<p>The incredible skill and creativity shown by soccer players enthrall millions of spectators. Playing at the greatest level requires athletes with exceptional agility, accuracy, and talent, which they display to a new level. But for the current season, who are the top soccer players?</p>



<p>These players represent the pinnacle of soccer greatness as they play on the largest platforms in the world, cementing their place in soccer lore and making an unforgettable impression on the sport. The finest soccer players of all time are at the forefront of this movement, alongside some of the game’s most legendary figures from yesteryear.</p>



<p>These world-class stars are championship-caliber, representing some of the most prestigious clubs in the sport, and are beloved by fans all around the world. If you were to assemble a soccer dream squad including the best players in the world right now, these would be your first choices.</p>



<p>It should come as no surprise that many of the highest-paid athletes in the world are also among the best soccer players of all time. As these soccer greats continue to wow audiences and make history, brace yourself to be amazed by their speed, skill, and strategy.</p>



<h2>Who are the best soccer players in the world currently?</h2>



<h5>Jude Bellingham</h5>



<p>Someone must be a very exceptional player when their statistics are being compared to those of Cristiano Ronaldo, and Diego Maradona, among others. That is precisely the case with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/a-new-breed-of-young-stars-breathes-life-into-el-clasico-20231027-WST-465202.html">Jude Bellingham</a>. After playing only 11 games for Real Madrid, 20-year-old Bellingham has already been the club’s top goalscorer with ten goals.</p>



<p>At the 2022 World Cup, Bellingham went from being a young wildcard to starting right away thanks to his explosive, all-around play. His performances for Dortmund propelled them to a position where they were just behind Bayern Munich in the championship race, which was decided on goal differential.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231124_WST_472410_Bellingham-1200x675_8b22540b.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-472468" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Bellingham-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Bellingham-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Bellingham-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Bellingham.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Jude Bellingham’s start to his time with Real Madrid made him arguably the best player in the world in current form.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Even in the middle of the field, he is a complete player. Bellingham, who is towering above his opponents and has incredible ball-carrying and pinpoint passing abilities, is flying high this season. He is riding high on the confidence he gained from challenging Zinedine Zidane for the No. 5 jersey at the Bernabeu.</p>



<h5>Lionel Messi</h5>



<p>With the World Cup interfering with last season, nobody knew what to anticipate from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/messi-world-cup-memorabilia-to-break-sports-auction-records-20231120-WST-471596.html">Lionel Messi</a> after modest very his first season in Paris. In the second part of the following, 2022-23 season, the Argentine tried his hardest to squander a record eight Ballon d’Or with his lackluster play.</p>



<p>And yet, another Golden Ball was his to keep, thanks to his legendary World Cup victory. For both his club and his nation, Messi remained a game-changer, dominating in subtle and obvious ways. In a month, his efforts propelled Inter Miami from a bottom-feeding MLS club to a cup finalist.</p>



<h5>Erling Haaland</h5>



<p>Following his summer transfer to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-city-tv-schedule/">Manchester City</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/city-plan-u-turn-on-haalands-release-clause-amid-new-deal-talks-20231119-WST-471411.html">Erling Haaland</a> has essentially been the world’s finest player. It seems like he scores goals whenever he gets on the field, and he is doing it at the pinnacle of club competition. Not only has he broken the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a>‘s single-season goalscoring record, but he is still very young at 23 years old and shows no signs of slowing down.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231124_WST_472410_Kane-Haaland-1200x675_a46c125a.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-472467" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Kane-Haaland-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Kane-Haaland-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Kane-Haaland-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Kane-Haaland.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Harry Kane and Erling Haaland were a class above in the finishing department in the 2022/23 Premier League.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The English top division has never seen somebody with his combination of toughness, finishing ability and turn of speed. Still, Haaland continues to improve, and his true peak may be ahead of him. His performance over the next few years should be nothing short of spectacular. If he maintains this level of consistency, he will duly claim the title of finest player in the world.</p>



<h5>Kylian Mbappe</h5>



<p>It was the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a> that turned <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mbappe-forwent-vast-bonuses-to-avoid-signing-new-psg-deal-20231118-WST-471238.html">Kylian Mbappe</a> into a superstar. His international exploits disprove any rational question about his skill and mindset. PSG is always at the top of Ligue 1, and Mbappe’s ability to score and create is a key reason. UEFA Champions League success continues to elude PSG, though, </p>



<p>The 24-year-old has been unstoppable in Ligue 1. His power extends into the international game, too. A fixation on off-field politics lends him the dramatic qualities of a soap opera character. The ongoing psychodrama between <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">PSG</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> to lure Mbappe is a never-ending story in the sport.</p>



<p>The Frenchman’s mindset, tenacity, and resolute lead his squad to victory. Despite the ongoing antics off the field, he is the reason for PSG’s success. By all accounts, he is one of the quickest players we have ever seen play the game. His shooting range is unparalleled.</p>



<h5>Harry Kane</h5>



<p>So far in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-the-bundesliga-on-us-tv-and-internet/">Bundesliga</a>, Harry Kane has been, hands down, the best player. The great English striker more than justified the $103 million <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a> spent.</p>



<p>Because of his 14 goals in all competitions, Bayern supporters are hoping for another UEFA Champions League victory. As a player, he excels in finishing and positioning to compensate for his lack of raw speed.</p>



<p>However, what sets him apart is his extraordinary ability to create plays. He can pick up a pass deep in the penalty area and swing in a cross. He juggles the No. 10 and No. 9 positions.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Best Soccer Players in the World Right Now

Get ready to delve into the fascinating world of soccer and meet the top players that are presently ruling the pitch.

Best Soccer Players in the World Right Now - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
<p>Sometimes, the best players do not win the Ballon d’Or. That could be based off of a number of reasons.</p>
<p>For one, the Ballon d’Or seems to be tied to success through trophies. For instance, the last <a href="https:\/\/www.statista.com/statistics/321172/multiple-winners-of-fifa-football-ballon-d-or/">seven Ballon d’Or winners</a> won either the UEFA Champions League or an international trophy. No one denies that these competitions pull the best out of players.</p>
<p>The UEFA Champions League has the best teams and the biggest names. Seeing a certain player boss the competition makes him stand out. The same applies to the World Cup, European Championship or Copa America.</p>
<p>However, those are team successes, while the Ballon d’Or is an individual award. Over the course of the Ballon d’Or’s history, a number of fantastic players never won the illustrious award. Now, we want to know who&nbsp;<em>you&nbsp;</em>think is the best player to&nbsp;<strong>not&nbsp;</strong>win the Ballon d’Or.</p>
<h3>The best player to not win the Ballon d’Or</h3>
<p>There are some things to keep in mind. Up until 1995, the Ballon d’Or did not include any players born outside Europe. That year, voting included players from any country so long as they played for a European club. In 2007, voting expanded yet again to include any player from any club across FIFA’s confederations.</p>
<p>Therefore, players like Pele and Diego Maradona were ineligible. To commemorate 60 years of the award, FIFA and UEFA released a list of winners from countries outside of Europe that should have won in certain years. That list included Pele seven times, Maradona twice and two more Brazilians and and Argentine.</p>
<p>Still, the Messi-Ronaldo era prevented a number of fantastic seasons from earning recognition as best player of the year. Wesley Sneijder’s 2010 season fit the bill of a Ballon d’Or winner, but he was not nominated. Thierry Henry, despite dominating the Premier League, never won the award. Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta and Xavi perhaps propped up their teammate, <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2021/11/29/messi-wins-ballon-dor-for-seventh-time-as-putellas-crowned-womens-winner/">Lionel Messi</a>, to his Ballon d’Or wins.</p>
<p>These are just examples over the last 20 years. The award dates back to 1956, and some of the world’s biggest talents failed to lift the trophy.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: Manu Reino/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images</em></p>


We want to know who you think is the best player to not win the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the best player in the world each year.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "best player"

News

Best Soccer Players in the World Right Now

Ballon d'Or

Who is the best player to not win the Ballon d'Or?