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World-class… It’s an invisible but important tag, one that separates the good from the great. But it’s such a subjective term. Every football fan has their own definition, their own set of criterion, leading to endless but thoroughly enjoyable debates in stadiums, dressing rooms, TV studios, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs all across the world.
So, back in 2023, BALLGM decided to get in on the fun by compiling a very exclusive list of the 25 players that we felt represented the game’s elite, the best of the best, the guys that had been producing stellar performances over a sustained period of time.
In order to avoid focusing solely on attackers – which, let’s face it, nearly always happens when it comes to individual awards and accolades – we stipulated that there must be at least three players from each position group (goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack), and a maximum of nine from each.
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Members are subject to an annual review, and now the time has once again come to decide who gets to stay in the World-Class Club – and who must be politely asked to leave.
So, who’s made this year’s 25-strong selection? Find out below, and be sure to express your approval – or outrage – in the comments…
World-class… It’s an invisible but important tag, one that separates the good from the great. But it’s such a subjective term. Every football fan has their own definition, their own set of criterion, leading to endless but thoroughly enjoyable debates in stadiums, dressing rooms, TV studios, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs all across the world.
So, back in 2023, بالجم decided to get in on the fun by compiling a very exclusive list of the 25 players that we felt represented the game’s elite, the best of the best, the guys that had been producing stellar performances over a sustained period of time.
In order to avoid focusing solely on attackers – which, let’s face it, nearly always happens when it comes to individual awards and accolades – we stipulated that there must be at least three players from each position group (goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack), and a maximum of nine from each.
Members are subject to an annual review, and now the time has once again come to decide who gets to stay in the World-Class Club – and who must be politely asked to leave.
So, who’s made this year’s 25-strong selection? Find out below, and be sure to express your approval – or outrage – in the comments…
Alisson Becker’s only flaw is his increasing susceptibility to niggling muscular injuries, which once again interrupted his 2024-25 season. Aside from that annoying habit, though, the Brazilian is the archetypal modern goalkeeper: brave and precise with the ball at his feet, but also a sensational shot-stopper, as he proved once again with an astounding performance against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in March.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is a fine goalkeeper in his own right, but he’s going to have his work cut out usurping Alisson as Liverpool’s No.1!
Thibaut Courtois missed nearly the entire 2023-24 season with an ACL tear, but he offered an immediate reminder of his quality upon returning to action just before the close of the campaign, keeping a clean sheet in five consecutive games, including Real Madrid’s Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
Last season wasn’t quite so successful, but he remains one of the Blancos’ standard-setters, an outspoken presence in between the sticks who is given free reign to flag the failings of those in front of him because he usually does his own job flawlessly.
You’d have been hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t deem Gigi Donnarumma world-class after his Golden Ball-winning heroics at Euro 2021. At the time, the Italian giant really did look like Gigi Buffon’s heir. However, Donnarumma endured a dramatic dip in form, and his time at Paris Saint-Germain was proving to be a real mixed bag – until this year.
Donnarumma was absolutely sensational during PSG’s Champions League campaign, particularly in the pivotal win over Liverpool at Anfield, and also kept more clean sheets than anyone else at the Club World Cup. Fair to say, then, that the Italy No.1 is well and truly back to his best.
An injury crisis left Inter without a left wing-back for their Champions League clash with Feyenoord in March, so then-coach Simone Inzaghi turned to Alessandro Bastoni, who played the role to perfection. Not that anyone was really surprised.
Bastoni is widely regarded as the most complete centre-back in world football, a pacey and powerful man-marker with a wand of a left foot who was named the best defender in الدوري الإيطالي for the second consecutive season in 2024-25.
Because of his rather cynical approach to the game, Dani Carvajal is not particularly popular with supporters of Real Madrid’s rivals – but nobody would dare dispute Spaniard’s world-class status. There has been no more consistent right-back in the game over the past decade or so, and he’s got the medals to prove it.n
So, while Madid have now signed Trent Alexander-Arnold to eventually replace Carvajal, who has only just recovered from a cruciate ligament tear, you can be sure that the 33-year-old won’t give up his starting spot without a fight.n
Ruben Dias is unquestionably one of the finest signings of the Pep Guardiola-era at Manchester City. Last season, in fact, was the first since he joined from Benfica in 2020 that finished without him picking up a Premier League winners’ medal. n
However, while Dias and City may have suffered a dip in form, the centre-back still played a pivotal role in Portugal lifting the Nations League trophy in June after playing every minute of the knockout stage.n
Without a shadow of a doubt, the most complete right-back in the world. Achraf Hakimi is a total footballer, as effective in attack as he is at the back.
Last season, the multi-talented Moroccan was directly involved in more goals (21) and regained possession more times (277) than any other defender across Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues – two staggering stats that underline his enormous importance to Paris Saint-Germain’s treble triumph. Basically, if he weren’t a right-back, he’d be leading the race to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Marquinhos was only 19 when he joined Paris Saint-Germain from Roma in 2013 for €34m (£29m/$37m). It felt like a big gamble, but he’s proven a bargain buy.
The Brazilian effectively turned out to be Thiago Silva’s heir for both club and country, a centre-back so classy he can also play in midfield but also one blessed with invaluable organisational and leadership skills. Marquinhos was the rock upon which PSG’s historic treble was founded, playing every minute of 16 of their 17 Champions League games, thus cementing his status as one of the best defenders of his generation.
Antonio Rudiger has been one of the best defenders in the world for some time now, a key component in both Chelsea and Real Madrid winning Champions League titles in the past four years. He also racked up 54 appearances for the latter last season – but there’s no denying that we’re seeing signs of decline, and a connected sense of frustration that resulted in Rudiger completely losing his mind towards the tail end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Rudiger has held onto his membership card because of his previous body of work – but it would have been revoked had William Saliba had a stronger season.
A couple of years ago, Virgil van Dijk was exhibiting signs of decline. Now, though, he’s firmly re-established himself as the most dominant defender in world football.
Van Dijk was at his peerless best during Liverpool’s Premier League title win, turning in one colossal display after another, and even when he made a mistake, as he did against West Ham in April, he promptly went up the other end of the pitch to head home a later winner. Basically, Liverpool’s captain and leader is now also a legend.
There’s no denying that Jude Bellingham has endured a dip in form over the past year. After a sensational debut season at Real Madrid, his numbers fell in 2024-25 and there are legitimate doubts over his ability to thrive anywhere other than in his preferred No.10 position, which is not a good look for a supposedly complete midfielder.
However, there were mitigating circumstances in Bellingham’s difficult second season at Santiago Bernabeu, chief among them a persistent shoulder problem that is only now being addressed. In that context, 27 direct goal involvements was still a decent return for the Englishman, who really didn’t benefit from Kylian Mbappe’s addition to the Madrid attack.
Joshua Kimmich is one of those players that can do it all, as comfortable in the middle of the park as he is at right-back – which explains why Bayern Munich were so desperate for the Germany international to sign a new contract with the club.
Kimmich may have turned 30 earlier this year, but he’s still playing at the peak of his many powers. Only two players across Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues created more chances last season than the defensive midfielder (128) – and only two other players regained possession more times (285). He is just complete class.
Depressingly, there’s a real chance that we won’t see Jamal Musiala back in action until next year, after one of the game’s most talented dribblers suffered a horrendous injury during Bayern Munich’s Club World Cup campaign. n
However, there is simply no questioning the 22-year-old’s world-class status. On the contrary, Musiala actually added even more goals to his game during the 2024-25 season, with the Germany international netting a career-high 21 goals in all competitions – 12 of which helped Bayern regain their الدوري الألماني crown.n
It’s been obvious since Pedri was a teenager that he was a generational talent, the kind of multi-talented midfielder capable of one day being mentioned in the same breath at Barcelona as Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
The only issue was his injury record. Thankfully, Hansi Flick and his coaching team have made Pedri more robust than ever before, allowing him to rack up a career-high 59 appearances last season – during which he also recovered possession more times (389) than any other player from Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues. And what’s really impressive is that he’s still only 22!
Despite what Real Madrid might think, Rodri was a most worthy recipient of last year’s Ballon d’Or, the best player on two of the best teams of 2024 in Manchester City and Spain.
One only has to look at how City capitulated without him to understand just how important Rodri is to Pep Guardiola’s side, who failed to win a single trophy last season without the injured defensive midfielder. Indeed, there’s an argument to be made that there has been no more influential player in world football over the past two years; Rodri impacts results even when he’s not playing!
Luis de la Fuente once claimed that Fabian Ruiz was underestimated because of his name. We’ve never been entirely sure what’s wrong with the name ‘Fabian’, but there’s no denying that the Spaniard didn’t always get the credit he deserved.
These days, though, Ruiz is recognised as one of the best midfielders in the game – and rightly so. After helping Spain win Euro 2024, the classy No.8 racked up 10 assists during PSG’s treble-winning campaign, while also popping up with a crucial goal in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Arsenal.
Bernardo Silva doesn’t attract too much media attention or pick up too many individual awards – which is probably because he’s such a team player. But he isn’t just an unselfish pressing monster, he’s also a pleasure to watch perform because of the way in which he retains and uses possession.
He’s essentially the perfect Pep Guardiola player, which is why he’s survived the cull at Manchester City, and remains such a key figure for Portugal, whom he helped win this summer’s Nations League.
The best central midfielder in the world right now, Vitinha is the man that makes PSG and Portugal tick, dictating the pace of the game with his elusive movement, pin-point passing and tactical intelligence.
The former Wolves man also gets through a ridiculous amount of work, often covering more ground than any other player on the pitch. Luis Enrique said Vitinha was PSG’s most important player at the end of the 2023-24 season – and the 25-year-old’s integral role in the treble hammered home the point.
Erling Haaland’s limitations as a footballer have become a major talking point over the past year or so, but the Norwegian No.9 remains one of the most prolific goal-scorers in the game. Even during a below-par, injury-interrupted season for the 24-year-old, he still scored thirty-plus goals for Manchester City for the third consecutive season.
If Haaland improves his all-round game – which is an achievable goal given his age – he’ll be back challenging for Golden Boots and Ballons d’Or soon enough.
Harry Kane has been one of the world’s best forwards for years; all he was missing was a major trophy. Well, he’s finally got one after firing Bayern Munich to Bundesliga glory with 26 goals in just 31 appearances.
Kane also struck 11 times in the Champions League to underline his enduring class. Bottom line: at 32 years of age, the England international is arguably playing as well as ever.
We have to be honest: we weren’t entirely sure of the merits of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s move from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain, who were already well-stocked with wingers. However, it was exactly what both the Parisians and the player needed.
At Parc des Princes, the Georgian George Best recaptured the fantastic form that helped Napoli end their Scudetto drought in 2023, with his wondrous wing play inspiring PSG to a first European Cup – and marking himself out as a serious Ballon d’Or contender.
Kylian Mbappe failed to win a major trophy during his first season at Real Madrid, but while his arrival may well have negatively affected the balance of the team, the France forward did exactly what he was signed to do: score goals.
Mbappe netted 43 times in 56 appearances in all competitions and picked up the European Golden Shoe in the process. So, while new coach Xabi Alonso has plenty of problems to solve, the consistently productive Mbappe isn’t one of them. He’s not failed to score at least 30 goals in a season since his first year at PSG!
The best player in the Premier League – and it’s not even close. As well as scoring more goals than anyone other player in England’s top-flight last season, Mohamed Salah also registered the most assists – which explains two things: firstly, why Liverpool ran away with the Premier League title; and, secondly, why the Reds were willing to give a 33-year-old winger a bumper new contract.
There’s arguably been no more consistent attacker in Europe since Salah arrived at Anfield in 2017.
Vinicius Jr did not react well to missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or – in any sense. After pathetically refusing to turn up for the ceremony after getting wind of Rodri’s win, he vowed to play 10 times better to finally get his hands on the prize.
Vinicius didn’t make good on that promise at all, which is why he’s not even in the running for this year’s Ballon d’Or. However, he was still directly involved in 36 goals in all competitions, and the 25-year-old’s past performances have helped him hold onto his World-Class Club membership – for now, at least…
Lamine Yamal has only just turned 18, yet his inclusion in the World-Class Club is a no-brainer. He’s the most talented teenager the game has ever seen.
His record-breaking performances at Euro 2024 provoked legitimate comparisons with Pele, while opposition coaches were lining up to label him a generational talent during last season’s Champions League. This time, it really is okay to believe the hype: Yamal is the real deal and is likely to be on the list for well over a decade.
Kevin De Bruyne is probably the most notable name removed from our illustrious list. The Belgian will undoubtedly go down as one of the finest players of his generation – and may well enjoy a new lease of life at Napoli – but Manchester City decided against offering him a new contract because time has clearly caught up with the 34-year-old.
It’s also been clear since Ilkay Gundogan returned to Manchester from Barcelona that the German’s best days are now firmly behind him, while City goalkeeper Ederson is no longer the force he once was either.
Elsewhere, Emiliano Martinez has always been a ‘moments’ player, but the abiding memories of his 2024-25 campaign are nearly all negative. Mike Maignan meanwhile, is still only 30 but it’s obvious that he needs to get as far away from a bang-average AC Milan side as he can to kickstart his career.
Theo Hernandez clearly felt likewise, but his decision to move to the الدوري السعودي للمحترفين at 27 years of age suggests that he no longer has any interest in recapturing the form that once made him the most exciting left-back in the world.
