Thankfully, the Netherlands midfielder has put his career first to end up at Leipzig on loan, where expert talent developer Marco Rose is proving priceless once again. It’s easy to be distracted by Girona’s title charge, but Athletic Bilbao’s performances this season could still end up being the story of the season in LaLiga. The new generation of megastars looks set to be far less predictable, with midfielders Rodri and Phil Foden shining. It’s an old-school way to achieve greatness given the prominence of the Champions League and Premier League, but Mbappé’s international heroics prove his ability and mentality beyond all reasonable doubt.
Erling Haaland is Man City’s weapon of choice
- Wolvaardt will seek to captain her side to the final step having been runners-up at the last edition.
- I laid 7 earlier in the week, and as long as it’s under 10, I’d still feel good about the Jackets putting up a big number here.
- The young captain will look to add more wickets to her 31 in dismissals in T20s if Pakistan are to make a mark on tournament.
- The German forward’s six goals and four assists from his opening 15 matches have impressed, with the 21-year-old capable of playing up front or cutting in off the left flank.
- His first act after single-handedly winning the Spanish Super Cup was to criticise his antics that upset opponents, suggesting there’s growth to come on and off the pitch.
- The 29-year-old’s versatility has seen him fill multiple roles at Manchester City and he’s been at his fluent best this season.
- Our rankings are divided into four lists and give readers the closest thing to a position-by-position “depth chart” across world soccer.
Over 20 years into his professional career, Ronaldo has become the first man to score in five World Cups. So perhaps it’s no surprise he ranks near the top of the list of highest-paid football players in the world. Goncalo Inacio may be the Sporting CP centre-back set for a big move this winter, but his fellow defender Diomande is certainly one to watch. The Ivorian has been a regular starter for the Portuguese side this season and reportedly boasts a £70m release clause in his contract.
Harry Kane: £400,000 p/w
During their time at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema inevitably played in the shadow of Ronaldo – and although the pair ply their trade for different clubs in Saudi Arabia, the Portuguese legend still has the edge on salary – just. His career may ultimately have been one of underachievement on the pitch but in terms of salary, Neymar is a history maker. Not only the highest paid footballer in the world but the highest paid footballer of all time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool
- Overall he threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown while adding two rushing touchdowns and 55 yards rushing.
- They’re talented enough to handle the free role and graceful enough under pressure to constantly deliver.
- There’s no doubt that he’s going to be of incredible value for his new Spanish team, where he has already scored impressively in his first season.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold’s wizardry from right-back was a major feature of Jurgen Klopp’s dazzling spell in charge of Liverpool.The local lad is one of the most prolific assisters in the top flight with a truly generational passing range.
- Seaton had played every offensive snap this season until the Buffs put in a backup group to run out the clock at the end of Saturday’s game at UCF.
- Riyad Mahrez will always have a place in Premier League folklore as the star player of Leicester City’s incredible 2016 Premier League triumph.
- He can strike the ball on the run or with immense power from a dead standing start, he can finesse shots low into the corners or drill the ball high and rising into the roof of the net.
The cool-headed Indian star was one of the leading performers at the Women’s Hundred tournament in England, where her monstrous six-off sealed the title for London Spirit. The Vikings defense is good, but they have allowed 22 receptions to tight ends, ranking them sixth-worst. Conklin isn’t going to blow anyone’s socks off, but he has caught nine of 15 targets over the last two games and should be in line for another shot at a decent workload this week. Cooper has had some bad drops this season, but he’s getting open and getting targets, which is about all you need when facing the Commanders secondary. Washington has allowed 10 passing touchdowns to wide receivers and intercepted no passes. The Jets defense is solid, but they have been more effective against the pass than the run.
Harry Kane — Forward, Bayern Munich
Expect more trophies to follow for the little fellow with a big heart – and a bank balance swelled to the tune of £21m a year. Henderson is now the highest paid English footballer in history and still has hopes of making the Euro 2024 squad. The Senegalese striker will always have the affection of Liverpool fans for his role in their Premier League and Champion League triumphs alongside Mo Salah and Robert Firmino. Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer in history and naturally his salary reflects his status. Despite frequently stating his desire to play for Real Madrid, Mbappe opted against joining the Spanish giants and instead committed his future to Paris in a deal that apparently gives him control over coaching appointments and player recruitment. Neymar Jr’s sensational transfer from PSG to Saudi Arabia side Al Hilal has made the Brazilian the highest paid footballer in the world – and by some margin.
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At RB Leipzig, Simons operated on both wings and also as an attacking midfielder, carrying the ball around, maximising possession and creating goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. Created in 2009 in honour of Real Madrid icon Ferenc Puskas, captain and star of the Hungary national team during the 1950s, the FIFA Puskas Award is handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year. The winner of the The Best FIFA Men’s Player award is usually a player who wins or shines deep in either the biggest international tournaments of the year, and/or the Champions League. In the summer of 2024, the European Championship and Copa America took place with Spain and Argentina emerging victorious, respectively. His double against Lazio in the Champions League last 16 second leg took the England captain to 33 goals in all competitions.
- Footballer wages are higher than they’ve ever been right now, with the sport watched around the world, TV rights skyrocketing, and the Saudi Pro League throwing cash at the sport with reckless abandon.
- Last week he broke out, catching 8-of-9 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown against a good Steelers defense.
- Belgium will hope De Bruyne is fit and firing for the Euros, where they could benefit from his experience in a new-look squad that is hoping to improve on the team’s quarterfinal appearances at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
- An underappreciated elite central defender, few strikers get the better of Bastoni in Italy, on the continent or on the international stage.
- Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan (No. 143)There were lots of red flags last year with Edwards’ lack of production, but then he looked like Walter Payton in the national championship.
- For some of our panel these questions will have proven to be more persuasive.
- Like Neymar, like Messi, like many before, he has made a mockery of Ligue 1 but his form on the global stage for both club and country puts him out in front.
CBS Sports and the CBS Sports Golazo Network counted down the best players in the world, and Real Madrid dominated
Only the second player to score a Clasico hat-trick in 23 years Barcelona haven’t hated a player as much since Cristiano Ronaldo. Now vice-captain at his boyhood club, Alexander-Arnold has taken to leadership like a duck to water, and may well end up as the poster boy of the Reds’ next big trophy win. The epitome of the perfect modern-day goalkeeper, the Brazil international is Liverpool’s last line of attack and first line of defence and sublime at both and more.
NBA Teams
If the Hogs can protect Taylon Green, there’s a chance they can hang around here. Curious to see the Vols off the idle week and an emotional win at Oklahoma where the offense put up season lows. As always, I look forward to sharing my best football bets and gambling nuggets (Bear Bytes) with you all throughout the season. One of English football’s most enduring partnerships ended when Harry Kane left Tottenham Hotspur for German giants Bayern Munich.
Ranking the NFL’s best players at every position for 2024
Lionel Messi has been the undisputed king of the football world for the past decade, but his time at the top has drawn to a close. The 25-year-old is one of the fastest footballers we’ve ever seen grace the field, with shooting technique like no other. He can strike the ball on the run or with immense power from a dead standing start, he can finesse shots low into the corners or drill the ball high and rising into the roof of the net. Some might say it’s a season too soon to include him on this list of behemoths, but Bellingham has already shown enough to convince the world of his obscene talent at Dortmund, Real Madrid and on the international stage. Get your single bets paid out if the team you back goes 2 goals ahead – for multiple bets the selection will be marked as a winner with bet365. Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best football players in the world in 2024.
- He may not always command the fanfare that others do, but few players are as universally respected and incredibly liked as Son Heung-Min, arguably Tottenham Hotspur’s greatest signing (if excluding academy products) in the last several decades.
- NC State got the win against NIU last week but had just 171 yards, were plus-4 in turnovers and got a non-offensive touchdown.
- Some of cricket’s finest talent will be on display at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, which gets under way with a match between Bangladesh and Scotland in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday.
- Messi’s time at the top has come to an end due to the fact his presence in the growing, exuberant yet ultimately lower quality MLS will mask his decline.
- Assess them on the periods in which they were fit and their body of work before.
Bernardo Silva — Winger/Midfield, Manchester City
Lacking confidence under Steven Gerrard, reassurance and clear instruction from his replacement has turned the 28-year-old into one of the Premier League’s top strikers. Wirtz is one of the brightest stars to emerge out of Germany in the last decade, with a rare talent to control and dominate the midfield in a way few other players in world football can. Jude Bellingham’s stunning debut season at Spanish mega club Real Madrid has rapidly turned the attacking English midfielder into one of the hottest commodities in European football. There is no doubt that the expectations are high for all these players going into the 2024 season.
- The Bears allowed just two passing touchdowns to five interceptions on the season and the sixth-worst completion percentage.
- Second in Europe’s big five leagues for goals with 23, Martinez beginning to shut down debates about who the best player in Serie A is.
- The 18-year-old has put in some promising displays with Corinthians and is already being touted with a move to Europe.
- Some might say it’s a season too soon to include him on this list of behemoths, but Bellingham has already shown enough to convince the world of his obscene talent at Dortmund, Real Madrid and on the international stage.
- Despite becoming Tottenham’s record goalscorer, Kane was unable to win a trophy at his boyhood club and so departed for Germany in 2023.
- Despite a knee injury suffered in Week 2, which required offseason surgery, the Raiders defensive end enjoyed a career-best season, notching 14.5 sacks, 50 QB pressures, 31 QB hits, 23 tackles for loss and 90 tackles to earn him a third consecutive Pro Bowl trip.
And now that we are four weeks in, the data is getting better in helping us make start/sit decisions. Week 4 was the best week so far for this column, which is how it should work. While the Buffs haven’t signed a lot of high school players (there are 11 true freshmen on scholarship this season), they’ve found some gems from the prep ranks.
Doug King: “It was an epic moment in time”
The 19-year-old has been subject to interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, the former even having supposedly lodged a bid for his services during the summer, and it seems only a matter of time before Europe’s top clubs start circling the defender more vigorously. Mainoo has shown incredible maturity during his performances in a struggling Man Utd side low on confidence, the England youth international set for an even bigger role with Red Devils in the coming year. The Red Bull Salzburg talent factory has struck gold once more with 19-year-old Gloukh.
Euro 2024 was a coming of age tournament for Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal, who emerged from the competition with individual and collective glory. He became the youngest goalscorer in Euros history, won the Young Player of the Tournament, scored the Goal of the Tournament and was crowned a European champion when Spain triumphed over England in the final. The starlet was already a sensation at Barcelona but has now hit new heights. The Turkish star boasts a supreme https://st-bet.net/ passing range and is almost faultless from set-pieces. There are plenty of superstars across the planet, with the bulk of the most talented players plying their trade in Europe, but when it comes to comparing the top performers, the playing field is significantly more level. If he racks up another couple of 20+ goal seasons, he will hit the 200 Premier League goals mark, an unbelievable achievement for any player, let alone a winger playing out wide.
Not only has he has surpassed his final season at Tottenham, but he did it in 16 FEWER games. He has 28 goals in all competitions this season and in total has scored 80 times in 84 City games. Sommer has made Andre Onana a distant memory, and is quickly becoming one of the most important players in a potentially titanic Serie A title bout between Inter and Juventus, with no team in Europe’s big five leagues conceding fewer than Inter’s 13 goals. One of the focal points of Jurgen Klopp’s final Liverpool team was the embarrassment of riches he had in attack. Not only did he have several noteworthy players to choose from, he also had enough options to rotate through as the Reds made deep runs in four different competitions. Even as Klopp spread the love, some players naturally ranked above others in the team’s most important games.
Erling Haaland (Man City)
They are, of course, only a selection of the players at the top level on the global football scene. The next year will show whether they can keep their ranking at the top of the list or whether other top players will make their way to the list. The award celebrates the best 11 players in the world each year, and gives players who don’t have a realistic shot at winning the overall award, primarily defensive players, recognition for their work on the pitch. The appreciation and acclaim of Garrett continues as the Top 100’s highest-ranked defender. Cleveland’s daunting edge rusher was invincible through the first 11 games, securing 13.0 of his 14.0 season sacks during a span that included a memorable showcase of dominance against the Colts in Week 7.
Yann Sommer – Inter Milan
The Premier League is shaping up nicely, with an exciting title race, a surprise contender in Aston Villa, some big clubs underperforming and new boys Luton Town faring better than many expected. A breakout tournament from Foden may be the extra weapon they need up front to finally end their Euros title drought. The Belgian was almost unstoppable in the second half of the season for City and is on form at the right time with Euro 2024 beginning mid-June. Apart from his impressive statistics, the 20-year-old’s leadership qualities and winning mentality have earned him the status of a hero among the Bernabeu faithful. Depending on how Euro 2024 goes for Bellingham and England, he could well make the jump from Golden Boy to Ballon d’Or winner in the space of a year.
College football playoff projections: Who’s in position to make the 12-team field?
Belgium will hope De Bruyne is fit and firing for the Euros, where they could benefit from his experience in a new-look squad that is hoping to improve on the team’s quarterfinal appearances at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. If host Euro 2024 nation Germany is to have any chance of winning the trophy on home soil, Wirtz will need to be at his impactful best in order for them to succeed. Other formers include the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, but also names such as Mario Balotelli, Anderson and Alexandre Pato, whose career was heavily disrupted by injuries. Outrageously talented young ballers from Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and others are all battling it out to be crowned the 2024 Golden Boy. Before the merge, The Best FIFA Football Awards was known as FIFA World Player of the Year. Ex-England international Jermaine Jenas and presenter Samantha Johnson were the hosts for 2022, while Jenas was accompanied by broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury in 2021.
Luis Diaz was on the pitch more often than not to generate — and score — chances. In the four years since Bellingham traded the Black Country for the Ruhr Valley he has fulfilled that famed promise to his youth coach that he would be a 10, an eight and a four in one package. In his final year with Borussia Dortmund he was the tempo-dictating, ball-progressing player of the season in the Bundesliga. On his arrival at Real Madrid he plugged the great hole that Carlo Ancelotti had at center forward, weighing in with a big goal whenever required on his road to La Liga’s player of the season. When Vinicius Junior returned to full fitness and form, Bellingham became the man to bring balance to Madrid taking on a heftier midfield role. Sana, who made her debut in 2019 at the age of 18, is the rising star of Pakistan cricket and its great hope following its difficult recent run.
What’s a list of top players in the world without the current Captain America on it? Possibly the best American soccer player ever produced, Pulisic has won a Champions Leauge title with Chelsea, a DFB Pokal with Borussia Dortmund along with multiple honors for the United States men’s national team. Now, entering the prime of his career with Milan, it seems like Pulisic is enjoying his soccer while also producing results with it.
Real Madrid are about to enter a glorious era with so many future superstars set to strut their stuff at the Bernabeu. A gloriously gifted midfielder in possession, the Portuguese international is one of those players you never get tired of watching. A subtle passer who can pick a lock in the final third, Vitinha is starting to blossom as the heartbeat of PSG’s midfield. Messi continues to dominate games – both subtly and explicitly – for club and country. His performances directly inspired Argentina to Copa America and World Cup trophies, and he transformed rock-bottom MLS team, Inter Miami, into cup finalists in the space of a month. We have taken into account domestic and international achievements as well as various stats and figures from this season and recent, prior campaigns to build a picture of the current best players in world football.
He had a couple of seasons at Barcelona that weren’t exactly impressive when looking at his former achievements. In 2016 and 2018, he came in third for the Ballon d’Or, so there’s no doubt that he is one of the best players in the world. This season, he showed that he still belongs at the top of the list of the best footballers in the world. He has scored an impressive 26 goals and made 16 assists in 2023, making him one of the best players in the Spanish La Liga, if not the best.
Really makes us wish we’d tried harder in PE and done a few more sit-ups instead of seeing how many chicken dippers we could scran without dying. Vote on the footballers based on how much they dominated the pitch this year.
Operating as an inverted full-back, he receives the ball more in central positions, bringing his superb range of passing to the fore. As always, there are lots of intriguing subplots and star players to keep an eye on across the division as we enter the home stretch, with individual honours also at stake. At FourFourTwo, we set about compiling a list of the 20 best players in the Premier League based on their performances so far this season. The 25-year-old, who will wear the captain’s armband at the Euros, heads into the tournament on the back of a terrific final season with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring a whopping 44 goals in all competitions.