Buzz
1. Harry Kane (Tottenham/England)
Harry Kane is an English footballer currently playing as a forward for Tottenham Hotspur. He concluded the 2020-2021 season with 23 goals and 14 assists, earning both the Premier League Golden Boot and Playmaker awards. Kane scored his first international goal for England with a header from Raheem Sterling's cross just 80 seconds after coming on as a substitute.
Harry Kane also played a crucial role in England's impressive 4-0 victory over Ukraine, scoring twice and helping the national team reach the Euro semifinals for the first time since 1996. His two goals in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020 propelled Kane to third place in the tournament's Golden Boot race with 3 goals. The 27-year-old striker now shares the same number of goals as his teammate Sterling and Denmark's Dolberg.
2. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund/Norway)
Erling Haaland, the Norwegian footballer, is regarded as one of the world's top forwards and one of the most promising young talents in football. Known by the nickname 'The Terminator,' Haaland combines speed, strength, and power, making him a lethal goal scorer. In 2019, he scored 18 goals and provided 5 assists in just 795 minutes on the field, averaging 2.05 goals and 0.56 assists per match. Many believe that Haaland could break the records set by football legends Messi and Ronaldo in the near future. In the 2020/21 season, he maintained his impressive form, netting 33 goals in 31 appearances, positioning him as a formidable rival to the unstoppable Robert Lewandowski, attracting the attention of top European clubs.
3. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/France)
The young Kylian Mbappé, born in 1998, is a French footballer who became the youngest player to score in a World Cup and the second youngest, after Pelé, to score in a World Cup final. He was the second top scorer for France in their World Cup-winning campaign, earning the Best Young Player and French Player of the Year awards for his remarkable performances. Mbappé has also broken numerous records, becoming the youngest player in Monaco's history to appear in an official match at just 16 years and 347 days old, as well as the youngest in the past 30 years to reach 10 goals in the UEFA Champions League.
Mbappé was called up to the French national team for the first time in March 2017 ahead of matches against Luxembourg and Spain. His debut appearance in a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg made him the youngest player to represent France since 1955 at just 18 years and 95 days old. With a transfer fee of €180 million, Mbappé became the second most expensive player in history and the youngest ever to command such a price.
4. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/Portugal)
Bruno Fernandes is a Portuguese footballer currently playing as an attacking midfielder for Manchester United. He made his debut for the national team in 2017. Fernandes is renowned for his excellent penalty-taking ability and his trademark 'hop' penalty style.
On the field, Bruno Fernandes is widely regarded as one of the most dynamic forwards, always exuding fighting spirit and ready to overwhelm his opponents at any moment. He has even played in a defensive role, showcasing his versatility. His fluid style of play, with impressive long runs into the box, as well as his precise free kicks, have earned him the admiration of coaches and made him a standout player. In addition to his role as an attacking midfielder, Fernandes has also played as a central midfielder and a second striker.
5. Neymar (Barcelona/Brazil)
Even the harshest critics cannot overlook the significant role Neymar played in guiding Paris Saint-Germain to their first-ever Champions League final in 2020. Despite dealing with injuries that limited his appearances in domestic competitions to just 15 games (scoring 13 goals), Neymar showed his full potential in the Champions League knockout rounds once fully recovered. He scored in both legs against Dortmund, helping PSG complete a remarkable comeback against the German side. Neymar then delivered brilliant performances, showcasing his exceptional skills and inspiring his teammates in wins over Atalanta, RB Leipzig, and in the crucial clash with Bayern Munich. Though PSG ultimately fell short of the title, 2020 marked Neymar’s return to top form since his departure from Barcelona.
6. Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan/Belgium)
Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian striker for Inter Milan, played a pivotal role in leading his team to the Serie A title. Lukaku is known for his impressive goal-scoring and playmaking abilities. His performances during Euro 2020 have further solidified his reputation. His touches on the ball reflect both confidence and effectiveness, contributing crucial goals for Belgium and creating numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates.
As of now, Lukaku holds the record for the most goals scored for the Belgian national team with 59 goals. Despite having the largest foot size in the world, the Belgian striker has firmly established his place as one of the country's top scorers. It's no surprise that he is regarded as Belgium's primary goal scorer.
In club football, Romelu Lukaku is known for his ideal physique and sharp goal-scoring instincts. These qualities make him a constant threat in front of goal, scoring vital goals in key moments. Additionally, Lukaku's ability to strike with both his powerful left foot and his deadly right foot, coupled with his aerial prowess, makes him a complete forward.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Portugal)
It can be said that CR7 is the most complete footballer in the world right now. In addition to his exceptional goal-scoring ability and impressive finishing with both feet, Ronaldo possesses lightning-fast speed, akin to an F1 car, and a leap that rivals that of a spring. These qualities are the result of intense training and a relentless willpower in his preparation.
Much like Messi, Ronaldo has won every major title at the club level with Manchester United and Real Madrid, both collectively and individually. He has been awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or three times, in 2008, 2013, and 2014. Now, at 36 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo has had a mixed season with Juventus, maintaining his goal-scoring form, but with his team losing the Serie A title and exiting the Champions League early, finding consolation in winning both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. In Euro 2016, held in France, Ronaldo led Portugal to victory, defeating France in the final. This victory placed him in the company of legends like Pelé, Maradona, and the original Ronaldo. With Euro 2020 ahead, Cristiano Ronaldo hopes to replicate Spain's achievement by winning back-to-back European Championships, despite Portugal being in the 'Group of Death' alongside France and Germany.
9. Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Argentina)
Without a doubt, the Argentine genius must be included in this list. With his magical left foot, Messi has led Barcelona to every major title, both individually and as a team, while shattering countless records along the way.
Among the many honors in Messi's illustrious career, perhaps the most remarkable is his six Ballon d'Or awards. Even at the age of 33, Messi remains at the peak of his career, a constant nightmare for defenders worldwide. It’s safe to say that right now, Messi is the best footballer in the world.
Messi scored 31 goals in the 2020 season, along with 25 assists—statistics no other player in the top five European leagues could match. His 25 goals in La Liga this past season also made him the greatest Pichichi winner, claiming the award for the seventh time, marking his fourth consecutive achievement of this feat.
10. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
Robert Lewandowski once said, "I could play football until I’m 40," and he wasn’t joking! At 32 years old, Bayern Munich's striker is still in incredible form. Lewandowski shocked everyone by scoring 55 goals in just 47 matches. He also claimed the top scorer title in the Bundesliga, as well as the German Cup and the 2020 Champions League.
In 2020, no player could match such impressive stats—not even Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. This makes Lewandowski a worthy inclusion among the best footballers today.
"Never stop dreaming," and "Never give up," were the words Lewandowski shared after winning his first-ever Champions League title. These principles have been his guiding mantra to elevate him to the pinnacle of world football.
