The best players in the world will be on display this summer at the 2026 World Cup. So, let’s rank them.
Ahead of the world’s premier sporting event, our experts ranked the 100 best stars who will likely feature at this summer’s World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
We have officially released all 100 players on our list, and there are some serious star players here. We’ve got legends, rising names and players looking for their World Cup breakout moments. From Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Egypt’s Mo Salah, we’ve got the biggest and best players covered.
So where do the legends land, and which young stars beat them out on the countdown?
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100-76 | 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-11 | 10-1
Without further ado, let’s get into it with insight from FOX Sports soccer analysts Maurice Edu, Stu Holden and Alexi Lalas.
(Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
Age: 28
National team appearances: 52
Club team: AC Milan (Italy)
Estupiñán thrived in the Premier League for three seasons with Brighton before making a move to AC Milan last summer. He is one of the impressive talents that make Ecuador a potential sleeper this summer.
(Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Age: 29
National team appearances: 77
Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Kim won Serie A with Napoli in 2023 before making a big move to Bayern Munich. He hasn’t established himself as a first-choice player for the German giants, but he will be a pillar in the Korean defense this summer.
“When we redo this, maybe at the end of the tournament, and we look back, we might say, ‘I can’t believe we had Kim only at 98,’ when he comes out as one of the great center backs of the tournament,” Lalas said.
(Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Age: 28
National team appearances: 26
Club team: Manchester United (England)
Martínez would start at center back for most teams in this tournament, but he’s likely going to start as the third option behind Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi, who started during Argentina’s winning run in 2022. He can fill in at left back, as well, and will play a role somehow for the reigning champions.
(Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Age: 28
National team appearances: 31
Club team: Brighton (England)
Mitoma is an exciting winger who broke out two years ago for Brighton. He scored the winning goal for Japan back on March 31 in a friendly against England and will be the key player in attack for his country this summer.
Editor’s note: Mitoma will miss the World Cup due to a hamstring injury on May 9.
(Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Age: 29
National team appearances: 52
Club team: Real Sociedad (Spain)
A winger by trade for Real Sociedad, Oyarzabal has stepped up as a striker for the national team in the past. The best example was in the Euro 2024 final, when he scored the winning goal for Spain against England.
“Just an absolute baller,” Holden said. “I think he should be so much higher than 92. He’s so underrated. He’s 29 years old, and he’s played in six finals in his career. Do you know in how many of those finals he has scored? All six. He’s scored in every final that he has played in.”
(Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Age: 34
National team appearances: 125
Club team: Fulham (England)
Jiménez is a fixture in the Fulham starting lineup and will be the main man for Mexico this summer. With 44 goals for El Tri, he’s two goals behind former striker Jared Borgetti for second most all time.
“The pressure that’s going to be on his shoulders will be incredibly heavy,” Edu said.
(Photo by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 16
Club team: Arsenal (England)
Eze made a huge move to Arsenal last summer and immediately became a big part of Mikel Arteta’s squad. He normally plays an attacking role, but he could push for the spot in England’s midfield that is usually occupied by Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
(Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
Age: 34
National team appearances: 84
Club team: Manchester United (England)
Casemiro is a four-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, but he hasn’t maintained his high level of quality since moving to Manchester United in 2022. His former Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, is now in charge of Brazil and brought the midfielder back to the national team last year.
“Have you watched Casemiro this season? He’s having a renaissance,” Holden said. “He’s been flying. Brazil is going to need him with some of the injuries they’re picking up now.”
(Photo by Fran Santiago – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Age: 25
National team appearances: 27
Club team: Manchester City (England)
Guéhi was the captain for Crystal Palace last summer when the South London club won the FA Cup. He moved to Manchester City earlier this year and has immediately become a fixture in the reigning Premier League champion’s defense.
(Photo by Rico Brouwer/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Age: 26
National team appearances: 22
Club team: Chelsea (England)
James will be an important player for England this summer with versatility to play either right back or midfield. Staying healthy has been James’ problem at Chelsea, although he has played in more than two dozen games in the Premier League this season.
(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 46
Club team: Barcelona (Spain)
Koundé will likely start at right back for the French, who are among the favorites this summer. He has made at least 40 appearances in each of the last four seasons for Barcelona.
(Photo by Robin Alam/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Age: 21
National team appearances: 28
Club team: Real Madrid (Spain)
Güler is finishing up his third season at Real Madrid and has emerged as a key player in the squad. He will be the main man for Türkiye for years to come, starting with this summer’s World Cup.
“Güler and Kenan Yıldız are going to play a big part for Türkiye in this World Cup,” Holden said. “Playing at Real Madrid, there’s a certain level of not just quality that you need to have, but personality — being able to handle the weight of that shirt. And now, when you put on that Türkiye jersey as well, we’ve seen him deliver. At such a young age, we have seen him take that responsibility.”
(Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 48
Club team: Barcelona (Spain)
Olmo emerged as a key player for Spain at Euro 2024. He scored three goals — finishing in a six-way tie for the Golden Boot — including one in the quarterfinal and semifinal against Germany and France, respectively.
(Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)
Age: 24
National team appearances: 22
Club team: Arsenal (England)
Martinelli will be a key player for Brazil this summer. He has struggled to establish a starting spot on the left wing because of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, but his pace means he will be a key contributor this summer. He only has one Premier League goal for Arsenal this season, so he isn’t in the best form right now.
(Photo by Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 44
Club team: Liverpool (England)
Mac Allister will be a key presence in the Argentina midfield this summer, as he was in 2022 en route to World Cup glory. Since then, he moved to Liverpool and won the Premier League last season. Mac Allister is capable of popping up and scoring a huge goal while also dictating the game on the ball. He’s one of the best center midfielders in the world.
“If it’s one game in a World Cup to win, I want that guy on my team,” Holden said. “He’s a World Cup winner, a Premier League winner. He’s a gamer. He can flick the light switch and be a baller.”
(Getty Images)
Age: 28
National team appearances: 82
Club team: Crystal Palace (England)
Sarr played all 38 games in the Premier League for Crystal Palace last season, during which the South London club also won the FA Cup. Sarr has made 83 appearances for Senegal and will be one of the go-to guys for his country this summer, alongside teammate Sadio Mané.
Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Age: 24
National team appearances: 8
Club team: Chelsea (England)
Brazil has been looking for a definitive No. 9 in its lineup for years, and Pedro might be the answer. After two impressive seasons at Brighton, he has 14 Premier League goals for Chelsea this season. He’ll likely be the focal point of Brazil’s attack this summer, which puts a lot on his shoulders for the perennial contender.
“He’s a guy that’s very dynamic on the ball,” Holden said. “He can run in behind, he likes to drop underneath and hold the ball up. You have someone that needs to say, ‘I’m going to be that guy that scores goals for Brazil,’ and I think João Pedro has the ability to do that.”
(Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
Age: 31
National team appearances: 104
Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France)
At 31 years old, Marquinhos has already played 104 times for his country. He has been widely considered one of the best defenders in the world for the past decade, having played more than 500 games for PSG since arriving in 2013. The 31-year-old is still playing at a high level and will be wearing the captain’s armband for Brazil this summer.
“Marquinhos is going to have to be big with the injury to Militão,” Lalas said.
(Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
Age: 33
National team appearances: 76
Club team: Liverpool (England)
Part of what makes Alisson one of the best goalkeepers in the world is his ability with his feet. He may be the best passer at his position in world soccer. His problem in past years has been staying on the pitch, as he’s missed at least 10 Premier League games in each of the last three seasons. When he’s between the posts, though, he’s still one of the world’s best for both club and country.
(Photo by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Age: 24
National team appearances: 46
Club team: Manchester City (England)
Gvardiol is the most expensive defender in soccer history, having cost Manchester City $105 million back in 2023. He has been injured for much of this season, but he’s one of the best passing defenders in the world. While Luka Modrić runs the Croatian midfield, Gvardiol will command the defense.
(Photo by Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Age: 22
National team appearances: 7
Club team: Barcelona (Spain)
López is the perfect example of the impressive depth that Spain has in midfield. He has made more than 120 appearances for Barcelona over the past three seasons, but he might not come close to cracking the starting lineup. López is more than capable of scoring and creating goals and will be a key player for Spain this summer, regardless of whether he starts games.
(Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP) (Photo by ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT/AFP via Getty Images)
Age: 23
National team appearances: 25
Club team: Liverpool (England)
Gravenberch moved to Liverpool in 2023 after an uneventful season at Bayern Munich, and he has established himself as an elite defensive midfielder. He was a key player last season when Liverpool won the Premier League and has remained a fixture in the Reds’ midfield.
(Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Age: 24
National team appearances: 34
Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Pacho broke out last season for PSG, cementing his spot in the middle of the French champions’ defense. From there, he starred en route to Champions League glory. He’ll partner Arsenal’s Piero Hincapíé in the middle of Ecuador’s back four, which on paper might be one of the stronger units in the field.
“Ecuador is my dark horse, and they’re going to make a run in this tournament built off being strong defensively,” Edu said. “William Pacho being at center back plays a massive role in that equation.”
(Photo by Adam Escada/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Age: 25
National team appearances: 40
Club team: Chelsea (England)
Fernández broke out during Argentina’s run to World Cup glory in 2022 and made a move to Chelsea one month after lifting the trophy. He’s an all-action midfielder who can cover every blade of grass and is capable of popping up with a big goal when necessary. He’ll be the key man in Argentina’s midfield this summer.
(Photo by Ahmad Mora – UEFA via Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 25
Club team: Arsenal (England)
When Rodri got hurt in the first half of the Euro 2024 final against England, Zubimendi stepped in at halftime and helped lead Spain to victory.
“When I see him for Spain, I see a freer version of Zubimendi, and I think that’s where he is a little bit better because he can get around the field a little bit more,” Holden said. “He can read the spaces, and there are different types of combinations and a little bit more free-flowing attacking play. I think we see a better version of him with Spain than we do at Arsenal.”
If healthy, Rodri is likely to start over Zubimendi, but the Arsenal midfielder provides plenty of stability off the bench when necessary.
“This summer, based on the health, the fitness and the form of Rodri, he will have a significant role to play for Spain,” Edu said. “I still look at Zubimendi — he’s a top player. Quality on the ball, quality in the way that he sees the game. He’s just got to get back to being at his very best.”
(Photo by PATRICK MEINHARDT/AFP via Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 23
Club team: Chelsea (England)
While players have come and gone at Chelsea over the past few years, Cucurella has been one constant presence. He’ll enter the World Cup having played more than 100 games over the past two seasons for the Blues, all since starting for Spain en route to the Euro 2024 crown two years ago.
“He’s a shutdown defender,” Holden said. “Look, he’s played against some of the best in the world, and I’ve seen him play one-on-one. He’s smart. He’s tough. He’s a hard-nosed defender at the end of the day. He’s a guy I want on my team.”
49. 
Frenkie de Jong | Midfielder | Netherlands
(Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
Age: 33
National team appearances: 59
Club team: Aston Villa (England)
Martínez burst onto the scene in 2020 for Arsenal, and his ascension has seemingly never stopped. He quickly became Argentina’s starting goalkeeper, and then he was the hero in the 2022 World Cup final in the penalty shootout. Martínez is among the best goalkeepers in the world and brings an attitude to the game that has the spotlight constantly on him.
47. 
Bruno Guimarães | Midfielder | Brazil
(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Age: 29
National team appearances: 74
Club team: Manchester City (England)
Dias was the 2021 Premier League Player of the Season for Manchester City in his first year at the club. He is one of the most decorated defenders in the world. All that’s missing for the physical center back is success at the international level with Portugal. This summer will be a great chance for him to achieve that.
45. Tijjani Reijnders | Midfielder | Netherlands
(Photo by Pieter van der Woude/Marcel ter Bals/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Age: 34
National team appearances: 107
Club team: Real Madrid (Spain)
Over the past decade, he has been the best goalkeeper in the world. At 6-foot-7, it’s very difficult to beat Courtois, who has put in match-winning performances on the biggest stages at Real Madrid. His performance at the 2022 Champions League Final in Real’s 1-0 win over Liverpool was the stuff of legend. Belgium has a big leg up with Courtois between the posts.
43. 
N’Golo Kanté | Midfielder | France
(Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Age: 33
National team appearances: 82
Club team: Real Madrid (Spain)
Rüdiger moved to Real Madrid in 2022 and quickly established himself as one of the best center backs in the world. He’s on the back nine of his career at 33 years old, but he would start for every country in this tournament. At 6-foot-3, Rüdiger brings an impressive combination of size and athleticism to the table that is rarely matched.
41. Rayan Cherki | Forward | France
(Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
Age: 41
National team appearances: 226
Club team: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia)
This may seem low for Ronaldo, but it’s impressive for the 41-year-old goalscoring extraordinaire to still be competing at this level.
“We have underestimated just how much quality this guy still has at his age,” Holden said. “We look at the number, but age is only a number. I know he’s been playing in Saudi Arabia, and we talk about his level dropping, but the reality is that in the Nations League and in qualifying, Ronaldo was scoring goals left and right.”
He’s closing in on 1,000 goals for his career and has the chance this summer to add the one piece of silverware his incredible resume is missing: the World Cup.
“You need a winner,” Edu said. “You need a guy with this level of experience, a guy who has scored in five consecutive World Cups. No. 40? There, I said it: Cristiano should be higher. Even at this precious, delicate age of 41 years young, Cristiano Ronaldo is still a winner. He has a winner’s mentality.”
39. 
Jérémy Doku | Forward | Belgium
(Photo by Gabriel Calvino Alonso/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Age: 20
National team appearances: 6
Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Doué will turn 21 during the World Cup and is already one of the best wingers in the world. He scored in last year’s Champions League Final, which PSG won, and quickly has become a major contender for minutes in France’s stacked attack. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise all seemingly have spots filled. Doué and Cherki will be the key contenders to start alongside that trio.
37. Kevin De Bruyne | Midfielder | Belgium
(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Age: 30
National team appearances: 71
Club team: Inter Milan (Italy)
Dumfries has established himself as one of the best attacking fullbacks in the world over the past few years. The right back is a constant goal threat and will be a focal point for opposition looking to slow down the Dutch this summer. Look for him to play a key role on both ends of the pitch for the Netherlands.
35. 
Nuno Mendes | Defender | Portugal
(Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Age: 40
National team appearances: 196
Club team: AC Milan (Italy)
This feels like it will be Modrić’s final major tournament for Croatia, but it feels unwise to count out the 40-year-old. After 13 years at Real Madrid, he moved to AC Milan before this past season and has not lost a step. Few players possess the control that Modrić has, and he can still boss a game as well as any midfielder in the world. Modrić’s 196 international appearances for Croatia rank third among players likely to play this summer, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (226) and Lionel Messi (198).
“I love watching Luka Modrić play,” Holden said. “He’s the ultimate conductor in the middle of the field. His technical ability, his engine — he can just run for days upon days.
33. 
Cole Palmer | Midfielder | England
(Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Age: 23
National team appearances: 40
Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany)
The 23-year-old suffered a fractured fibula during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and missed the rest of 2025. Since then, he has slowly returned to the form that makes him one of the world’s best playmakers. An elite dribbler, Musiala will be at the core of the German attack this summer. If he is playing well, expect Germany to become a contender for the title.
“He, to me, is must-see TV,” Edu said. “He’s elite in terms of the way he just glides around the pitch. He’s not your overly flashy kind of player, but for Germany, since his introduction back in 2021 or so, the guy has matured year after year after year.”
31. Bernardo Silva | Midfielder | Portugal
(Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Age: 25
National team appearances: 58
Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany)
Davies moved to Canada when he was 5 years old and became the face of Canadian soccer about 12 years later. He started his career in MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps before moving to Bayern Munich in 2018. From there, he became the best attacking left back in the world with his impressive pace and physicality. For Canada, Davies plays a more attacking role. He will have to play well if the host nation is going to succeed this summer.
“Make no mistake about it: Alphonso Davies is by far the most important player for Canada,” Edu said. “Where he ends up playing positionally — whether it’s at left back or higher up the pitch in the attacking phase — is yet to be determined, and Jesse Marsch has the flexibility to play with that and tinker with it.
“But at his best, Alphonso Davies is elite. He’s a quality player. He brings a different dynamic with his pace and, more than anything, his experience playing at such a high level on a consistent basis and playing a large role within a Bayern team.”
29. 
Joshua Kimmich | Midfielder | Germany
(Photo by Marcel Engelbrecht – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Age: 34
National team appearances: 90
Club team: Liverpool (England)
The No. 2-ranked center back on this list has been the standard at the position since moving to Liverpool in 2018. At 6-foot-5, van Dijk has impressive pace to accompany his size, which means few attackers are able to dribble past him. He has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League with Liverpool, but there’s no international glory to go along with that. The 34-year-old Dutch captain will be the driving force of his team’s defense this summer.
27. Bukayo Saka | Forward | England
(Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Age: 28
National team appearances: 75
Club team: Inter Milan (Italy)
Martínez has scored more than 200 goals between Inter Milan and the national team since moving to Italy in 2018. He has firmly established himself as one of the best and most consistent strikers in the world, having scored at least 20 goals in each of the last five seasons. Whether Martínez starts for Argentina remains to be seen, with Julián Álvarez also thriving alongside Lionel Messi.
25. Aurélien Tchouaméni | Midfielder | France
(Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Age: 26
National team appearances: 34
Club team: Manchester City (England)
Semenyo has been a revelation in the Premier League this season. The London-born winger scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for Bournemouth before moving to Manchester City in January. England would love to have Semenyo in the fold for this tournament, but he made his debut for Ghana in 2022. He has become one of the best wingers in the world this season and will be the driving force behind any success Ghana has this summer.
“One I want to pick out, Semenyo,” Holden said. “He was phenomenal for Bournemouth. He’s gone to Man City. I think he’s played every minute of every game for the last two years. He doesn’t miss games. He just plays. He’s an absolute amazing player, he glides, he’s on his toes constantly the way he moves, good finisher.”
Holden later added: “I do like Semenyo as a player. I think it’s a fair number in terms of talent and ability.”
23. 
Luis Díaz | Forward | Colombia
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Age: 23
National team appearances: 39
Club team: Liverpool (England)
Wirtz broke out during the 2023-24 season when he led Bayer Leverkusen to an upset victory in the German Bundesliga. He scored 34 goals in his final two seasons with Leverkusen before making a nine-figure move to Liverpool, where he has failed to reach the same heights. Still, Wirtz will be a crucial factor for Germany this summer, alongside Jamal Musiala. The two young playmakers will be the keys for Germany for the next decade, if everything goes to plan.
21. Gabriel Magalhães | Defender | Brazil
(Photo by Riquelve Nata/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images)
Age: 24
National team appearances: 60
Club team: Chelsea (England)
While Chelsea has been hot and cold in recent years, Caicedo’s presence in midfield is immense. In his first three seasons for the Blues, he has made just shy of 150 appearances. He is a physical player who is not afraid of a tackle. Along with defenders Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapié, Caicedo is the main man in a strong center of an Ecuador team that could play spoiler this summer.
19. Declan Rice | Midfielder | England
(Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Age: 22
National team appearances: 46
Club team: Real Madrid (Spain)
Bellingham broke out as a 17-year-old at Borussia Dortmund before a 2023 move to Real Madrid, with which he won the Champions League in his first season. In his third season in Spain, the 22-year-old hasn’t reached the heights he did in his first two campaigns. He is a constant threat in the 18-yard box and has scored many big goals for England. Already with 46 appearances for the national team at his young age, Bellingham is the present and future for the Three Lions. Whether they’re able to bring the World Cup home this summer may depend on his form.
“Look, player of the year in the Bundesliga in ’23, player of the year in La Liga in 2024,” Holden said. “He was awesome for England at the Euro as well. He’s surrounded by global superstars at Real Madrid.”
Despite discussing Bellingham’s recent dip in form, Holden remained optimistic about the England star’s future.
“I don’t worry about him longer term,” Holden said. “He set such a high expectation for those years and now we’re like, ‘Okay, you’re a big star. You got to deliver.’”
17. João Neves | Midfielder | Portugal
(Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Age: 38
National team appearances: 198
Club team: Inter Miami (USA)
Maybe the best player of all time, Messi will turn 39 years old on June 24. He is still extremely capable of leading the reigning world champions to a repeat run at the title. Messi has spent the past three seasons in MLS and is still averaging well north of 1.5 goals/assists per game for Inter Miami. Messi has made a staggering 198 appearances (second most among players likely to appear at the tournament) for Argentina with 116 goals to his name. As long as he is on the field, he will be the go-to guy for Argentines, who will go as far in the tournament as he takes them.
“Lionel Messi, I think what you’re seeing with him being at 16 is an MLS bias,” Holden said. “He’s lower than he should be. I think still this is the GOAT. This is the greatest player of all time.”
Holden continued: “I still think he will be as lethal as ever on the ball in the World Cup this summer. He’s the best player I’ve ever seen with my eyes and he can do things on the ball… at any given time.”
Edu echoed that praise.
“The guy is just a pure footballer,” Edu said. “When he’s on the ball, he is always the difference for Argentina… he still has that elite level quality, that GOAT level quality.”
Alexi Lalas also emphasized Messi’s ability to deliver on the biggest stage.
“He delivers and time and time again, he delivers,” Lalas said. “Nobody would put it past him.”
15. Raphinha | Forward | Brazil
(Photo by Marco Galvao/Sports Press Photo/)
Age: 29
National team appearances: 61
Club team: Manchester City (England)
When Spain won Euro 2024, it was with Rodri pulling the strings in midfield. His performances that year with the national team and winning the Premier League with Manchester City saw him win the Ballon d’Or, which goes to the best player in the world for that season. Unfortunately, the past two seasons since that Euro triumph have been defined by injuries, with him playing just four games the following season while dealing with a knee injury. When he is fit, he is one of the first names on the team sheet for Spain. Rodri is one of the best midfielders in the world, dictating play on the ball while breaking up opposing attacks defensively.
“Man, Rodri, what a player,” Holden said. “We feel his presence when he’s not there for Manchester City. When he was injured, you saw the drop in their form.”
Holden also praised Rodri’s intelligence and influence on matches.
“He’s so smart up in the head, physically so good,” Holden said. “If he wants the game to go fast, the game goes fast. If he wants to slow the game down, he goes slow. I think he’s incredible.”
13. 
Julián Álvarez | Forward | Argentina
(Photo by Roberto Tuero/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Age: 31
National team appearances: 87
Club team: Manchester United (England)
Since moving to Manchester United in January 2020, Fernandes has been one of the best playmakers in the Premier League. He has made more than 300 appearances for the Red Devils in those six seasons. While Ronaldo will grab the headlines, the Portuguese attack will go through Fernandes. He has 19 assists in the Premier League this season, and he’s second in the Premier League in assists to only Mohamed Salah since arriving in England. Given his recent form, ability to create scoring chances and to score goals, Fernandes will be the star man for Portugal’s attack this summer.
“A player I want to look at — throw some respect on Bruno Fernandes,” Holden said. “The season he’s having right now for Manchester United… he’s been the captain there for a number of years now. I think he’s a top, top player.”
Holden later added: “I think he’s top 10.”
11. 
Federico Valverde | Midfielder | Uruguay
(Photo by Martin Silva Cosentino/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Age: 23
National team appearances: 40
Club team: Barcelona (Spain)
Pedri went from playing in Spain’s second division to making 52 appearances for Barcelona in 2020. Since then, he has become one of the best players in the world as a box-to-box midfielder for the Spanish giants. Pedri has already made 40 appearances for Spain at 24 years old, but he missed the run-in to the final of Euro 2024 after suffering a knee injury in the quarterfinal against Germany. When fit, Pedri is one of the first names on Spain’s formidable team sheet, which is especially impressive given the range of midfield depth that La Roja possess. When the reigning European champions are playing, expect to see a lot of Pedri all over the pitch.
9. Vitinha | Midfielder | Portugal
(Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 95
Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Another PSG player, Hakimi is the top-ranked defender on this list, although he’s not necessarily this high because of his defense. Born in Madrid to Moroccan parents, Hakimi went through the ranks at Real Madrid before making successful moves to Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and PSG. In the French capital, he has further established himself as a force on the right wing. Few players in world soccer can match his pace, and he has also proven to be a more-than-capable defender. Hakimi was one of the stars that led Morocco to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup. Having already made 95 appearances for his country at just 27 years old, any success that Morocco has this summer will depend on how its star man performs.
7. Vinícius Júnior | Forward | Brazil
(Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Age: 25
National team appearances: 49
Club team: Manchester City (England)
Haaland is a 6-foot-5 monster whose pace and size are unmatched. He has scored more than 160 goals in his first four seasons with Manchester City, establishing himself as the best goal-scorer in the Premier League. He has been even more prolific for Norway with 55 goals in 49 appearances for the national team. Haaland has won the Premier League and Champions League, and he also has three Golden Boots as the Premier League’s top scorer on his resume. Next for him is success at the international level. This will be his first major tournament with Norway, which is potentially poised to break through this summer.
5. Michael Olise | Forward | France
(Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Age: 28
National team appearances: 58
Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France)
Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world in 2025 after winning the Champions League with PSG. He played center forward for the French titans during that run but will likely find himself on the wing during the World Cup. Dembélé played six injury-riddled seasons with Barcelona before moving to PSG in 2023 and has thrived as the star since Kylian Mbappé moved to Real Madrid. This summer, Dembélé will feature alongside Mbappé and Olise to create one of the best attacking trios international soccer has ever seen. We’ll find out whether France can turn that collection of talent into another World Cup triumph.
3. Harry Kane | Forward | England
(Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Age: 27
National team appearances: 96
Club team: Real Madrid (Spain)
Mbappé has scored at least 39 goals in each of the last six seasons between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. His pace is what separates him from Kane, as the Frenchman has the ability to blow past any defender to create chances for himself. Mbappe’s coming-out party was in 2018, when he scored four goals (three in the knockout stage) en route to France’s World Cup triumph. Since then, though, he has not won a major trophy beyond Ligue 1 with PSG outside of the UEFA Nations League in 2021. Mbappé has been in the headlines recently as he ends a second straight trophy-less season with Real Madrid. He will captain France this summer, though, and is in a great position to lift the World Cup on July 19.
1. 
Lamine Yamal | Forward | Spain
(Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
