Highlights

• Vinicius Junior is currently the best player in the world after spearheading Real Madrid's surge to the Champions League final.
• Phil Foden has established himself among the global elite after an excellent season with Manchester City.
• Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dropped down the rankings, but the legendary forwards remain among the world's best.

Football is an ever-changing meritocracy, and therefore, deciding the best player in the world at any precise moment is a difficult challenge. That title could theoretically change hands after any given match depending on the level of performance an individual footballer has produced, and yet allowing opinions to change with such volatility would lead to nothing but subjective anarchy.

Ranking factors

So, how exactly do we name the best player in the beautiful game at this very minute? Our criteria are as follows:

• Recognised as being world-class: To be the best player in the world at the moment, you have to first and foremost
• Well-respected: Be established as a top-level talent but also have
• Consistent: Produced the goods consistently throughout an extended period of time.

For those within that bracket, it then becomes a question of clear evidence of immaculate form - whether that's goals, assists, clean sheets or passing the eye test for all-round play - and perhaps most importantly, who and in what competition that has been delivered against. But also crucial is how much you've got to show for playing well. While ability, form and overall impact are integral considerations, winning silverware is a vital ingredient for these 2024 Ballon d'Or contenders.

Update: Our top 20 has been updated. These changes have been made as a reflection of recent form or, in some cases, lack of. All statistics are courtesy of Transfermarkt unless stated otherwise and correct as of 15/05/24

20 Son Heung-min

Tottenham and South Korea

After Harry Kane left Tottenham in the summer of 2023, many football fans weren't sure how the north London outfit would cope. Kane was arguably Spurs' greatest player of all time, and certainly their most reliable goalscorer, but Son Heung-min has stepped up to the plate in remarkable fashion with 17 goals in the 2023/24 Premier League season at the time of writing, playing at left wing or as a striker.

He combines well with Richarlison, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski, and has helped Spurs mount an unlikely top-four charge in his role as captain. Tottenham failed to win a trophy in 2023 and the club's silverware drought looks set to continue for a little longer yet, but Son is still one of the best forwards around.

19 Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid and France

Antoine Griezmann has always been a phenomenal footballer, but a few underwhelming seasons at Barcelona seemed to bump him out of the conversation when it came to debate over the world's best players, despite finishing third in the Ballon d'Or in 2016 and 2018. Yet a permanent return to Atletico Madrid in 2022 has allowed the French World Cup winner to rediscover his best form, and the last 18 months have been particularly fruitful for him.

He was the best player in La Liga throughout the previous calendar year, although clinching the silverware to demonstrate that has been a tougher task with Atletico. The capital club's domestic ambitions have been undermined by dire away form while they were dumped out of the Champions League knockout stages by surprise finalists Borussia Dortmund. Nevertheless, at 33, Griezmann appears a player reborn, and he'll remain a key figure for both club and country for the foreseeable future.

18 Lautaro Martinez

Inter Milan and Argentina

Lautaro Martinez has been the sharp edge of Inter Milan's charge to the Serie A title after surpassing the 20-goal mark for the third consecutive season. Of course, the Argentine excelling is nothing new.

'El Toro' has been a phenomenal player for the Nerazzurri ever since he was snapped up from South American football back in 2018, while he was also part of the Argentina squad that lifted the World Cup at the tail-end of 2022, albeit losing significance in Lionel Scaloni's side as the competition went on. When Martinez is at his best, he can be unstoppable and the past 18 months have seen him enhance his reputation.

17 Mohamed Salah

Liverpool and Egypt

The year 2023 was a largely frustrating one for Mohamed Salah. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League, exited the FA Cup and League Cup in the early rounds and were dumped out of the Champions League in the first knockout round. There weren't any major individual accomplishments to speak of either, and at one point it even looked as though he was open to quitting Anfield altogether to join Cristiano Ronaldo and co. in the financially well-endowed Saudi Pro League.

Salah started the campaign with a typical torrent of goals but has struggled to replicate his best form since picking up a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with Egypt in January. The fleet-footed forward has looked jaded and let his frustration boil over during a public spat with Jurgen Klopp at the end of April. Yet, even a relative dip in form for Salah still affords him a lofty ranking compared to every other player.

16 Alisson Becker

Liverpool and Brazil

Alisson is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has been the backbone behind Liverpool's continuous quest for silverware in recent seasons. He regularly shows off his world-class qualities, and he's an extremely well-rounded keeper, too - not just an exceptional shot-stopper, but also dominant in his box, fearless when coming off his line and comfortable spraying passes around when required.

His composure at the back helps Liverpool start attacks, with his teammates and coaching staff knowing they can rely on him if something goes wrong. Injury has hampered the second half of his season, but he's undoubtedly one of the best players in the world.

15 Cristiano Ronaldo

Al-Nassr and Portugal

Despite moving to Al-Nassr at the start of 2023, Cristiano Ronaldo has still managed to keep himself in the mainstream spotlight. He scored the most goals in 2023 (54), two ahead of his nearest rival, Harry Kane. The legendary Portuguese forward has put the Saudi Pro League on the map since his arrival, yet the league is not as competitive as the biggest leagues in Europe and elsewhere around the world, hence why he finds himself outside the top 10 on this list.

Ronaldo won the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023 with Al Nassr, while the Maradona Award highlighted his impressive goalscoring feats. At the age of 39, the ageless Ronaldo is still one of the world's best and most prolific strikers.

14 Mats Hummels

Borussia Dortmund and Germany

When Borussia Dortmund reached the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley, Mats Hummels was a commanding presence at the heart of Jurgen Klopp's defence. Eleven years later, Hummels has helped BVB return to the apex of European football with another Wembley final.

The World Cup winner never had a blistering burst of pace to lose but at 35, Hummels has a wealth of experience to help him coast through contests even at the highest level. Peppering his game with regal passes stroked with the outside of his right boot, it was the centre-back's towering header in the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain that confirmed Dortmund's place in the competition's showpiece.

13 Declan Rice

Arsenal and England

Declan Rice is comfortably one of the best signings of the season and, incredibly, still seems capable of improving each time he takes one of his long strides across the pitch. A tireless presence in the heart of Arsenal's midfield, the England international has been an integral aspect behind the club's imperious defensive record.

Unshackled over the second half of the season by the inclusion of Jorginho or Thomas Partey, Rice has emerged as a two-way threat, adding end product to his lashings of endeavour. Mikel Arteta has described Rice as Arsenal's "lighthouse" - he makes his teammates shine. But the magisterial midfielder deserves some of the spotlight himself.

12 Florian Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen and Germany

Bayer Leverkusen were crowned Bundesliga champions at the end of an emphatic 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen in mid-April. Florian Wirtz provided a fitting flourish to proceedings with a hat-trick. The ephemeral German playmaker is the crown prince of Xabi Alonso's all-conquering outfit, leading the squad for combined goals and assists across all competitions.

When Wirtz scored his second of the contest, Leverkusen's fourth, against Bremen, he helped the stewards usher fans off the pitch. Once the impish German completed his treble in the 90th minute, no one could stop the stands from emptying onto the field of play and making a beeline for the local hero.

11 Martin Odegaard

Arsenal and Norway

Martin Odegaard and this modern iteration of Arsenal suffer from the same problem - if you can call it that. Everyone is so swept up by their feats of silk and skill on the ball, that the defensive work is often overlooked.

"When you look at our counter-press," Odegaard has been keen to point out, "how we win the ball back, it's so hard for opponents." Arsenal's 25-year-old skipper is arguably the most important element to the team's ferocious approach off the ball. Dutifully running himself into the ground each time he takes to the pitch, Odegaard leads by example, orchestrating his colleagues in a well-drilled constriction to steal back possession and show off his immense talent.

10 Lionel Messi

Inter Miami and Argentina

The Qatar World Cup will forever be Lionel Messi's crowning moment in football - above everything else - but the greatest footballer who's ever lived can no longer be considered the world's best player, mainly due to the fact he's now plying his trade with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. That doesn't mean to say that Messi, who turns 37 in June, is no longer capable of producing magical moments on the pitch because he still does that regularly with his current employers. He also deserved to win a record-breaking eighth Ballon d'Or award in October due to the fact he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory less than 12 months earlier.

Will he win a ninth Ballon d'Or one day? It seems very unlikely at this stage, although you certainly wouldn't bet against him if he helps Argentina retain the World Cup in two years' time. There's a big question mark over whether the Barcelona legend will even be at that tournament, but a huge part of him will undoubtedly want to be part of the squad that defends his country's world title. Even at the age of 39, the GOAT will still be miles better than the vast majority of professional footballers on the planet, so rule him out at your own peril.

9 Toni Kroos

Real Madrid and Germany

As a jolly Carlo Ancelotti bounced through Real Madrid's celebrations of yet another La Liga title, the Italian coach put down his cartoonish cigar long enough to tell a reporter: "Kroos missed a pass yesterday." The German midfielder smirked: "Tomorrow, we train."

The metronome at the base of Madrid's midfield has overcome premature calls for his departure at the start of the season to discover arguably the best form of his career. A youth-infused side play to Kroos' unerring rhythm, speeding up and slowing down as their midfield maestro waves his right boot. Kroos practically got his conductor's baton out to direct Vinicius Junior ahead of his opener in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.

8 Kevin De Bruyne

Manchester City and Belgium

Kevin De Bruyne missed the first five months of the 2023/24 Premier League season due to injury, but he quickly rediscovered his decisive edge after making his comeback. On his return to action, the brilliant Belgian helped Man City beat Newcastle 3-2 at St James' Park with a spectacular goal and stunning assist.

He can create chances for his grateful teammates at the drop of a hat and put the ball on a sixpence from just about any position on the pitch. Despite missing such a large chunk of the campaign, De Bruyne racked up more than 15 assists across all competitions.

7 Erling Haaland

Manchester City and Norway

Erling Haaland previously occupied top spot on our list but has dropped a couple of places, due to his patchy form in front of goal of late. While he still leads the race for the Premier League Golden Boot award, Haaland has also been surprisingly wasteful in front of goal, often not looking quite as sharp as last term.

There may be a fair debate over the Norway striker's overall qualities as a footballer in the purest sense of the word, but there is little substance to the argument that City are better off without him. Roy Keane may joke that Haaland has had moments that would make a "League Two player" blush, but even the inscrutable Manchester United icon cannot begrudge the Norwegian's enduring quality.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Erling Haaland is the only player in Premier League history to score at least 25 goals in each of his first two seasons in the competition.

6 Harry Kane

Bayern Munich and England

He may still be looking for his maiden trophy in professional football - although it should be mentioned that he has made four finals - but Harry Kane features on this list for one simple reason: he's continued scoring goals for fun since leaving his beloved Tottenham for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

If anything, the England international has taken his game to new heights since moving to the Allianz Arena. The 30-year-old is enjoying the most prolific campaign of his career and has chipped in with a healthy supply of assists, too. The pick of his goals was this incredible wonder-strike against Darmstadt from inside his own half. Sadly for Kane, Bayern missed out on Bundesliga glory to Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen and were dumped out of the Champions League by Real Madrid after the striker had been substituted. From an individual point of view, the Englishman could hardly have done much more during his debut season in Germany.

5 Phil Foden

Manchester City and England

Phil Foden has taken his game to new levels this season under Pep Guardiola's management at Manchester City. The 23-year-old has shattered his previous personal bests for goals and assists this season, rising to the fore in De Bruyne's absence and while Haaland misfired to deservedly claim the FWA Footballer of the Year award.

One of the most talented players that England has produced in years, Foden has the ability to cement his status as one of the very best players of his generation. Provided he continues to keep his feet on the ground, works hard, and remains focused on football, anything is possible for this exceptionally gifted attacking midfielder.

4 Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid and England

It's hard to remember any player arriving at Real Madrid and making an immediate impact quite like Jude Bellingham has done this season - let alone one that's still just 20 years of age. It's unfortunate the midfield maestro couldn't end his Borussia Dortmund career with a Bundesliga title after they missed out to Bayern Munich last season on the final day of the campaign, but he marked his debut campaign in Spain with a La Liga title.

As well as consistently impressing in the Champions League and scoring or assisting while with England on international duty, Bellingham has somehow established himself as Real Madrid's defacto chief goalscorer, excelling in a false nine role. Injury has cooled Bellingham's hot streak since the turn of the year, although he is still capable of squeezing out bright moments. Also ranked as the best young player in the world, the sky truly is the limit for the English phenomenon.

3 Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain and France

Kylian Mbappe is now in his final weeks as a Paris Saint-Germain player after making the decision to leave the Parc des Princes at the end of the current campaign, once his contract finally expires. It's expected that the 25-year-old will join Real Madrid on a free transfer, potentially inheriting Luka Modric's No 10 shirt on arrival.

Despite the fact he's headed for the PSG exit door, Mbappe has knuckled down, ranking as the most prolific forward in the French top flight once again. However, PSG boss Luis Enrique knows the club can't rely on Mbappe for much longer and has taken the world-class Frenchman out of the team on occasions, offering a chance for other forward players to prove they have what it takes to replace Mbappe's goals next season.

2 Rodri

Manchester City and Spain

Defensive midfielders often don't get the credit they deserve, so when one stands out enough to be named the Champions League Player of the Season, and finishing fifth in the Ballon d'Or rankings, you know they're a special player. Rodri's performances are always of a consistently high standard, but his virtual ever-presence as Manchester City won the treble shone a spotlight on his unsung heroics, while the winning goal in the Champions League final - a typically cool finish from the edge of the box - thrust him to centre stage.

Also named the Player of the Tournament for the 2023 Nations League as Spain lifted the trophy, Rodri excelled for both club and country throughout last season. So far this term, Rodri has continued to go above and beyond for Man City, producing consistently outstanding performances and chipping in with big goals. In truth, he's a little unfortunate to miss out on top spot on this list.

1 Vinicius Junior

Real Madrid and Brazil

Vinicius Junior has been at the heart of Real Madrid's success in recent years. His elegance and skill on the wing have been crucial for Los Blancos. After injury derailed his start to the season, Vinicius has produced the best form of his career in the second half of the season, emphatically filling the void left by Karim Benzema's summer departure and taking over the mantle of Madrid's talisman from Bellingham.

The Englishman will be the first to laud his good friend and teammate. During Madrid's La Liga celebrations, Bellingham spontaneously hailed Vinicius as "the best player in the world". It's hard to disagree. As for his international career with Brazil, there's no doubt that Vinicius will have his sights set on inspiring his nation to glory at the upcoming Copa America tournament.