The Best Soccer Players Of 2024, Ranked

David De La Riva
Updated May 5, 2024 65.1K views 101 items

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103.3K votes
10.3K voters
7 reranks
Voting Rules

Vote on the footballers based on how much they dominated the pitch this year. 

Latest additions: Julián Álvarez, Rodrygo, Florian Wirtz
Most divisive: Raphaël Varane
Over 10.3K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Soccer's Biggest Stars in 2023

In the exhilarating world of soccer, 2024 finds an impressive roster of players whose exceptional skills and performances have earned them a spot in the hearts of fans worldwide. This article presents a fan-ranked list of the best soccer players of 2024, crafted to provide a unique perspective on the capability, style, influence, and overall performance of each player. The list aims to spark discussion, inspire debate, and ultimately salute these phenomenal players for their contributions to the most popular sport globally.

The top candidates for this honor include a broad array of talent. Erling Haaland, with his skillful goal-scoring at Borussia Dortmund, has made his mark in the world of football. Kylian Mbappé, the Parisian ace, demonstrates electrifying speed and an unsurpassed knack for finding the back of the net. Vinicius Junior, with his bewitching ball control and dribbling skills at Real Madrid, gives a remarkable performance. Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City shows a striking balance of creativity and a strong strategic sense in his stunning playmaking. Jude Bellingham, the young English prodigy, has shown brilliant midfield mastery for Borussia Dortmund. And finally, Lionel Messi, an enduring icon, persistently displays exceptional capabilities and a significant impact on the game, now with Inter Miami. 

Particular traits set each player apart - Salah's ability to squeeze through tight defenses, Mbappe's speedy runs, De Bruyne's insightful passes, Haaland's lethal finishing, Pogba's crisp control, and Pedri's mesmerizing dribbling. But the final ranking doesn't just depend on these singular attributes - it also factors in their overall influence on matches and their contributions to their respective teams.

So, consider these factors, reflect on their skills, and be a part of this football-ranking journey. Cast your vote to help decide who the best footballer of 2024 is. Remember, it is not just a question of who scored the most goals or made the most assists, but who influenced the game the most, who made their team better, and who rose above to stand as the finest representative of this beautiful game. Let your voice be heard and help shape this celebration of football talent!

  • Kylian Mbappé
    1

    Kylian Mbappé

    7,255 votes

    The breakthrough global superstar of the World Cup, Kylian Mbappe was already a phenomenon in the soccer world, but now, he is one of the most acclaimed and beloved athletes in the world. At just 25 years old, Mbappe is the future of soccer, and it appears the future is now. A phenomenal competitor, a tremendous striker, and a wizard with his dribbling skills, Mbappe is the total and complete package, and he has all the potential to be the next great superstar athlete for a generation.

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  • Vinícius Júnior
    2

    The highs for Vinicius Junior are some of the highest the game of soccer has ever seen, however, his lows are equally as low. The 23-year-old phenomenon has all the talent in the world and can very easily establish himself as a top 5 player in soccer, but his lack of focus and a wavering soccer IQ is holding him back. If Vinicius Junior can buckle down, focus on the Xs and O's and completely commit himself to the game, there is no doubt he will be the next all-time great. Even if he doesn't, however, he will still have a long and healthy career. He is that good.

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  • votes needed!
    NEW TO THE LIST
    • NEW
      #87
      Julián Álvarez
      23 votes
    • NEW
      #82
      Florian Wirtz
      20 votes
  • Jude Bellingham
    3

    Jude Bellingham

    4,021 votes
    Jude Victor William Bellingham (born 29 June 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the England national team. Bellingham joined Birmingham City as an under-8, became the club's youngest ever first-team player when he made his senior debut in August 2019, at the age of 16 years, 38 days, and played regularly during the 2019–20 season. He joined Borussia Dortmund in July 2020, and in his first competitive match became their youngest ever goalscorer. He represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-21 levels. He made his first appearance for the senior team in November 2020, and represented the country at UEFA Euro 2020.
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  • Erling Haaland
    4

    Erling Haaland

    6,835 votes

    One of the greatest pure scorers of the ball the game has ever seen, Erling Haaland is one of many up-and-coming soccer players who will be the talk of the sports world for decades to come. Finally able to play on the big stage in Manchester City, Haaland is showcasing his brilliant speed, strength, and athleticism to the world and silencing any and all doubters along the way. A truly generational soccer player, Haaland has all the potential to form the next great soccer rivalry with Kylian Mbappe.

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  • Kevin De Bruyne
    5

    Kevin De Bruyne

    Age: 32
    4,952 votes

    A revelation in the Premier League, Belgium-born Kevin De Bruyne is proving his case as the best midfielder in all of soccer. With lightning-quick speed and a genius IQ, Bruyne is more than making a case for his position, and with so many awards seemingly up in the air this season, this could very well be Bruyne's run at cementing his name alongside the greats. At 32 years old, Bruyne is right in the prime of his career, and playing with the always-dominant Manchester City is surely going to further bolster his credibility.

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  • Lionel Messi
    6

    Lionel Messi

    Age: 36
    8,099 votes

    Inarguably one of the greatest soccer players to ever play the game, Lionel Messi continues to shine and showcase his otherworldly skills to the world and with each passing day, his legend only continues to grow. Hot off of his World Cup victory, there is nothing Messi hasn't accomplished or enough praise that has been vaulted his way, he is simply one of the greatest soccer players, and greatest athletes to ever play professional sports. While it is unknown if Messi will continue playing, there is no doubt his legacy is set forever.

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  • Cristiano Ronaldo
    7

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Age: 39
    5,619 votes

    While the best days of Cristiano Ronaldo's career are more than likely behind him, it goes to show his greatness that even at this “lesser level,” he is still one of the best players in all of soccer. The future for Ronaldo is as up in the air as anyone on this list, but the 38-year-old continues to show that he is one of the greatest players of all time for good reason. With the twilight of his career fully here, many are eagerly anticipating what the next move will be for this living legend.

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  • Harry Kane
    8

    Harry Kane

    Age: 30
    3,213 votes

    After a bit of a drawback season, Harry Kane returned to form in 2022 and hasn't look back since, showed the soccer world exactly why he was regarded as one of the 10 best players in all of soccer in 2020.  Kane seems to be re-invigorated with the game and is widely considered to be one of the best and most savvy vets playing today.

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  • Bukayo Saka
    9

    Bukayo Saka

    2,453 votes
    Bukayo Ayoyinka T. M. Saka (born 5 September 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger, left-back or central midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team.
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  • Mohamed Salah
    10

    Mohamed Salah

    Age: 31
    3,778 votes

    Continuing his scorching hot last few seasons, Mohamed Salah is leading Liverpool in becoming one of the top consistent threats in the Premier League, as he continues to show a brilliant IQ for passing the ball, as well as striking fear in the hearts of defenses with a brilliant offensive repertoire. 

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  • Virgil van Dijk
    11

    Virgil van Dijk

    Age: 32
    2,729 votes

    One of the best defenders in the English Premier League, Virgil van Dijk may not have the stellar athleticism he once did in 2019 when he finished runner-up in Ballon d'Or, but what Dijk does have is an incredibly stellar IQ and handle for the game. With Dijk guarding the back line and leading the team by example, Liverpool is showcasing a brilliant and tenacious new defensive identity.

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  • Son Heung-min
    12

    Son Heung-min

    Age: 31
    3,007 votes
    Son Heung-min (born 8 July 1992) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and captains the South Korea national team.Son finished his development at Hamburger SV, where he made his debut in the German Bundesliga in 2010. In 2013, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen for a club record €10 million, and played for the club in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League. Two years later, he signed for Tottenham for £22 million, becoming the most expensive Asian player in history. While at Tottenham, he became the top Asian goalscorer in Premier League history.A full international since 2010, Son has represented South Korea at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups and is South Korea's joint highest scorer at the World Cup alongside Park Ji-sung and Ahn Jung-hwan with three goals. He has also represented South Korea at the 2018 Asian Games, where the team won gold, as well as the 2011, 2015, and 2019 editions of the AFC Asian Cup, finishing runners-up in 2015.
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  • Phil Foden
    13

    Phil Foden

    2,027 votes
    Philip Walter Foden (born 28 May 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national team. Foden's breakthrough into professional football came in 2017 when he won the FIFA U-17 World Cup Golden Ball award following England's successful Under-17 World Cup campaign. He made his debut for City during the same year and in December was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year. Foden has since made over 100 appearances for the club, winning eight honours including becoming the youngest recipient of a Premier League winners' medal. In 2019, he won a second Premier League and became the club's youngest-ever goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, and is the youngest English player to both start a match and score in the knockout stages of the competition. In 2021, he was named as the Premier League Young Player of the Season and the PFA Young Player of the Year.
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  • Robert Lewandowski
    14

    Robert Lewandowski

    Age: 35
    4,211 votes

    A devastating and ferocious striker, Robert Lewandowski is rabidly making the case for one of the best legs in all of soccer. Since joining FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Lewandowski has been playing on another level, scoring goals at a record pace, and dominating anyone who dares to guard him. At 35 years old, Lewandowski is proving to be just like a fine wine, simply getting better and better with age.

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  • Neymar
    15

    Neymar

    Age: 32
    4,631 votes

    Neymar has slowly but surely cemented his legacy as an all-time great, one of the premier scorers the game has ever seen, and a living legend who more than lives up to the title. Since joining Paris Saint-German, Neymar has accumulated well over 60 goals, trailing only Pele's 82, and any time a player can get in the same conversation, let alone surpass Pele, that player is on another level. While the highlights of his career may be in his rear view mirror, Neymar is using his cunning, IQ, and leadership to showcase his utter dominance on the field.

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  • Luka Modrić
    16

    Luka Modrić

    Age: 38
    3,574 votes

    Many fans of Luka Modric expected the former Croatian superstar to fall off due to his advanced age, but contrary to beliefs, Modric seems to only be getting better with each passing season. Able to maintain remarkably high energy levels and look just as fit as ever, Modric hasn't lost his firey attitude, and his scoring continues to be the finest works of art.

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  • Rodri
    17

    Rodri

    1,062 votes

    A defensive wizard for Manchester City, Rodri has expanded his offensive game tremendously and become one of the best two-way midfielders in all of soccer. Rodri has quickly climbed up the ranks as one of the best Spanish players in the league currently and is quickly growing to become one of the best Spanish players soccer has ever seen.

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  • Alisson
    18

    Alisson

    Age: 31
    1,765 votes

    Showcasing some of the fastest hands, most brilliant vision, and stellar defensive instinct, Alisson is one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever hail from Brazil, and at just 31 years old, he seems to simply continue to get better as he has finally reached his prime. Consistantly in the top 5 in goals allowed, Alisson prides himself on his defense, and his team knows he will always have their back.

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  • Bernardo Silva
    19

    Bernardo Silva

    Age: 29
    1,845 votes

    Bernardo Silva continued to shock the world in 2022 by continuing his drastic improvement into one of the best midfielders in the game. While he wasn't always so highly touted, hard work, dedication, and patience at his craft helped establish Silva as a brilliant attacking midfielder. A smooth and silky dribbler, Silva is set to play the best soccer of his life in 2024.

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  • Rúben Dias
    20

    Rúben Dias

    1,209 votes
    Rúben dos Santos Gato Alves Dias (born 14 May 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Manchester City and the Portugal national team. Dias came through Benfica's youth academy. He began playing for Benfica B in 2015 and was promoted to the first-team in 2017, and was named the Primeira Liga's Young Player of the Year. The following season, Dias' performances helped Benfica win the league title in the 2018–19 season and later the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira during the 2019–20 season, while also being named in the Primeira Liga's Team of the Year, making over 100 appearances in the process. He signed for Premier League club Manchester City in September 2020 for a fee reported of €65 million.
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  • Martin Ødegaard
    21

    Martin Ødegaard

    Age: 25
    1,029 votes
    Martin Ødegaard (born 17 December 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and captains the Norway national team. Ødegaard made his senior international debut for Norway in 2014, at age 15, and has set the record for the youngest senior Norway player, and the youngest player to play in a UEFA European Championship qualifying match.
  • Rafael Leão
    22

    Rafael Leão

    Age: 31
    1,205 votes
    Rafael Alexandre da Conceição Leão (born 10 June 1999) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club AC Milan and the Portugal national team. Graduating from Sporting CP youth system, Leão made his first-team debut in 2018, winning the 2017–18 Taça da Liga, before unilaterally terminating his contract, following a acident within the club. Shortly after, he joined for Ligue 1 side Lille on a free transfer. His performances sparked the interest of several European clubs, with AC Milan signing him in 2019 for a reported fee of €23 million. Leão is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various youth levels, being part of the under-17 team that won the 2016 European Championship. He made his senior international debut in 2021.
  • Karim Benzema
    23

    Karim Benzema

    Age: 36
    3,563 votes

    After a relatively disappointing few years, Karim Benzema has exploded back onto the soccer scene and is widely regarded to be back to his former glorious self. The athleticism and speed all seem to be bolstered by a tremendous increase in soccer IQ, as Benzema is simply allowing the game to come to him, not forcing anything, and thriving in the process. As he approaches the tail end of his career, Benzema is showing the world that he still has one good run left in those legs.

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  • Thibaut Courtois
    24

    Thibaut Courtois

    Age: 31
    2,207 votes

    One of the biggest, brightest, and most exciting young goalkeepers in the league, Thibaut Courtois is one of the most important and surprising players in the league. Arguably the second most important player in Real Madrid, Courtois continues to save the team with his stellar reflexes, defense, and genius IQ.

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  • Achraf Hakimi
    25

    Achraf Hakimi

    2,315 votes
    Achraf Hakimi Mouh (born 4 November 1998)is a professional footballer who plays as a right wing-back for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Morocco national team. Mainly a right wing-back or right-back, Hakimi can also play on the left or as a right winger. He is widely considered one of the best defenders and one of the best right-backs in the world.
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  • Antoine Griezmann
    26

    Antoine Griezmann

    Age: 33
    1,450 votes
    Antoine Griezmann (born 21 March 1991) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Atlético Madrid, on loan from Barcelona, and the France national team. A versatile player known for his attacking, passing, and supportive defence, Griezmann has played as an attacking midfielder, winger, and striker in his career. Griezmann is considered one of the world's best players and is twice a Ballon d'Or podium finisher. At international level, Griezmann won the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, made his senior debut for France in 2014 at age 22, and has since appeared in four major tournaments. He finished as top goalscorer and was voted Player of the Tournament as France finished runner-up at UEFA Euro 2016. Griezmann won the Silver Boot as the second highest goalscorer as France won the 2018 FIFA World Cup; he also won the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third best player, and was named Man of the Match in the final.
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  • Jamal Musiala
    27

    Jamal Musiala

    609 votes
    Jamal Musiala (born 26 February 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. Born in Germany to a British-Nigerian father and German mother and raised mainly in England, Musiala represented both Germany and England at youth level, and eventually pledged his allegiance to the Germany national team for future games in February 2021, representing the side at UEFA Euro 2020.
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  • Lautaro Martínez
    28
    Lautaro Javier Martínez (born 22 August 1997) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Inter Milan and the Argentina national team. Martínez began his football career in his native Argentina, where he made his senior debut in 2015 with Racing Club. There he spent four seasons and represented the club in the league and Copa Libertadores, scoring 27 goals in 60 appearances before joining Inter in 2018, where he won the Serie A title in his third season with the club. Martínez also previously represented Argentina at various youth levels and competed at the 2017 South American U-20 Championship and 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his senior international debut in 2018, and represented the senior squad at the Copa América in 2019, helping his team to a third place finish, and 2021, winning the latter edition of the tournament.
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  • Declan Rice
    29

    Declan Rice

    839 votes
    Declan Rice (born 14 January 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Premier League club West Ham United and the England national team. Born in England, Rice is of English and Irish descent. He had previously represented the Republic of Ireland internationally at both youth and senior levels, before switching allegiance to England in 2019.
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  • Marcus Rashford
    30

    Marcus Rashford

    2,262 votes
    Marcus Rashford MBE (born 31 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team. A Manchester United player from the age of seven, Rashford scored two goals on both his first-team debut against Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League in February 2016 and his Premier League debut against Arsenal three days later. He also scored in his first Manchester derby, as well as on his EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League debuts. With United, Rashford has so far won the FA Cup, EFL Cup, FA Community Shield and Europa League.