College football’s most disappointing players and best surprises as 2024 season nears midway mark

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best football players 2024

Arsenal’s winless league run had extended into its sixth game, a tame 1-1 draw against Southampton. “You deserve more Arsenal fans”, he tweeted, the broken heart emoji reflecting the sheer devastation that the man they called ‘little chilli’ shared with the rest of the fanbase. “We don’t but you do,” was the response of many for a player whose early career was to be forged through setbacks, not just tough early seasons for his boyhood club but that penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final and all that came with it. Beyond our daily fantasy football content, be sure to check out our Daily Fantasy Football Tools.

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However, he declined in prominence during his second season in north London. It’s difficult to do better than winning a treble in your first season with a new club but, regardless of what silverware Man City collect over the coming months, Julian Alvarez has enjoyed a breakthrough year and become integral to the team. He’s often filled in for Kevin De Bruyne as an attacking midfielder and started every league game for the reigning champions.

Manuel Neuer — Goalkeeper, Bayern Munich

best football players 2024

The Steelers have played four strong run defenses to start the season and their running backs have been shut down in the process. This week they get a much easier run defense on Sunday night against the Cowboys. Injuries to star defensive players Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence hurt, but even with them healthy, the Cowboys have been weak against the run. The Cowboys rank 28th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to running backs, as well as 31st in run defense EPA. Federico Dimarco’s breakout performances at left-back for Inter saw the Italian giants quickly ditch previous signing Robin Gosens.His searing pace has become crucial for Simone Inzaghi and his sweet left foot is a proven threat in the attacking third.

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He has just four catches for 47 yards and one touchdown, against McNeese State. I’m not sure what the deal is, especially on an offense desperate for playmakers, but I’m out. The latter clause wrecked a bid by Belgian club Charleroi to sign Diarra following his departure from Lokomotiv. So, if you are looking to throw a few bucks down on the big games, I’ve got you covered. He is arguably the best player in the world right now, and that quality is reflected in a hefty wage packet. Now in his 30s, Kante is another player to make big bucks in Saudia Arabia – joining up with his fellow Frenchman Benzema at Al-Ittihad.

Ederson — Goalkeeper, Manchester City

Only the second player to score a Clasico hat-trick in 23 years Barcelona haven’t hated a player as much since Cristiano Ronaldo. Now vice-captain at his boyhood club, Alexander-Arnold has taken to leadership like a duck to water, and may well end up as the poster boy of the Reds’ next big trophy win. The epitome of the perfect modern-day goalkeeper, the Brazil international is Liverpool’s last line of attack and first line of defence and sublime at both and more.

Harry Kane: £400,000 p/w

Able to comfortably look like one of the best in the world at both centre back and right back, the Uruguayan is attracting interest from quite literally every big club in the world due to an expiring contract. Primed to take that mantle are Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, who have long been pencilled in as football’s new attacking rivalry, though Harry Kane may have something to say about that. And our ranking of the world’s best players is based on who’s the best right now. The award, for the best player in the world in 2023, saw many of the voters take Messi’s 2022 World Cup heroics into account. His physicality is unrivalled, his finishing ability – including improvised, instinctive finishing by any means necessary – is staggering and he boasts a turn of pace that few in the Premier League could match. The next few years should be explosive and, if he proves his consistency over several years, he will sit No.1 in this list without rival.

Ousmane DEMBELE, Paris Saint-Germain/France

What makes Bellingham’s achievements all the more stunning this season is that he was never previously relied upon for goals in his career. Salah’s now in that special territory where it’s all about records, standing fifth in all-time scoring for the Reds and tenth in the history of the Premier League, and he’s yet to show any signs of slowing down. Able to defend, attack, press, score and provide at an elite level, Griezmann is now getting the recognition he deserves, and there’s a good chance he will get even more as France’s most important player at the Euros.

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That’s ignoring the fact he was knocked out of the Champions League and Coupe de France at the last 16 stage, only won Ligue 1 by a point from Lens, and then was injured for much of Inter Miami’s disastrous MLS campaign where they finished 27th out of 30 teams. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. He should move to Real Madrid this summer and will slot in beautifully alongside Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham in the Spanish giants’ attacking line-up. KDB is the greatest crosser of a ball in Premier League history, while his vision and penchant for a defence-splitting pass combine with frightening effectiveness on a number of occasions. The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.

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Akter is one wicket shy of 100 in T20 internationals with an average of only 16. The left-arm finger spinner has best bowling figures of 5-8 in 87 T20 internationals at only 24 years of age. Akter claimed 2-17 on debut nine years ago as a 15-year-old against Pakistan in Karachi. Opening batter Mooney currently tops the ICC’s T20 batter rankings and is one of the many big-name players in an experienced Australian squad. The 30-year-old, who made her debut for Queensland aged 16, has registered two centuries and 23 fifties in 95 innings for the reigning champions. Backing the manager to the hilt is a pre-requisite for a healthy working relationship, and if Emery continues to hit the sweet spot in terms of transfer business and level of performance, there’s no reason why the good times can’t continue to roll at Villa Park.

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The Barca forward took little time to adapt to life in La Liga following his move from Bayern Munich as his goals powered his new side to the Spanish title. He backed that up with 19 in his second campaign in Catalonia despite constant speculation over his future. PSG are on a mission this season to prove they’re much, much more than the mere ‘Kylian Mbappe team’. The French superstar has departed for the Spanish capital, but supporters have little reason to fear with Barcola filling the void. A leggy wide player adept off both feet, Barcola boasts great variety down the left flank and is destined to blossom into France’s next great attacking hope.

Erling Haaland is Man City’s weapon of choice

  • He’s a leader on the field and many regard him as one of the finest technicians in the sport.
  • The best goalkeeper in the world, the second best player in this particular writer’s rankings, has been done dirty elsewhere in the voting pool, just because he wears gloves on his hands.
  • The whole group gets knocked down a bit, but Dell is on the bench for me this week as he likely returns from a chest injury.
  • There is, however, no greater affirmation of Rodri’s quality than the sheer difficulty Spain and Manchester City had losing in a low-scoring, high variance sport when the most authoritative midfielder was on the field.
  • Valuing a player is currently an arbitrary process where teams, players and representatives simply estimate what they are worth.
  • It has proven to be an inspired decision, with the Frenchman seemingly capable of doing absolutely everything.’The sky is the limit’ is a cliché often overused in football when describing a player’s talent, yet somehow that may not do Saliba justice.
  • So, if you are looking to throw a few bucks down on the big games, I’ve got you covered.
  • Neuer spent the better part of a year away from the pitch after fracturing his right knee during a ski trip in December 2022, but played his first game in 350 days when Bayern beat Darmstadt 8-0 in October of last year.

From wing to wing and everything in between, the attacking third is where your high-skill, high-quality talent is often found. Phil Foden’s impressive haul of 19 goals and eight assists for Manchester City earned him the Player of the Season award, as his side clinched a record fourth successive English Premier League title. In the past year, Hojlund has also thrived at an international level, leading Denmark’s attack with a sizzling seven goals during the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. After overcoming injury issues and a form slump, Hojlund emerged as a promising attacking talent in the final months of the Premier League and will be keen to carry that form into Euro 2024. If given the game time and attacking liberty by manager Ronald Koeman, Simons can be a standout player for the Netherlands, allowing the Dutch a puncher’s chance to defeat the main contenders at Euro 2024. High-profile players and breakout stars from the best leagues in the world will compete in the month-long Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) championship.

Vinicius Junior has just delivered for Real Madrid in the biggest game in football, again. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe continue to top the continent’s scoring charts. Just like their counterparts on the opposite flank, the best left-backs combine pace and intelligence to be a threat in attack or in defense.

best football players 2024

They are, of course, only a selection of the players at the top level on the global football scene. The next year will show whether they can keep their ranking at the top of the list or whether other top players will make their way to the list. The award celebrates the best 11 players in the world each year, and gives players who don’t have a realistic shot at winning the overall https://st-bet.net/ award, primarily defensive players, recognition for their work on the pitch. The appreciation and acclaim of Garrett continues as the Top 100’s highest-ranked defender. Cleveland’s daunting edge rusher was invincible through the first 11 games, securing 13.0 of his 14.0 season sacks during a span that included a memorable showcase of dominance against the Colts in Week 7.

Xavi Simons — Midfielder, RB Leipzig

At RB Leipzig, Simons operated on both wings and also as an attacking midfielder, carrying the ball around, maximising possession and creating goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates. Created in 2009 in honour of Real Madrid icon Ferenc Puskas, captain and star of the Hungary national team during the 1950s, the FIFA Puskas Award is handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year. The winner of the The Best FIFA Men’s Player award is usually a player who wins or shines deep in either the biggest international tournaments of the year, and/or the Champions League. In the summer of 2024, the European Championship and Copa America took place with Spain and Argentina emerging victorious, respectively. His double against Lazio in the Champions League last 16 second leg took the England captain to 33 goals in all competitions.

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Defenders are often left with the only recourse being to hack him down as his foul-winning ability is one of the best around. Already a key member of the Spanish team, he’s aiming for a deep run at this summer’s Euros. The posterboy of MLS players transitioning to – and thriving in – Europe, Davies has gone from a 15-year-old winger who was coming into his own to becoming one of the best left backs in the world with Bayern Munich.

John Stones — Defender, Manchester City

The 34-year-old can still hack it at the game’s top levels and even in his final season, he is still usually one of the best players on the pitch. There is, however, no greater affirmation of Rodri’s quality than the sheer difficulty Spain and Manchester City had losing in a low-scoring, high variance sport when the most authoritative midfielder was on the field. That sheer undefeatability was one of the reasons that this particular writer had him No.1 on his ballot but there is more to Rodri than just limiting the threat of defeat.

  • It resulted in Jackson, 27, winning his second Most Valuable Player award, which makes him the second-youngest player to accomplish the feat.
  • On the season they haven’t allowed a receiver to top 79 yards and they’ve given up one touchdown to the position.
  • He is currently playing at Inter Miami, where he has made impressive results in the MLS.
  • You could hold out in hopes of a six here as well, as I think you might see one.
  • It’s difficult to do better than winning a treble in your first season with a new club but, regardless of what silverware Man City collect over the coming months, Julian Alvarez has enjoyed a breakthrough year and become integral to the team.
  • It’s no surprise that the forward got a little bored and decided to jet off to Atletico Madrid in search of more regular first-team football, where he will be hoping to add to his honours list up against city rivals Real Madrid and Catalan giants Barcelona.
  • No player has featured in more matches for Pep Guardiola than Bernardo Silva.
  • Despite frequently stating his desire to play for Real Madrid, Mbappe opted against joining the Spanish giants and instead committed his future to Paris in a deal that apparently gives him control over coaching appointments and player recruitment.
  • Jordan Henderson is another Liverpool legend who left for the Saudi league in the summer of 2023.
  • It took Anthony Gordon a while to get going after his acrimonious departure from Everton for £40 million last January.

With a long career behind him, it’s hard to deny the level of this English player. He’s not one of those players that have a long list of trophies but when it comes to goals, there are few players that can come close to his level. Currently, he’s at Bayern Munich, where he transferred at the summer transfer window.

There was really nothing to debate when it came to the question who is the greatest footballer on the planet. What a waste of hours and spreadsheets it would be to present to you all that Lionel Messi is the best in the business. After one month of thrilling football, Euro 2024 reached its conclusion on Sunday evening with Spain coming out on top against England in the final. In our first bold break from previous ranks, we’re grouping all those in the defensive third under a single banner, though don’t think that this list is limited to center-backs. All three main positions — right-back, center-back, left-back — are covered in the run-down, and rightly so.

That means an exclusive list has been unveiled, detailing the 100 best young male footballers in the world right now. Nominees for the Golden Boy must be under the age of 21 and play in the top flight of a European nation’s football divisions, so those putting in the work in second and third tiers are unfortunately ineligible for consideration. Rafael van der Vaart was the inaugural Golden Boy winner back in 2003, being given the award while on the books at Ajax and soon after moving to the Bundesliga with Hamburg, followed by the dream transfer to Real Madrid.

  • Soccer remains a global passion, uniting fans through riveting matches and unforgettable talent.
  • Ecclestone is the highest-ranked bowler in both the ICC T20 and ODI rankings.
  • Limited though the history of nine figure transfer fees might be, such lofty expenditure rarely comes with guarantees of success.
  • He has since collected new individual records in his comeback year, chief among them breaking Iker Casillas’ record for most clean sheets in the Champions League.

Fans are responsible for 50% of the votes cast, with a panel of football experts providing the other 50% to decide the eventual winner. Following the 1990 World Cup in Italy, FIFA decided to launch its own ceremony to celebrate the best player in the world every year. It slowly gained traction, incorporating a women’s award in 2001 alongside several other trophies. The biggest prize on offer is the Best Men’s Player of the Year award, but there are also several other big honours handed out every year, including the FIFPro World XI, the Puskas Award for the best goal scored and the Best Women’s Player. The twinkle-toed Portuguese continues to dazzle but doesn’t attract praise quite as easily as some of his Man City teammates.Silva is often linked with an exit from the Etihad Stadium but there is a reason Guardiola is so keen to keep him in Manchester. Here’s 90min’s ranking of the best players in the world right now – and this list is categorically accurate, so don’t even bother complaining.

Jordan Henderson is another Liverpool legend who left for the Saudi league in the summer of 2023. A move to Saudi Arabia and Al Ahli was the natural next step for a player who won it all in the English game. Riyad Mahrez will always have a place in Premier League folklore as the star player of Leicester City’s incredible 2016 Premier League triumph. The addition of the brilliant Benzema should make them favourites to retain the title next season. Al-Ittihad are paying Benzema £85 million a year so the club will expect results.

Aging like a fine wine, Williams is the highest-ranking offensive lineman on the Top 100 at 36 years old. Anchoring Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense the past three seasons, Williams’ skill set as an elite run- and pass-blocking left tackle renders the complex scheme into a seemingly painless process. In 2023, the 11-time Pro Bowler earned the second-highest run-blocking grade from PFF (92.5) while helping to pave the way for the league’s rushing champion. He also didn’t allow a single sack last season despite seeing weekly matchups against the opposition’s best pass rusher. It resulted in Williams earning his third consecutive All-Pro honor and receiving the proverbial flowers from his NFL contemporaries. He boasts the knack of scoring critical goals in crucial moments – see the Champions League final – and in mid-January 2024, he struck a milestone of 50 games undefeated for City.

best football players 2024

By his own high standards, last season was a disappointing one for Son Heung-min, who was suffering with a hernia problem for several months. No longer inhibited by fitness issues, he’s spearheading a Tottenham team that’s been reinvigorated by the appointment of Ange Postecoglou. The departures of Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane have given him even more responsibility as captain, figurehead and chief goal threat.

He is currently playing at Inter Miami, where he has made impressive results in the MLS. When looking at Messi’s individual accomplishments, it’s hard to look at anything else than the shining Ballon d’Or 1st place. Valuing a player is currently an arbitrary process where teams, players and representatives simply estimate what they are worth. Together with SciSports, FT aims to use advanced football data, current and future skill level as well as contract length and other details to create our unique internal calculation. From there we derive our own valuation for each and every player in the world’s major football competitions.

One of the most underappreciated attackers in the modern game, Rodrygo has often been left in the shadows by his Real Madrid teammates. Whether it’s Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior or Jude Bellingham, the Brazilian hasn’t always claimed the plaudits he deserves. However, he remains an exceptional dribbler and scorer of big goals for Los Blancos, regularly popping up in the latter stages of the Champions League with crucial strikes. While criticism still comes in domestically, those on the continent are ready to anoint the right back as one of the best players in the world for his astonishing array of passing and attacking prowess. The relative mystique of foreign leagues can often inflate a player’s reputation as we are fed their many highlights and rarely see their 4/10s, the days they’d rather not remember, their misses, their failures.

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