40. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
The famously quiet Londoner-turned-French superstar stepped from Croydon to Bavaria over the summer and has managed the step up superbly. Michael Olise has been a complete player for Vincent Kompany, playing both centrally and on the right-wing to earn himself a senior call-up for Les Bleus. He's only going in one direction.
39. Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
When Luis Diaz arrived at Liverpool in January 2022, he helped reinvigorate an attacking unit that needed some refreshment. Energetic, tricky and direct, the Colombian proved a menace for Premier League defenders from the off, immediately endearing himself to the Anfield faithful.
There have been dips in form since but Diaz has always been a constant threat, as well as a selfless team player, capable of performing his role within a system while producing moments of outrageous flair. Few players in the Premier League dribble with as much confidence and aggression as the 27-year-old, who has hit new heights so far under Arne Slot in 2024/25.
38. Ederson (Manchester City)
Ederson was one of the first and most important ingredients in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City team. Without a goalkeeper capable of passing the ball like a midfielder, all of the titles might not have been possible. And Ederson, since his move from Benfica in 2017, has set new standards for ball-playing goalkeepers.
The Brazilian is completely unflappable and often takes what appear to be outrageous risks. But his ability to play out of trouble and find teammates all over the pitch with unerring accuracy has made him indispensable at City, where he has won six Premier League titles. He’s not a bad shot-stopper either.
37. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Antoine Griezmann may as well be remembered as a one-club man of Atletico Madrid – even if that's twisting the truth to omit the rise (Real Sociedad) and the fall (Barcelona) – but the many masks he's worn over the years are staggering. Truly, he is the David Bowie of the modern game.
A space invader behind Diego Costa, a frontman in his own right for Diego Simeone, a midfield workhorse at international level. Griezmann has done it all, and as though sun looks like setting on his club career in the coming years, he's still captivating, whatever he chooses to be. It's been a pleasure: just gonna have to be a different man for Simeone soon…
36. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
Eduardo Camavinga is still only 21 but already he has racked up well over 100 appearances for Real Madrid. Having been identified as a precocious and uniquely talented teenager at Rennes, the France international has lived up to the billing. He made 40 appearances in his first season with Los Blancos, clearly not overawed by the significant step up.
In the years since, Camavinga has continued to mature and improve, looking more composed in possession and mopping up loose balls in midfield. Alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, he has proved to be an excellent addition for a Real Madrid side looking to rebuild their midfield for a future without Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
35. Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Alex Grimaldo has not only transformed Bayer Leverkusen, he's terrorised the Bundesliga – all from full-back. Not bad for someone who was rejected by Barcelona and seemingly overlooked by the whole of Europe while at Benfica.
Grimaldo is one of the most complete players in Europe, able to attack and defend with equal ferocity, while positionally, he's sound on and off the ball. He was integral in Leverkusen's unbeaten title tilt and really should have played more at the Euros. The best free signing of all time? He's up there.
34. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Thibaut Courtois has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for a long time. Rangy and lanky, the Belgian might appear a little unwieldy, but he uses his size to his full advantage. Countless players have watched a shot that appears destined for the top corner only to see a long arm fly through the air and tip the ball away.
Courtois first made an impression at Atletico Madrid, helping Diego Simeone’s side to an unexpected La Liga title in 2013-14. That success was built on a strong defence, and Courtois was key again as Chelsea won the Premier League in both 2014-15 and 2016-17. That earned him a move to Real Madrid, where he has won three more La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, putting in a man-of-the-match display in the 2022 final against Liverpool.
33. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Joshua Kimmich has been at Bayern Munich for almost a decade and seems to get better each year. The versatile midfielder, who has often played as a full-back, is among the most technically-proficient players in Europe, having made his breakthrough under Pep Guardiola.
The Catalan’s influence has been clear, with Kimmich’s eye for a pass and positional intelligence matched by very few others. At 29, he has eight Bundesliga titles to his name and 93 Germany caps. Few players can claim to be as reliable or as consistent as Kimmich, who has recorded over 100 assists for Bayern since 2015.
32. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lightning fast and with an unrelenting engine up and down the right flank, Achraf Hakimi has quickly become one of the best right-backs in world football. His CV speaks for itself: he started at Real Madrid, before a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, a move to Inter and now a successful period with French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
A threat in attack and extremely difficult to beat for opposition wingers, Hakimi is a huge asset for his team. The 25-year-old has excelled on the international stage, too, playing a big part as Morocco unexpectedly reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals in Qatar.
31. Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
Josko Gvardiol arrived at Manchester City as one of the brightest young centre-backs in the world after impressing for RB Leipzig. Pep Guardiola, of course, saw things differently. He has used the Croatia predominantly as a left-back, and it has worked perfectly.
Technically-gifted and athletic centre-backs are now regularly being converted to full-backs and Gvardiol is perhaps the best example. After a shaky start at City, he has become a key figure, contributing to buildup on the left and more often than not getting the better of the opposition’s attackers. He has also made a habit of chipping in with important goals.
30. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
His stocks have dropped since Napoli's title tilt but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia showed the world exactly what he's about in Germany over the summer. The Georgian dragged his nation to the knockouts of their first-ever tournament and was the undisputed superstar of the side.
Even still, he's ridden the waves in southern Italy, still providing the spark at the Stadio Maradona. Kvaratskhelia is a deadly force of nature, able to beat players for fun and create and score with equal aplomb.
29. Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)
Ilkay Gundogan arrived as Pep Guardiola's first signing. If the Catalan departs at the end of his contract next summer, Gundo may well be his last.
A man who was previously Jurgen Klopp's linchpin reinvented himself time and again to become whatever Pep need: a box-crasher, a holding midfielder or a tempo-setter. In the absence of Rodri this season, his importance is even greater: it's good to have him back in the Premier League.
28. Theo Hernandez (Milan)
The work of a full-back is now much more than tracking wingers and stopping crosses. At the top of the modern game, they must also be able to offer something in attack. Theo Hernandez fits perfectly into the expanded role, and his combinations down the left flank with Rafael Leao is enough to give any right-back nightmares.
His flair going forward makes for unpredictable overlaps and underlaps with Leao, something which opposition teams struggle to track. But he can also defend, and is capable of filling in at centre-back when required. When operating there, his speed can make for a frustrating afternoon for forwards. The combination of Hernandez’s attributes leaves manager Paulo Fonseca with a number of defensive and attacking options depending on the threat posed by the opposition of the day.
27. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
Martin Odegaard revolutionised Arsenal’s midfield when he arrived from Real Madrid in 2021, and his absence has been keenly felt at the Emirates in the early part of this season. His command of the ball at his feet makes the Norwegian one of those special players who seems to have endless time, knowing precisely where each of his team-mates are and who’s currently providing the best option.
The 25-year-old is just as comfortable turning defence into attack in a flash, or patiently working away to find any weaknesses of an opposition low-block. Having rose to the role of captain under Arteta, he’s the glue that knits the playing squad together both on and off the pitch. His game doesn’t rely on pace either, so the Gunners may well have one spot in their midfield sewn up for the next decade.
26. Rafael Leao (Milan)
Rafael Leao possesses everything a top coach wants in a winger: speed, dribbling ability, good on the counter, composure when a goalscoring opportunity presents itself and an eye for a killer pass.
The eye test tells you that much, but the stats back it up to, he consistently registers double figures for both goals and assists in Serie A for AC Milan – he’s almost halfway there as a provider this season already. But he is more malleable than traditional wingers can sometimes be, evidenced by Milan boss Paulo Fonseca putting him through defensive drills, and seeing positive results.
“We’re worked hard, also individually on defensive things with Rafa,” the manager told reporters in September. “And it is clear to everyone that Leao is growing. He can do better, but he is improving defensively.”
25. Nico Williams (Athletic Club)
Speedy, skilful and explosive wingers are back. You can be assured of that if even tiki-taka-tastic Spain are getting in on the act.
Nico Williams, with Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank, became one of the most feared duos at Euro 2024. He’s much more than raw pace, but that was the trait most playing on England defender Kyle Walker’s mind ahead of the Berlin showdown.
“I saw him run the other day and I’ve never seen something so quick,” the right-back told talkSPORT, not known as a slow coach himself. It was Spain’s wide pair who linked up to unlock the Three Lions’ defence for the opener in the final, with Williams dispatching a perfect first-touch finish through the legs of Walker, proving he has a lethal killer instinct to make his athletic attributes all the more fearsome.
24. Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Once renowned as the position you’d field your least able player, full-backs, or wing-backs, are now regularly some of the most important operators on the field, a fact true for German champions Bayer Leverkusen.
A nightmare for writers of line-ups and designers of team graphics, Jeremie Frimpong essentially does the work of two players, expected to be back defending the wing out of possession before, in the blink of an eye, shuttling down the flank to create and even finish attacks. Despite his withdrawn notional position, Frimpong managed to register 14 goals and 12 assists in all competitions last term, and was already up to three assists in two games in this campaign’s Champions League.
It takes a rare mix of agility, stamina, workrate and technical ability to perform this role, and there’s few better than Frimpong currently doing it.
23. Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
In a star-studded Galacticos line-up now featuring the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo finds himself in just about the only team where he can fly under the radar. It looked like Rodrygo’s minutes may suffer when Mbappe landed in Madrid, but it’s a testament to the Brazil international’s ability that the Frenchman has been deployed as a sole striker at times, in part to protect Rodrygo’s right-wing berth.
Although Carlo Ancelotti has experimented with Rodrygo-less XIs, the 23-year-old remains among the club’s top scorers. His ability to retain the ball in tight areas, beat opponents and score important goals make him a key attacking tool, if not the headline name in the cauldron of Madrid.
It may be that noisy environment, however, that has pushed him on to quietly become one of the best.
22. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Florian Wirtz is fast becoming one of the hottest midfield properties in the game – and he's currently one of the world’s most sought-after players. He was a key component of Bayer Leverkusen’s unlikely Bundesliga triumph in 2023/24 and hasn’t taken his foot off the gas in the new campaign.
Not only has the 21-year-old proven to be a precise passer of the ball, carving out inch-perfect deliveries through tight spaces to accelerate attacks, but he also has the tactical nous to carry out Xabi Alonso’s devious plans.
If he’s not playing line-breaking passes, he’s popping up in pockets to drag defenders out of position to create space elsewhere, a trait that will become even more important as his stature in the game grows. The German champions will do well to keep him away from prying eyes.
21. Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
In a Manchester City side constantly evolving under Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva seems comfortable carrying out whatever new instruction is thrown at him. Needed on the wing? Fine. A job up front? No problem. Deeper in midfield? Sorted.
There is no limit to the way the master technician can mould Silva to his needs, and the Portuguese playmaker completes each assignment with a mix of dogged workrate, athleticism and elegance rarely seen in a single player. This season, he’s been a perfect partner for Kevin De Bruyne, but has also appeared on the right wing when an intricate locksmith is required over the brute-force speed of Jeremy Doku.
“He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life,” Guardiola told journalists last season. “I’ve trained a lot and he’s one of the best.” Strong praise, Pep.
