In the dawn of a new era beyond the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi duopoly, determining who the best player in world football is right now feels almost impossible. While some voters rely on statistics like goals, assists, and clean sheets, others base their opinions purely on the eye test – judging how well a player performs on and off the ball, even without being the headline act.
When it comes to Ballon d’Or voting, modern greatness often hinges on team success. Playing for top clubs that regularly win trophies gives certain players a clear advantage in being officially recognised as the best over a 12-month period. In truth, there’s no single way to determine who truly deserves that title.
Maybe that’s why it makes sense to turn to the new era of technology for a fresh perspective. In this article, we asked Grok – Twitter’s AI generator – to rank the 20 best footballers in the world right now. The results are certainly intriguing.
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20Lionel Messi
Inter Miami & Argentina
What AI said: “Though no longer at his European peak, Messi’s influence at Inter Miami and for Argentina remains immense, with his skill and vision still world-class.”
The Qatar World Cup will forever be Lionel Messi‘s crowning moment in football – above everything else – but the greatest footballer who’s ever lived can no longer be considered the world’s best player, mainly due to the fact he’s now plying his trade with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. With 15 goals and six assists in just 20 games so far this season, he’s quickly made yet another domestic league his own.
19Viktor Gyokeres
Sporting & Sweden
What AI said: “A deadly striker, Gyokeres’ pace, skill, and finishing have made him a standout in Portugal, with interest from top clubs.”
In a world where the traditional striker – one that can outmuscle, outpower, and outwit centre-backs by themselves – is a dying artform, Viktor Gyokeres is one of the best. The Swedish frontman scored an astonishing 54 goals in 52 appearances in the 2024/25 season, and he is surely one of Europe’s hottest properties this summer as he aims to prove he can do it in one of the continent’s big five leagues.
18Florian Wirtz
Liverpool & Germany
After winning the Premier League last season to reclaim their position as England’s most successful club, Fenway Sports Group decided to fix the roof while the sun is still shining by signing Florian Wirtz for a British transfer fee record of £116 million (add-ons included).
The Bundesliga Player of the Year over the last two seasons, his rise to superstardom has already started at just 22-years-old, having scored 21 goals and produced 23 assists in that time in the league alone.
17Alisson Becker
Liverpool & Brazil
What AI said: “Arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, Alisson’s shot-stopping and composure are crucial for Liverpool’s success.”
16Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool & The Netherlands
What AI said: “Still one of the best defenders, van Dijk’s leadership, aerial ability, and composure anchor Liverpool’s backline.”
‘Captain, leader, legend’ is a fitting cliche for someone who finished second only to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or after famously going a whole campaign without being dribbled past.
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15Declan Rice
Arsenal & England
What AI said: “A tireless midfielder, Rice’s defensive solidity and growing attacking threat make him integral to Arsenal’s success.”
14Ousmane Dembele
Paris Saint-Germain & France
What AI said: “Dembele’s flair and ability to create chances have made him a leading light at PSG.”
From Barcelona castaway to the most raved about European talent, his redemption arc has certainly been sobering in a world where wonderkids rarely reach their ceiling.
13Raphinha
Barcelona & Brazil
What AI said: “A key player in Barcelona’s attack, Raphinha’s pace, trickery, and clutch performances keep him among the elite wingers.”
Nobody contributed to more goals in the Champions League last season than Raphinha, who scored 13 goals and produced nine assists as Barcelona reached the semi-finals. Adding to his overall tally of 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 appearances, there aren’t many players in world football who have the taste for action in and around the box as much as Marcelo Bielsa’s former Leeds United poster boy.
12Cole Palmer
Chelsea & England
What AI said: “Chelsea’s main attacking force, Palmer’s rise as a creative and goal-scoring midfielder has been remarkable in the Premier League.”
Cole Palmer topped the Premier League for goal contributions in the 2023/24 season and, despite a slight dip in form post-January, still ended up with 23 in 37 games last term.
Vital to Chelsea’s return to the Champions League (some would argue too vital), the Englishman has been putting together a compelling case to be a starter at next year’s World Cup, seemingly ahead of Phil Foden in Thomas Tuchel’s current thinking.
11Bukayo Saka
Arsenal & England
The evolution of Bukayo Saka has been remarkable. From being put under unrelenting scrutiny for missing a penalty in the delayed 2020 European Championship final to becoming one of the most reliable creators for both club and country just four years on, the 23-year-old looks set to be the face of the Premier League for the next decade. Even though he struggled with injuries last term, he still managed six goals and 10 assists in 25 league outings.
10Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona & Poland
Robert Lewandowski, like a fine wine, continues to defy age and show remarkable longevity, having scored 42 goals in 52 games last season. For years, he was seen as the third-best goalscorer in world football, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Nowadays, he consistently outscores them season after season. Now approaching 37, and likely still wondering how he’s never won a Ballon d’Or, Lewandowski has demonstrated the resilience and consistency required to remain among the very best in the world.
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9Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Paris Saint-Germain & Georgia
Whether it’s outrunning the quickest defenders in a foot race or using his trademark unpredictability to slip through the tightest cracks in midfield or defence, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has proven nearly impossible to contain in a season he’s won four trophies with Napoli and PSG.
More than just trophies and creative output, though, Kvaratskhelia has been central to PSG’s expressive new identity under Luis Enrique since joining in January – a fluid, fearless style of football that thrives on cohesion over celebrity, and collective brilliance over individual billing.
8Pedri
Barcelona & Spain
Whether you see him as the best midfielder on the planet, the modern-day blend of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, or simply just believe he’s worthy of football’s highest individual honours, there isn’t a positive word, phrase, or sentence that would feel like an overstatement when it comes to Pedri, who is one of the best La Masia products in recent years.
He may not be the one grabbing the headlines with goals and assists, but he’s the one turning the cogs – the quiet engine that keeps Hansi Flick’s winning machine purring along smoothly. His manager claims he’s incomparable to the rest of football’s middle men, and after dominating Real Madrid’s midfield in the Copa del Rey final, he can’t be too far wrong.
7Harry Kane
Bayern Munich & England
What AI said: “One of the most prolific strikers, Kane’s goal-scoring and playmaking at Bayern Munich are unmatched. He’s broken Bundesliga records and remains a complete forward.”
Harry Kane is modern football’s answer to Wayne Rooney. Yes, he will absolutely score 20 goals a season. But he’ll also hit double figures in the assist rankings and spend about 30% of his time playing as a holding midfielder just to find that added space to work his magic.
The England captain became his nation’s top goalscorer in 2023, as well as reaching second place in the all-time Premier League scoring charts after scoring an incredible 213 times for Tottenham. His move to Bayern Munich has been a success to date, as the 31-year-old contributed to 36 goals in 31 appearances as he won his first piece of major silverware in the shape of the Bundesliga.
6Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid & England
What AI said: “At 21, Bellingham is a midfield superstar, combining strength, skill, and goal-scoring ability. His leadership and impact at Real Madrid make him a top talent.”
Some players just understand the assignment of playing for the world’s biggest club and don’t need to tell twice about how well they must perform to avoid any form of criticism. This is certainly the case with Jude Bellingham, who scored 23 goals and produced 13 assists in his maiden voyage with Real Madrid as they won the La Liga and Champions League.
Although his sophomore season didn’t end in glory, he still dominated midfields with the same nonchalance his predecessors – Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and the like – did, scoring and assisting 14 times apiece.
5Vinicius Junior
Real Madrid & Brazil
Vinícius Junior threw his toys out of the pram after missing out on the Ballon d’Or last year, and with him nowhere near the top contenders for this year’s award either, Grok’s ranking of him as the fifth-best player in the world is rather curious. While he’s often been criticised for failing to show up in the biggest games, his record – 21 goals and 18 assists in 52 appearances for a struggling side – suggests that actions sometimes speak louder than perception.
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4Erling Haaland
Manchester City & Norway
What AI said: “A goal-scoring machine, Haaland continues to break records with his physicality and finishing. His consistent output in the Premier League keeps him among the elite.”
Erling Haaland has set the world alight ever since he graced the Premier League with his presence. He smashed the goalscoring record for a single season, scoring 36 times in only 35 appearances during his debut campaign in the competition. His second season in the English top flight followed a similar pattern as he seemed to score every single week before being forced to spend time on the sidelines.
3Lamine Yamal
Barcelona & Spain
What AI said: “At just 17, Yamal is a phenomenon, excelling as a right winger with pace, creativity, and composure. His standout performances at Euro 2024 and for Barcelona mark him as a future Ballon d’Or contender.”
Tipped by Ronaldo himself to be the best player in the new generation, Lamine Yamal is also seen as the natural heir to Messi at Barcelona. Even when he’s not turning his dizzying solo runs into goals and assists, the teenage sensation is leaving fans across the world picking their jaws up from off the ground after ninety minutes of breathless football.
2Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid & France
What AI said: “Named the best player by some outlets after his move to Real Madrid, Mbappe’s speed, dribbling, and goal-scoring prowess make him a nightmare for defenders. Despite Real Madrid’s mixed season, his individual brilliance shines.”
It feels like an inevitability that at some point in his career, Kylian Mbappe will stand on top of the podium lifting the famous golden ball. The French forward has been touted as a future successor to Messi and Ronaldo – but now in his mid-20s, he’s edging closer to cementing his status as the world’s best footballer.
1Mohamed Salah
Liverpool & Egypt
What AI said: “Widely regarded as the best player in the world in 2025, Salah’s exceptional goal-scoring, leadership, and consistency in the Premier League make him a standout. His impact under Arne Slot at Liverpool has been immense, with reports suggesting he’s the top winger globally.”
Once dismissed as a one-season wonder, Mohamed Salah’s last eight years at Liverpool have rewritten the record books – and now, Europe will be left licking their wounds as he commits to Anfield for another two years. In the 2024/25 season, Salah matched the Premier League record for most goal involvements in a single campaign with 47, helping the Reds secure their 20th league title.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt (correct as of 15/06/2025)
