2024 FC 100: Mbappé, Ronaldo amongst finest males’s soccer gamers

What’s new and what’s modified for 2024

This yr’s poll had over 50 entries from everywhere in the globe and from all areas of ESPN FC; from writers to reporters, from editors to producers, from behind-the-scenes workers to on-air expertise. Gab Marcotti, Julien Laurens, Mark Ogden and Alejandro Moreno had been simply a number of the key voters.

The most important change is how we compiled the listing. In a nod to the trendy sport’s shift from specialist place gamers to flexibility and fluidity, we have moved away from the outdated method of “10 high 10s throughout positions and coaches” to a broader listing that acknowledges the 4 key positions on the pitch. Now, you may see a high 10 of goalkeepers adopted by our high 30 defenders, midfielders and forwards.

The opposite main replace? No extra managers! The evolution of the position, from the standard steward of the entire membership to extra of a specialist on the staff and techniques, means we’re specializing in the gamers right here. We are going to deal with our world supervisor rankings individually later in the summertime. This determination has additionally yielded loads of new faces within the listing this yr in comparison with any earlier version: Greater than 1 / 4 of the gamers listed are brand-new to the FC 100 universe in 2023-24, guaranteeing the listing retains up with the occasions.

Principal takeaways

• A brand new format means loads of new names: This season’s version of the FC 100 has 28 new names for the primary time within the rankings’ eight-year historical past, which is a testomony to each the evolution of the sport and the following era breaking by way of in Europe’s high leagues.

• Cristiano Ronaldo is BACK: After dropping out of the FC 100 universe in 2022-23 due to a horrible yr through which he had a bitter exit from Manchester United, a poor World Cup and an underwhelming transfer to the Saudi Professional League, the Portugal star is again on the radar heading into Euro 2024.

• Behold, an American participant! Off the again of an outstanding season with AC Milan, United States captain Christian Pulisic returns to the FC 100, making his second look. Canada’s Alphonso Davies makes his fourth FC 100 look following one other robust marketing campaign for Bayern Munich.

• The Premier League reigns supreme once more: In complete, 38 members of the FC 100 this yr are from the English high flight, with a spread of golf equipment past Manchester Metropolis, Liverpool and Arsenal contributing to its energy in depth. LaLiga hangs powerful in second place with 19 names on the listing, although the German Bundesliga has come by way of with 18 choices — thank Bayer Leverkusen (seven names) and their unimaginable unbeaten home season for the resurgence.

• Man Metropolis are additionally nonetheless on high: Pep Guardiola’s aspect may need fallen quick within the FA Cup and Champions League, however their fifth Premier League title in six years is rewarded with 11 gamers making the FC 100 in 2023-24, with each place on the pitch coated. From there, Actual Madrid contribute 10 names after a dominant LaLiga marketing campaign and run to the Champions League last, whereas Liverpool are third with eight nominees to this yr’s listing.

How our voters dealt with the poll

Conducting a world vote on the world’s finest gamers is not any simple feat, and we gave some pointers with the ballots as to how individuals may proceed. Voters had been inspired to take the next issues into consideration: who’re the most effective gamers proper now, weighted towards their 2023-24 seasons. Voters got discretion as to how a lot of a component accidents performed in votes; some gamers made the reduce regardless of lacking chunks of the season given the size of their contributions and performances when wholesome. Equally, performances in particular person competitions (e.g., Champions League) had been thought-about, however weren’t the overarching issue, in casting a vote. Gamers whose efforts spanned the biggest pattern of video games ought to naturally rank greater than those that excelled briefly match codecs.

Listed below are a number of the questions we requested our voters:

On what foundation ought to I rank my gamers?
On who you suppose the most effective gamers are proper now, in the event that they had been absolutely match.

How a lot ought to I take the present season under consideration?
It would seemingly be an necessary part, however this isn’t a rating of the most effective gamers in 2023-24. Slightly, this season will most likely weigh closely in your evaluation as a result of it displays newer performances. If any person is excellent in 2023-24 there’s cause to imagine they’re an excellent gamers proper now.

What if any person has carried out at a really excessive stage for a very long time however this yr hasn’t been nearly as good?
That is when it turns into a judgement name. For instance, Mohamed Salah is a superb participant, however this previous season he scored “solely” 25 targets in 44 video games, the primary time he is scored fewer than 30 in all competitions for the reason that 2019-20 season. He is 31, so that you would want to determine whether or not it is the beginning of a downward trajectory or whether it is only a slight blip that will likely be corrected subsequent season.

How will we deal with gamers who had been injured for important intervals of the season?
Assess them on the intervals through which they had been match and their physique of labor earlier than. And once more, if they have been out a very long time, determine whether or not you suppose the damage has had a long-term affect to the purpose that their efficiency will decline completely.

Ought to we give extra weight to performances in main competitions just like the World Cup and the Champions League?
Not essentially. If there’s a participant who excelled within the Champions League (suppose Divock Origi a number of years in the past) however was peculiar within the league, he most likely should not be in your rating.

What every listing of the FC 100 is about

The important thing right here is twofold: why every participant made the listing in 2023-24, and what they challenge to do subsequent season.

Goalkeeper

It is not sufficient for the trendy goalkeeper to be good along with his gloves. Nowadays, shot-stoppers are anticipated to start out the attacking strikes typically by taking part in out from the again in addition to shutting them down.

Agility and reflexes are par for the course, however the most effective goalies on the planet additionally fuse a way of confidence and daring of their penalty areas that make them appear larger than life.

See the complete listing right here.

Defenders

In our first daring break from earlier ranks, we’re grouping all these within the defensive third beneath a single banner, although do not suppose that this listing is restricted to center-backs. All three predominant positions — right-back, center-back, left-back — are coated within the run-down, and rightly so.

Proper-back was by no means probably the most glamorous place, however the sport’s many evolutions have seen it turn out to be an exhilarating and unpredictable spot on the pitch. The perfect within the sport will marry a robust positional consciousness with blinding velocity, in addition to the daring to surge ahead and help their groups in assault.

If you are going to have an amazing staff, you want an amazing center-back (two, in case you’re actually fortunate). The perfect within the sport are formidable in each dimension and energy but additionally blessed with the grace to time tackles and anticipate a striker’s actions so as to win again possession. Class on the ball and off it’s important, whether or not taking part in a weighted move up-field or feinting their well past opponents to ease the stress.

Similar to their counterparts on the alternative flank, the most effective left-backs mix tempo and intelligence to be a risk in assault or in protection. Consolation and precision crossing with the left foot is a uncommon commodity, too, however the high gamers will likely be at their finest when on the overlap earlier than curling within the excellent ball.

See the complete listing right here.

Midfielders

We used to have two positional rankings to cowl the guts of the sector, however we’re combining these with talent with and with out the ball right here for 2023-24. There are defensive midfielders who might create or destroy. Both they’re like Rodri, overlaying loads of distance to disrupt the opposition with precision and elan, or like Martin Odegaard, who management the rhythm of the sport with crisp ball distribution and imaginative and prescient.

Mischief, creativity, tempo and confidence: these are the inventory instruments of the most effective attacking midfielders. Typically known as the No. 10, these guys are as comfy scoring the targets as they’re teeing up teammates. With free rein to float across the pitch and exploit the area, their capability to conjure one thing from nothing makes them probably the most entertaining gamers round.

See the complete listing right here.

Forwards

Lastly, the glamour positions! These are your showboats, your objective scorers, your free-roaming forces of nature. From wing to wing and every little thing in between, the attacking third is the place your high-skill, high-quality expertise is commonly discovered.

Wingers have turn out to be slightly antiquated within the trendy sport, however there’s nonetheless loads of profit to having quick, forward-thinking gamers in huge positions. Blessed with tempo and persistence to beat their markers and make it to the byline for a cut-back cross, they are often actually harmful.

From there, forwards and strikers are more durable to outline. They seem to be a potent mix of close-range finisher, playmaker and space-creator for teammates across the field. They’re gifted sufficient to deal with the free position and sleek sufficient beneath stress to continually ship. They will rating in any sport, in opposition to any staff from any place. Fleet of foot and fast of thoughts, their capability to learn the play and anticipate the place the ball will likely be three passes earlier than it will get there may be what units them aside.

It is not simply the tap-ins they will rating, both: the most effective can improvise with any a part of the physique (besides the palms, after all) to get the job finished. Intelligent flicks, nifty methods, brash back-heels and calm set items are their finest weapons.

See the complete listing right here.