Dembele, Yamal, or Kane? Who is the best player heading into the 2026-27 season?

The debate over who is the best player in the world is once again wide open. After several years in which Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated virtually every discussion, the current landscape features several candidates capable of competing for that title.

The new list of the world’s top 10 players for the 2026–27 season places Ousmane Dembélé at the top, followed by Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane, and Michael Olise.

The criteria used to compile the ranking stem from one question: By how much would a player increase the chances of an average team that reached the Champions League round of 16 winning the tournament?

The intention is not to reduce soccer to a single statistic. Goals, assists, chance creation, pressing, off-the-ball movement, defensive ability, and the context of each league are all part of a much broader evaluation.

Dembélé is on top of the list

Ousmane Dembélé tops the list. His main claim to the top spot is that he is considered the most well-rounded attacker in the game today.

The Frenchman stands out for his ability to score goals, create chances, dribble, pass, and press, in addition to being ambidextrous. He can also play in various attacking positions and adapt to different systems.

His main concern is his physical consistency. Throughout his career, he has only once surpassed 2,000 minutes in a domestic league season, when he played for Borussia Dortmund a decade ago.

Even with that limitation, the criteria for this list are clear: as long as Dembélé is healthy, there is no other player currently playing better soccer.

Yamal closing in at the top

Lamine Yamal ranks second and is emerging as one of the biggest names in the present and future of world soccer.

Last season, he took a significant leap forward in his offensive output. His average goals and assists per 90 minutes rose from 0.69 to 0.95, and he displayed levels of offensive involvement and ball progression comparable to those of Neymar or Messi.

The main area where he can still improve is his shot selection. If he can replace some low-value shots with shots from more favorable positions or create opportunities for his teammates, the race for first place could take a different turn.

Kvaratskhelia rounds out the top three

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ranks third after a season in which, despite playing a limited number of minutes in Ligue 1, he managed to place among the top ten in offensive contribution.

The Georgian is described as a winger capable of combining physical strength, off-the-ball work, and the ability to trouble opposing defenders.

Furthermore, his arrival at PSG coincided almost exactly with the French team’s transformation into one of the strongest sides in the world.

Kane and Olise round out the top five

Harry Kane ranks fourth. In his three years with Bayern Munich, he has averaged 1.14 goals (excluding penalties) and assists per 90 minutes.

The English forward is also considered an increasingly well-rounded attacker, and his evolution during the latter part of his career offers a new perspective on how players’ performance changes over the years.

Michael Olise is fifth. Last season, he led all players in expected possession value, while also combining intense pressing, shots on goal, and high involvement with the ball.

His main challenge in this ranking stems from the context of Bayern and the Bundesliga, as well as the internal competition within his own team.

Haaland, Mbappé, and Julián Álvarez (6th-8th)

Erling Haaland ranks sixth. His tremendous efficiency in front of goal is his strongest asset: despite averaging just 22 touches per game, he finished fourth in overall offensive contribution.

Kylian Mbappé ranks seventh. His immense offensive ability contrasts with his involvement in pressing, as he recorded 30.1 presses per game last season—the lowest figure among forwards in Europe’s top five leagues who played at least 900 minutes.

Julián Álvarez is eighth. The Argentine started ahead of Lautaro Martínez for Argentina and also earned his spot based on his performance in LaLiga and his tremendous defensive work.

According to Stats Perform, Álvarez made 76 presses per 90 minutes last season, a figure higher than that of any other player in the top ten.

Vinícius and Rice round out the list

Vinícius Júnior ranks ninth. The Brazilian dropped one spot from a previous ranking based on offensive contribution, though he remains among the world’s top players.

Declan Rice rounds out the top 10. The Arsenal midfielder is considered the most well-rounded midfielder in the world thanks to his ability to play in various midfield positions, defend, build plays, and make an impact near the box.

The list also temporarily excludes William Saliba, regarded as one of the world’s best center backs, as he will be sidelined for a season due to a back injury.

Here is the top 10 list of the world’s best soccer players for the 2026–27 season: