As the footballing world continues to evolve, the quest for the title of the "best football player" remains a subject of perennial debate and fascination among fans, pundits, and experts.
With the year 2024 marking another milestone in the game's history, it's time to take a fresh look at the top talents who have risen to prominence on the global stage.
In this article, we will delve into the rankings of the best football players in the world for the year 2024, considering their skills, achievements, and contributions to their respective clubs and national teams.
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham has set the pitch on fire ever since making a move to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund. The skilled England international has scored 10 goals in as many matches for Real across all competitions this season.
The 20-year-old's exceptional performance has propelled Carlo Ancelotti's team to the top of the La Liga standings with 24 points, while the Catalan giants find themselves in third place, trailing their arch-rivals by three points.
Erling Haaland
The Norwegian sensation was in scintillating form as the 2023/24 season headed into its first international break. Manchester City's No.9 had already notched up an impressive six goals and one assist in just four Premier League appearances.
During his debut season in English football, Haaland netted an astonishing 36 Premier League goals, setting a new record for the top flight. He kicked off the new season with a fiery determination to break that record once again and although he seems to be a bit lost currently, it is expected that the treble winner will be back on his feet and tally shortly.
Bukayo Saka
The Gunners' standout player has developed into an elite player since moving from Arsenal's youth academy to their senior team. Saka has been a regular fixture in Arsenal's first team and was on the verge of reaching nearly 100 consecutive Premier League appearances for the club before an injury forced him to miss their latest match.
Considered the best player at the Emirates Stadium currently, Saka will reestablish his sensational form upon returning from injury.
Kylian Mbappe
On Friday night, Kylian Mbappé put an end to any discussion of a dip in form by scoring both goals in the 2-1 victory against the Netherlands. This outcome secured France's qualification for the Euro 2024 finals, set to take place in Germany next summer.
Things are a bit rough at PSG now. A bit over a month ago, it seemed absurd to suggest that the 24-year-old would struggle to score goals at any point during this season, considering his strong start to the campaign. This strong beginning came after his delayed start due to a standoff with the Qatar-owned club over his future.
Harry Kane
While there were few who doubted Harry Kane's ability to make an immediate impact at Bayern Munich, his explosive start in Munich may have even surprised him. In just seven games, the 30-year-old has already scored eight goals and provided four assists.
One of his recent displays came in the form of a hat-trick and two assists in the 7-0 victory over VfL Bochum. Prior to that, Kane found the net against Manchester United in the Champions League, confidently converting a penalty from the spot, leaving goalkeeper Andre Onana with no chance as the ball sailed into the net.
Messi
Messi showcased his formidable skills, netting two goals, to guide Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Peru in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday evening.The Inter Miami star found the net twice in the first half, delivering two exceptional left-footed strikes from just outside the penalty box. His outstanding performance further solidified Argentina's position at the top of the South American qualifying group.
Although the 36-year-old recently faced a setback with a scar tissue issue during his time at Inter Miami, he now seems to be back in peak form and has completed the full 90 minutes for the Argentine national team.
Rasmus Hojlund
The Danish forward has been demonstrating his skill and ability with Manchester United after being carefully reintegrated into the team by Erik ten Hag following a back injury he suffered over the summer. Hojlund has notably scored three goals in just two Champions League matches for United, which included a brace against Galatasaray.
Hojlund appears to have seamlessly transitioned his impressive club form to the Denmark national team as well. He is one of the standout performers in his national team, having bagged at least one goals in the latest fixtures.
Gavi
Barcelona's young talent, Gavi, has been in outstanding form this season, taking on a deeper midfield role where he can survey the game ahead. With Pedri and Frenkie de Jong sidelined due to injuries, he has maintained a pivotal role for the Blaugrana.
Typically, his responsibilities involve making crucial challenges in midfield, delivering accurate passes, and contributing to goal-scoring opportunities. However, in their recent match against Sevilla on Friday night, Gavi found himself tasked with making crucial goal-saving contributions.
Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro Martinez has made history by becoming the third player ever to score in double figures for Inter in the first eight Serie A matches of the season. The Argentine, who is also a World Cup winner, added to his impressive tally this afternoon with a stunning long-range right-foot strike against Bologna at a packed San Siro.
Scoring 10 goals in the first eight games, Martinez is on course to surpass his personal best in Serie A and could potentially challenge to be the successor to last year's top scorer, Victor Osimhen of Napoli.
Julian Alvarez
Alvarez initially faced the challenge of securing a spot in Manchester City's lineup behind Erling Haaland. However, the dynamics have shifted, and their roles are now more balanced.
Alvarez's recent contributions have seen him tally six goals and five assists in 11 appearances this season, averaging a goal or assist every 70 minutes. Last season, Haaland held the spotlight for his remarkable goal-scoring rate. However, two months into the new campaign, the roles have reversed, with Haaland now striving to match Alvarez's impressive performance.