Summary
AI has named and ranked the 20 best footballers in the world right now.
Determining who the best footballer is often subjective, with statistics, trophies, and all-around play being factored.
Top players like Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe dominate current world football discussions.
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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20 Lionel 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.
19 Viktor 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.
18 Florian Wirtz
Liverpool & Germany
What AI said: "A dynamic playmaker, Wirtz’s dribbling, passing, and goals have made him a star at Leverkusen and a reported target for Liverpool."
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.
17 Alisson 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."
Considered the best goalkeeper in the world right now, it's hardly a surprise that Alisson is rated so highly by AI as well. A freak of nature when it comes to one-on-one situations, the amount of times he's bailed Liverpool out of sticky situations to then propel them to some of the shiniest awards the beautiful game has to offer is probably close to a number nobody has ever counted to before. His last-minute save against Napoli and his goal against West Brom are just two examples of how important he has been to his club's roaring success.
16 Virgil 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."
Already the third Liverpool player to make the grade - and not the last - Virgil van Dijk is a colossal defender that defines what it means to have 'aura'. Undeniably the most consistent centre-back over the last decade, he continues to be the alpha and omega of the Reds' trophy-hunting success.
'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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15 Declan Rice
Arsenal & England
What AI said: "A tireless midfielder, Rice’s defensive solidity and growing attacking threat make him integral to Arsenal’s success."
A box-to-box midfielder in its truest essence, Declan Rice can be spotted invading the opposition penalty area to score important goals just as much as he can be spotted using his intelligence to snuff out danger at the other end of the pitch. Arsenal and England would be a fraction of the team they are without him, and he will surely be front and centre of any silverware either of them picks up in the next few years.
14 Ousmane Dembele
Paris Saint-Germain & France
What AI said: "Dembele’s flair and ability to create chances have made him a leading light at PSG."
If Grok is downplaying anyone's influence and ability, then it must be that of Ousmane Dembele, who has surged to the top of the Ballon d'Or power rankings after contributing to 14 goals in 15 appearances as Paris Saint-Germain won their first-ever Champions League title in the 2024/25 season.
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.
13 Raphinha
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.
12 Cole 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.
11 Bukayo Saka
Arsenal & England
What AI said: "A dynamic winger, Saka’s dribbling, crossing, and goal-scoring make him a key player for Arsenal and England, even through injury challenges."
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.