken from trusted and reputable sources like Transfermarkt, fbref and Sportsdunia.

Who is the Best Player in the World 2025?

Now that we have finished giving an in-depth insight into the 4 ranking factors taken into consideration, let's have a look and find out why these footballers, out of whom some are also included in the Ballon D'or 2025 rankings as candidates to win the famed golden ball.

10. Scott McTominay (Napoli & Scotland)

Want to know what a difference a year makes? Then ask Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, and you will get the answer you seek. Despite getting considerable minutes at his old club, Manchester United, where he spent 22 years in total, constant manager changes and questionable tactics meant he was never given a proper platform to make the most out of his abilities with the ball. Then Napoli came calling, and also came a 360-degree turn in his fortune.

Under the tutelage of Antonio Conte, he relished the opportunity as an out-and-out box-to-box midfielder and became one of the star players leading the Partenopei to their 2nd Serie A title in 3 seasons. He scored 13 goals & 4 assists in all competitions, and was also a menace off the ball by displaying calculated physicality & aggression. This proves that in the right environment and under a good coach, a footballer can be in the list of the top 10 best player in the world 2025. His popularity, in fact, soared to such great levels that the fan nicknamed him “McFratm”, a combination of his surname & Neopolitan word ”Fratm" (which means brother).

9. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid & England)

Though Real Madrid had a below-par 2024-25 season in contrast to their lofty standards, English midfielder Jude Bellingham was one of the in-form players who ensured that Los Blancos were in contention across all competitions. At just 22, he has taken his game to new heights by showing unmatched levels of consistency & versatility. In his debut season, he filled the void left by Benzema by playing as a false 9 and ended scoring 23 goals & 12 assists. The arrival of Kylian Mbappe in the following season led to him being deployed in a no. 8 role. Though he struggled initially, as the season progressed, he kept on delivering and in the end, scored 14 goals & 13 assists in all competitions.

According to fbref, Jude was a constant menace in the opposition teams' penalty area as he recorded 3.62 touches/90 mins & was better than 97% of midfielders in that regard. He also dictates the tempo of the Real Madrid midfield by being a constant vocal presence on the pitch. Thanks to his physicality, on-pitch awareness, and technical ability with the ball, he has all the attributes of a modern-day midfielder. If not for winning only 1 trophy, you would have seen him ranked higher than 9th. Though he started the 2025 season slowly due to nursing a shoulder injury, it is never in doubt why he is hailed as one of the best midfielders in 2025 & as well as one of the best football players in the world.

8. Pedri (Barcelona & Spain)

Only a handful of midfielders in football can dictate the tempo of the midfield like Barcelona no.8 Pedri. Along with his endless energy & versatility, his ability to boss the midfield like an orchestra leader has catapulted him to the list of the top 10 best player in the world 2025. But understandably, questions will be asked by our readers about why he is included in this list. Though his returns were decent (6 Goals + 9 Assists) compared to the likes of Jude Bellingham, his underlying numbers pretty much justify his inclusion. According to stats on our Sportsdunia website, 45% of his shots were on target, and as per FBRef data, he is ranked among the 97th percentile in progressive carries.

His knack for attempting to score and ability to progress the ball towards the opposition's penalty box is an accurate display of the threat he possesses. He was instrumental in helping Barcelona win all 4 Clásicos against Real Madrid as his club completed a domestic treble. He played 59 times for the Blaugranas last season, showcasing his growing importance to the team. After securing an average rating of 7.61 last season, he has continued his form by already earning an avg. rating of 7.74 so far after 4 matches of La Liga 2025-26.

7. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona & Poland)

"That is what Robert Lewandowski does for a living."

The readers here who watch the Bundesliga regularly might have heard the above-mentioned iconic remark several times. Meanwhile, for the unfamiliar ones… It's an iconic line used to be said by Phil Bonney, a well-known commentator on the Bundesliga for the official (English) DFL feed. He always made this remark whenever Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored goals during his time at Bayern Munich, and we all know he scored a lot. And when you score an astonishing no. of goals like Lewa, it's natural to assume that he takes that job as seriously as if it's his primary source of living, he can't live without.

After signing for the Blaugranas in 2023, had a surprisingly average season as per his standards, but he charged up and ended up scoring a whopping 42 goals in all competitions, leading Barcelona to a domestic treble at the end of the 2024/25 season. Some of his memorable goals include a brace in a stunning 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu and as well as a goal against his former club Bayern in the league phase of UCL. If not for the injury sustained in the latter stages of the season, not only would he have been among best player in the world 2025, but also might have seen his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or increase.

6. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)

The England National Team Skipper Harry Kane is next on our list. We know maybe our fellow football fanatics are wondering…" Why in the world is Kane ranked above Lewandowski?". The answer to this is pretty simple!! Though Lewandowski won more in terms of trophies, Kane's link-up play is second to none. His ability to stretch the opposition defense by dropping deep and providing line-breaking passes to his teammates is always a sight to behold & explain why he also chipped in 14 assists along with 41 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 season.

His terrific form led to Bayern Munich restoring the normalcy by winning the Bundesliga, and thus ended his own long wait for a major trophy. He carried his rich vein of form into the summer's FIFA Club World Cup as well as into the 2025 Bundesliga, where he has already scored 11 goals in all competitions. Also, after scoring a brace against Chelsea in their 2025 Champions League opener against Chelsea, he became only the 3rd player after Cristiano Ronaldo & Neymar in the competition's history to score 20+ goals for two different clubs. No wonder he is also hailed as one of the best strikers in the world in 2025.

5. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid & France)

At a prime age of 26, France's record goalscorer Kylian Mbappe has refined his art of finishing to an even greater level after joining Real Madrid in 2024. Instead of being deployed as a left-winger, which has been his preferred position, he was deployed as a no.9 by then Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti. This was done so that Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. can both play together without sacrificing one for the other. And guess what? the former PSG man did what he always does best…and that is scoring goals consistently.

In his debut season at Madrid, he solidified his position in the list of top 10 best player in the world 2025 by scoring an astonishing 44 goals across all competitions. As a result of his exceptional performance in front of goals, he ended up winning the European Golden Shoe. Just like his fellow Madridista Jude Bellingham, Mbappe would have climbed higher in our rankings had Real Madrid won more than just a UEFA Supercup.

4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt)

The Egyptian King Mohamed Salah has once again proved that age is just a number with his record-shattering performance last season in the Premier League. With years of experience playing at the top level with the Reds, his movement inside the box & finishing have only gotten better. The forward, who is ranked 4th in the Premier League's all-time goalscorers list, continues to deliver 20+ goals every season. Last season, it was no surprise either as he led Liverpool to a record-equalling 20th Premier League title and also won the Golden Boot in the process.

One of the best right wingers in the world, Mo Salah not only scored 34 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 season, but also displayed his creative ability by chipping in with 23 assists. His team's early exit in the Champions League means that his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or are slim, but with AFCON looming, along with being favourites to retain the EPL trophy & as well as win UCL, he might be able to stake his claim for the golden ball next year.

3. Raphinha (Barcelona & Brazil)

It's not surprising when you see a 28-year-old Brazilian in his prime, staking his claim to be best football player in the world 2025 as they possess the skill, flair, trickery & goalscoring instincts to do so. Hence, it makes sense why the Selecao Winger Raphinha is ranked 3rd here. From the verge of leaving Blaugranas to becoming a key cog of Hansi Flick's team, he sure had one hell of a ride.

Raphinha's case is one of those examples of how the presence of a coach who knows what he is doing can turnaround a player's dwindling career. Though he played as a left-winger primarily, he had the license to roam all over the pitch and swap positions with Yamal while terrorising the defenses of the rival clubs. His staggering return of 34 goals & 25 assists, which includes a hat-trick scored during a 4-1 demolition of Bayern in the UCL helped Barcelona to win the domestic treble & almost come close to reaching the final of the Champions League, but Inter had other plans. He has continued his fine form in the early stages of 2025-26 domestic season by securing an average rating of 7.71 till date

2. Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona & Spain)

Ever since his inclusion in the first team, Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal has taken the world of football by storm. He has the pace and skills of an ever-enthusiastic youngster & the maturity of a veteran as he has already cemented his position as an indispensable player for the Blaugrana. His consistently eye-catching performances mean that he is already in the mix to be called best football player in the world. In fact, he stated his ambitions down clearly when he recently told the podcast "Resonancia de Corazón" that he aims to win Ballon d'Or not once but multiple times.

His mind-boggling return of 43 goals & assists in all competitions took the entire Europe by storm as Barcelona went on to sweep all the domestic trophies in Spain. He has already cemented his place as the best young football player in the world, and if he maintains this consistency, then he can be one of the best footballers of his generation.

1. Ousmane Dembele (PSG & France)

Now, let's shift our focus on the answer to the million-dollar question, “Who is the best player in the world 2025?”. Last season, it goes without saying that French forward Ousmane Dembele retained his status among the world's best footballers after overcoming frequent injury layoffs, controversies & failures. Playing as a striker or false 9 after a mid-season tactical tweak by Luis Enrique, the 28-year-old switched gears and started tormenting defenders across Europe.

Dembele appeared in the form of his life in the 2025-26 season, winning multiple titles with PSG, including the Ligue 1 and the Champions League. Thanks to his incredible performance throughout the campaign, Dembele also won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 2025.

Dembele claimed 35 Goals & 16 assists and helped PSG to complete a sweep of Ligue 1, Coupe De France, Trophée des Champions and UCL. The icing on the cake was the fact that he starred in PSG's 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the UCL final. Though PSG failed to win the Club World Cup, they won the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.