Ranked! The 100 best football players in the world: 2023

80. Victor Boniface

Chelsea target Victor Boniface of Leverkusen celebrates after scoring his teams third goal during Bayer 04 Leverkusen against Qarabag FK at BayArena on October 26, 2023 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Jörg Schüler/Bayer 04 Leverkusen via Getty Images)

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Bayer Leverkusen have been outstanding under Xabi Alonso – and Victor Boniface has been superb up front. The Nigerian is perfect for his manager, offering the physicality and presence up front that enables the German side to bully teams in the final third. Nigeria have one hell of an attack when this guy is your Plan B…

79. Dominik Szoboszlai

Dominik Szoboszlai in action for Liverpool against Bournemouth at Anfield in August 2023.

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Arguably one of Liverpool's most important players already, Dominik Szoboszlai cost £60m but has already adapted to English football excellently to become one of the most consistently creative, hard-working midfielders in the Premier League, able to operate in either No.8 role and showing his ability to drift and fill the spaces that others vacate. The Hungarian is one to build around. 

78. Jack Grealish

Jack Grealish #10 of Manchester City in action during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Manchester City and BSC Young Boys at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester on Tuesday 7th November 2023. (Photo by MIke Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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The transformation from one-man attack at Villa to just another cog in the Guardiola masterplan has underwhelmed some who preferred watching Young Jack slaloming around defenders like skittles. But there's no denying his importance to that Treble-winning group – and it's testament to his patience as an attacker that he was able to adapt and become a key man in such a ferociously good unit. 

77. Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford #10 of Manchester United takes a shot during the penalty shootout during a game between Arsenal F.C.and Manchester United at MetLife Stadium on July 22, 2023 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Mike Lawrence/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

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Marcus Rashford may be ending the calendar year with question marks over his work ethic or his ability to lead his hometown club – but it shouldn't be forgotten that for the first half of 2023, there was arguably no better left-winger in English football. The Manchester United star looked like his final form under Erik ten Hag for a while: class is permanent, he'll get back to that level.

76. Moussa Diaby

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Moussa Diaby of Aston Villa celebrates his first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Luton Town at Villa Park on October 29, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

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It didn't look like a no-brainer to bring Moussa Diaby to the Premier League for a huge fee – but the Frenchman has been a massive hit at Villa Park. Playing in that hybrid role behind Ollie Watkins, Diaby has been energetic and direct, chipping in with goals and rotating nicely with Leon Bailey. Could 2024 be an even bigger year for Villa?

75. Hakan Calhanoglou

Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring the team's second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Internazionale and FC Salzburg at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 24, 2023 in Milan, Italy.

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Hakan Calhanoglu's evolution has been sublime. From a set-piece master who would hang on the edge of a penalty area almost waiting for the opportunity for the ball to stop dead, he now dictates from deep in the absence of Marcelo Brozovic. He's been excellent for Inter this season. 

74. Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski

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Tottenham's "Ginger from Sweden" has been about as good a signing as Daniel Levy has made in recent years. Creative, controlled and with a knack for popping up when he's needed, Dejan Kulusevski has had another solid year in north London: with Ange at the wheel, perhaps he's on the cusp of something bigger, too. 

73. Julian Brandt

DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 1: Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund looks on during the DFB cup second round match between Borussia Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park on November 1, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

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Borussia Dortmund is built on quicksand with the biggest talents often not at Signal Iduna Park long enough to build around – but Julian Brandt has been a consistent mainstay for several seasons, now. One of the most reliable sparks in a side who consistently challenge, the German is one of European football's more underappreciated stars, capable of magic.

72. Phil Foden

Phil Foden looks on during England's Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy in Naples in March 2023.

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Most often limited to cameos in City's greatest-ever season, Phil Foden has had a great 2023 by anyone else's standards. He's still one of the most exciting talents in the division, despite competition for places and he may well be a starter for England next year at the Euros. 

71. Sven Botman

Sven Botman of Newcastle United arrives prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leeds United at St. James Park on December 31, 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

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Sven Botman has been an absolute monster in the Newcastle United defence. For someone so young to be quite so composed, dominant and able to lead a backline is frightening: he looks like a pillar for this club for the next decade. 

70. Theo Hernandez

Theo Hernandez of AC Milan yells during the Serie A Tim match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 29, 2023 in Naples, Italy (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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No longer living in his brother's shadow, Theo Hernandez is one of the most consistent full-backs in world football these days, going from strength to strength ever since winning the Scudetto. The Frenchman is a jewel for Milan and still improving year on year. 

69. Aurelien Tchouameni

Aurelien Tchouameni #8 of France looks on during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 1 match between France and Austria at Stade de France on September 22, 2022 in Paris, France.

Aurelien Tchouameni (Image credit: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)

Aurelien Tchouameni is still finding his feet at the Bernabeu but already a starter for his country. He has one of the most impressive skillsets of any midfielder in Europe and though he's still got so much more to show, he's been solid at Real Madrid and will surely grow further. 

68. Granit Xhaka

Granit Xhaka of Bayer 04 Leverkusen looks on during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Volkswagen Arena on October 21, 2023 in Wolfsburg, Germany.

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Granit Xhaka has shown shades to his game that no one knew he had. Previously thought of as a deep-lying speader of play with a lack of mobility, he's developed into one of the best No.8s in world football, a real leader of men and he's one of the biggest reasons that Leverkusen are where they are. 

67. Anthony Gordon

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Newcastle player Joelinton and Arsenal defender Gabriel look on as Anthony Gordon fires home past David Raya for the Newcastle winning goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 04, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

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Anthony Gordon admitted himself that he wasn't up to speed with Eddie Howe's demands when he first moved to Tyneside: it's safe to say he is now. The England U21 hero of the summer, Gordon has been superb in the second half of this year, turning into one of the most unpredictable footballers on Earth with a lethal final product and pace to burn. 

66. Joao Palhinha

Fulham's Joao Palhinha tussling with Liverpool's Darwin Nunez

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A surprise revelation when he moved to west London, Joao Palhinha has been nothing short of exceptional in the Premier League. The Portuguese is a big reason that Marco Silva's side didn't just survive but pushed on up the table: interest from the likes of Bayern Munich isn't a coincidence. 

65. Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos of Real Madrid CF during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and CA Osasuna played at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on October 7, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Cesar Cebolla / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport) Manchester City

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Toni Kroos may go down as one of the most decorated players of a generation – but he's also one of the best. Beginning his career as a No.10, slipping alongside Luka Modric when he moved to Madrid and now controlling from deep: the German is a sumptuous player, who operates in his own time and space away from everyone else. 

64. Marquinhos

Marquinhos and his PSG team-mates celebrate the Ligue 1 title at the trophy presentation in June 2023.

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Paris Saint-Germain's captain and leader at the back is as good as he ever has been – still the man for PSG, despite playing alongside Sergio Ramos. Marquinhos is one of football's most reliable characters and though Europe still eludes them, almost every title they do scoop can be attributed in part to the main man at the back.

63. Gavi

Gavi of Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League Group H match between FC Barcelona and Royal Antwerp at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on September 19, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

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Cruelly ruled out of much of 2024, Gavi has defined the last 12 months for Barcelona. Able to operate in midfield or out left, putting in a superb destroyer's display in the Clasico and being one of the key men in a La Liga title despite barely being old enough to drink – there's no doubt that if he comes back as strongly as he left, he'll become a generational star for the Catalans. 

62. Santiago Gimenez

Santiago Gimenez of Feyenoord celebrates the 3-0 during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Feyenoord and SS Lazio at Feyenoord Stadium de Kuip on October 25, 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. ANP | Hollandse Hoogte | COR LASKER (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)

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A goal machine for Feyenoord this year, Santiago Gimenez has burst into the Eredivisie as perhaps the complete striker. Strong, physical, prolific and with good hold-up play, it's only a matter of time before the big move comes calling for the Mexican. 

61. Florian Wirtz

Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen on the way to the team presentation at BayArena on July 25, 2022 in Leverkusen, Germany.

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After serious injury, it's not just good to have Florian Wirtz back, but back to his best, dovetailing in Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen to devastating effect. The German is one of the most watchable young stars on the planet and living up to that wonderkid hype with excellent displays every week. 

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.