We are back! When the 2023-24 European club season ends later championship finally and European Championship And Copa America Coming up, we’ll be back with our eighth annual ranking of the best male players in world football. Welcome to FC100.
The FC 100 is different from most countdown timers. It’s not a 1-100 numerical ranking. Rather, we actually take into account all 11 positions on the field, whereas most rankers prioritize talent with little regard for where the stars play. That leads to uninspiring lists that focus mainly on goalscorers (strikers) and goal-creators from midfield, with little attention paid to talent in poor areas. more attractive on the field.
Our rankings are divided into four lists and provide readers with the closest thing to a “depth chart” for each position in world football.
LIST: 2024 FC 100, POSITION BY POSITION
Go: Goalie | Defender | Midfielder | Striker
Previous editions: 2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016
What’s new and what’s changed in 2024
This year’s voting featured more than 50 entries from around the world and from every ESPN FC region; from writers to reporters, from editors to producers, from behind-the-scenes staff to television talent. Gab Marcotti, Julien Laurens, Mark Ogden and Alejandro Moreno are just some of the key voters.
The biggest change is how we compile the list. To embrace the modern game’s shift from specialist position players to versatility and fluidity, we have moved from the old approach of “Top 10 positions and coaching member” to a broader list recognizing four key positions. Now you’ll see the top 10 goalkeepers, followed by our top 30 defenders, midfielders and strikers.
Another big update? There is no more manager. The evolution of the role, from the traditional manager of the whole club to more team and tactical specialist, means we are focusing on the players here. We will handle global manager rankings separately later in the summer. The decision has also brought in a lot more new faces on this year’s list than in any previous edition: More than a quarter of the players listed are new to the FC 100 universe in 2023- 24, ensuring the list is always up to date with the times.
2:36
Messi or Ronaldo had a better season?
ESPN FC experts and writers reveal whether they think Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi had a better season.
Main lesson
-
A new format means new names: This season’s version of FC 100 has 28 new names for the first time in the rankings’ 8-year history, a testament to both the growth of the sport as well as the next generation breaking through in tournaments. Europe’s leading.
-
Cristiano Ronaldo BACK: After leaving FC 100 in 2022-23 due to a poor year that saw him leave Manchester United acrimoniously, a poor World Cup and a failed move to the Saudi Pro League, the Portuguese star Dentistry is back in the spotlight. towards Euro 2024.
-
Behold, an American player! After a fantastic season with AC Milan, US captain Christian Pulisic returns to FC 100, making his second appearance. Canada’s Alphonso Davies makes his fourth appearance at FC 100 after another strong campaign for Bayern Munich.
-
Premier League once again dominates: In total, 38 members of this year’s FC 100 come from England’s top flight, with a host of clubs in addition to Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal contributing to their strength in depth. LaLiga is a close second with 19 names on the list, although the German Bundesliga has 18 options – thanks to Bayer Leverkusen (seven names) and their incredible unbeaten domestic season. they revive.
-
Man City is still at the top: Pep Guardiola’s side may have failed in the FA Cup and Champions League, but their fifth Premier League title in six years was rewarded with 11 players featuring in the FC 100 in 2023-24, with Every position on the field is guaranteed. From there, Real Madrid contributed 10 names after a dominant LaLiga season and advanced to the Champions League final, while Liverpool ranked third with 8 candidates for this year’s list.
How our voters handle ballots
Conducting a global vote on the world’s best players is no easy feat, and we’ve included some guidance with the vote on how people can go about it. Voters are encouraged to consider the following: Who are the best players today, as of their 2023-24 season. Voters get to decide which part of the vote the injury takes; Several players were cut despite being absent for parts of the season due to their level of contribution and performances when healthy. Similarly, performance in individual competitions (e.g. Champions League) was considered, but was not an overarching factor in voting. Players who put in effort in the largest samples of games will naturally rank higher than those who excel in shorter tournament formats.
Here are some questions we asked our voters:
On what basis should I rate my players?
Who do you think is the best player right now, if they are fully fit?
How much should I count on for the current season?
It will likely be an important component, but this is not a ranking of the best players in 2023-24. Rather, this season will likely weigh heavily on your rating as it reflects more recent performances. If someone excels in the 2023-24 season, there is reason to believe they are an excellent player now.
What happens if someone has performed at a very high level for a long time but this year is not as good?
That’s when it becomes a judgment call. For example, Mohamed Salah is an excellent player, but last season he only scored 25 goals in 44 matches, the first time he scored less than 30 goals in all competitions since the 2019-20 season. He’s 31 years old, so you’ll need to decide whether this is the start of a downward trajectory or just a minor blip that will be ironed out next season.
How do we handle injured players during important periods of the season?
Evaluate them on the relevant stages and their previous work. And again, if they’ve been out for a long time, decide whether you think the injury will have such long-term effects that their performance will be permanently impaired.
Should we place more emphasis on performances in major tournaments like the World Cup and Champions League?
Unnecessary. If there is a player who has been excellent in the Champions League (think Divock Origi a few years ago) but is only average in the league, he probably shouldn’t be in your rankings.
What each FC 100 list is about
The key here is twofold: why each player makes this list in 2023-24 and what they plan to do next season.
Goalie
It’s not enough for a modern goalkeeper to just use gloves well. These days, shot blockers are expected to frequently initiate attacking moves by building from behind as well as blocking them.
Agility and reflexes are natural, but the world’s best goalkeepers also combine a sense of confidence and boldness in the box, making them appear larger than life.
Defender
In a bold first break from previous ranks, we’ve grouped everyone in the defensive third under a single banner, although don’t think this list is limited to the central defender. All three major positions — right guard, center, left guard — are covered in the run-down period, and rightly so.
Right behind has never been the most glamorous position, but many developments in the game have made it a thrilling and unpredictable point on the field. The best in the game will combine strong positional awareness with blistering speed, as well as the audacity to rush forward and support their team’s attack.
If you want a great team, you need a great team central defender (two, if you’re really lucky). The best in the game are formidable in both size and strength but are also blessed with the ability to tell time and anticipate the striker’s movements to regain control. Elegance on and off the ball is essential, whether making a weighted forward pass or edging past opponents to relieve pressure.
Just like their counterparts on the opposite side, at best left back Combine speed and intelligence to become a threat in attack or defense. Comfortable and accurate crosses with the left foot are also a rarity, but top players are at their best when they overlap before executing the perfect ball.
Midfielder
We used to have two positional rankings to cover the center of the pitch, but we’re combining those with on and off-ball skills here for the 2023-24 season. Have defensive midfielder People can create or destroy. Either they are like Rodri, covering a lot of distance to stop opponents with precision and agility, or like Martin Odegaard, who controls the tempo of the game with his sharp distribution and vision.
Playfulness, creativity, speed and confidence: these are the best tools attacking midfielder. Sometimes called number 10, these guys score goals as freely as if they are irritating their teammates. With their ability to freely move around the pitch and exploit space, their ability to create something out of nothing makes them some of the most exciting players around.
Striker
Finally the charming location! These are your showboats, your scorers, your natural strengths. From wing to wing and everything in between, the attacking third is where your high-quality, high-skill talent is typically found.
Winger has become a bit outdated in the modern game, but there are still plenty of benefits to having quick, forward-thinking players in the wide positions. Blessed with the speed and tenacity to beat their mark and get to the touchline to make a cut-back pass, they can be truly dangerous.
From that, forward And striker more difficult to determine. They are a strong combination of close-range finisher, play-maker and space creator for teammates around the penalty area. They are talented enough to take on freelance roles and graceful enough under pressure to constantly contribute. They will score in any match, against any team in any position. Their quick feet and quick wit, their ability to read the play and predict where the ball will go three passes before it gets there are what set them apart.
They’ll score more than just touches: the best can improvise with any part of their body (except the hands, of course) to get the job done. Clever moves, deft tricks, powerful backheels and calm combinations are their best traits.
