FourFourTwo Presents... The Top 100 Footballers In The World
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00:00 Then happy Tuesday.
00:02 Welcome to our top 100 footballers in the world 2023.
00:06 We thought we would make a really nice long video
00:09 just in case you need to get like 30, 40 minutes away from all your relatives
00:13 on Boxing Day while you finish off the after eights or something.
00:17 So what we did was we got the entire 442 team together.
00:20 Oh, look, there they are. Say hello.
00:21 We compiled what we thought were our top 100 player in the world lists,
00:25 merged them into one big official 442 super list.
00:29 Then this very handsome man, Mark White, wrote it all up.
00:32 And then Adam Monk, say hello to him.
00:33 And me made a video about it.
00:36 We didn't really have like stringent criteria for it.
00:39 It was just sort of like, how good is their year been?
00:41 How good are they in general?
00:43 Like an intangible just coolness factor.
00:46 It's just a bit of fun.
00:47 So if there are any picks you disagree with, anyone who should be lower,
00:50 anyone who should be higher, anyone we've missed out entirely,
00:53 please do get that in the comments below.
00:55 And we'll sort of put all that together and make an even better list later on.
00:59 Until then, though, sit back, please undo the top button on your trousers
01:03 and enjoy 442's 100 greatest players of 2023.
01:07 Number 100, Sergio Busquets.
01:11 Now, Sergio Busquets, he's been one of the best in his position
01:13 for the past 15 years, that's fair to say.
01:16 And now he's playing out his days are into Miami,
01:18 but an absolute legend of the game.
01:20 And he's rolled back the years a bit this year.
01:22 99, Nauel Molina, bombing forward from wing back
01:25 and contributing at both ends of the pitch.
01:27 It's been another great 12 months for one of European football's unsung heroes.
01:32 Number 98, Diogo Costa.
01:34 No, not that one.
01:35 The evil ex-Chelsea striker, the actual Porto and Portugal goalkeeper.
01:39 He's been really good for a couple of years now.
01:41 97, Miki van der Ven, catching the eye at Wolfsburg
01:44 before becoming one of the Premier League signings of the season.
01:47 His game reading and recovery pace has been one of the main reasons
01:50 behind Tottenham's early success.
01:52 Number 96, Karim Benzema.
01:54 Now, he'd have probably been in the top five this time last year,
01:57 but now, of course, played in Saudi Arabia after an amazing 15 year stint
02:01 at Real Madrid.
02:03 95, Lucas Paquetar, delivering arguably the most important assist
02:07 of West Ham's modern history in the Europa Conference final.
02:10 It's been an electric 12 months for David Moyes, most mercurial player.
02:14 Although I'm still convinced it's pronounced Paqueta.
02:16 Number 94, Isco.
02:19 Now, his renaissance has just been absolutely beautiful to see.
02:22 I think he's always had it in his locker.
02:24 He's still only 31, so there's a couple more years left to go with Isco.
02:27 But after leaving Real Madrid, he has really shone in La Liga at Real Betis.
02:31 93, Olivier Giroud, physical, dominant, aggressive, lethal and graceful.
02:36 Giroud is still at his best in this Milan side and apparently somehow
02:41 also really good in goal now, too.
02:43 Number 92, Enzo Fernandez.
02:45 Now, a World Cup winner with Argentina, of course, but after joining Chelsea,
02:48 he's really just shown glimpses of being that world class talent
02:51 that we all know he can be.
02:53 And I'm sure eventually he will fully get there.
02:55 91, Serou Garassi, the surprise challenger to Harry Kane's
02:59 one man Bundesliga golden boot race.
03:01 Garassi might not have convinced everybody this former Stuttgart is here to stay,
03:05 but he certainly had one of the most explosive years.
03:09 Number 90, Nico Williams.
03:11 Now, Athletic Club have really got their wish with a new four year deal for Nico Williams.
03:15 He's been absolutely excellent this year, showing two footedness.
03:18 Directness and intensity out wide.
03:20 And at 21, he's only going to get better.
03:22 89, Marcus Turam.
03:24 The Bundesliga's worst kept secret is now a smash hit in Serie A, too.
03:28 An intelligent, hungry footballer.
03:30 He's only going to finish higher on these lists in the future.
03:33 Number 88, Ivan Martin.
03:35 Now, Girona may well do a Leicester City this season over in La Liga,
03:39 but there's not really a counterpart in that Leicester City team
03:42 to compare to Ivan Martin.
03:43 He's tricky, skillful, and he could be set for a big move in the summer.
03:47 Number 87, Christopher Nkunku.
03:49 Injury may have ravaged the back end of his 2023,
03:52 but he was undoubtedly one of the best players in the world before that.
03:56 A lightning bolt through the centre of the pitch,
03:58 able to create, drift, and attack the box.
04:00 Chelsea fans will be hoping that if anyone can fix their season, it's this man.
04:04 Number 86, Victor Jokeres.
04:07 Jokeres, Jokeres, I don't know how to pronounce that one fully, but Coventry 2 Sporting Lisbon.
04:11 He's not the most orthodox route to get in on this list.
04:14 However, he's an absolute bagsman,
04:16 Championship Player of the Year last year, and has set the world alight at Sporting Lisbon 2.
04:20 85, Martin Zubemendi.
04:22 The heir apparent to Sergio Busquets throne,
04:25 his skill and creativity have also drawn comparisons to David Silva and Xavi Alonso.
04:29 He's been instrumental in dragging Sociedad both to and through their Champions League campaign.
04:34 And if the rumour mill is to be believed, offers from the Premier League are just around the corner.
04:38 Number 84, Federico Chiesa.
04:41 Now, of course, we all remember his star-studded performances in Euro 2020,
04:45 but injuries have kind of plagued Chiesa's career since then.
04:47 However, when he is fit, he is simply unplayable.
04:50 Electric from that left wing, a simply superb winger.
04:54 83, Douglas Luiz.
04:56 Controlled yet aggressive, able to carry the ball and sit with it, vital in both boxes.
05:01 If you had to pick one reason why Aston Villa are so high in the Premier League this season,
05:05 Douglas Luiz would be it.
05:07 Number 82, Raheem Sterling.
05:09 Now, another player who struggled with consistency in 2023,
05:12 but when he's on it, boy is he on it.
05:15 Still fighting for a place to get in the England squad under Gareth Southgate
05:18 in that 4-4 draw against Manchester City.
05:20 That could be the best individual performance in the Premier League so far this season.
05:24 81, Federico Valverde.
05:27 A flying right winger, a composed central midfielder, the legs to Luka Modric's brain,
05:32 Valverde is the player who can be anything, and yet somehow is still underrated.
05:39 Number 80, Viktor Boniface.
05:41 Now, one of the main reasons that Bayer Leverkusen have been so high flying this season
05:44 is physicality and presence up front has really enabled that German side to bully teams in the final third.
05:50 And Nigeria, I mean, he's their backup striker. Scary.
05:54 79, Dominic Sobosly.
05:56 Already one of Liverpool's most important players, the Hungarian has adapted to his new league
06:00 to become one of the most consistently creative and hard-working midfielders in the world.
06:06 Number 78, Jack Grealish.
06:08 Now, a one-man army at Villa, very much a maverick, has now become a cog in the Pep Guardiola machine,
06:13 but to adapt in that way and become a key man in a treble-winning team is impressive nonetheless.
06:18 77, Marcus Rashford.
06:20 Now, it might not be the best end to 2023 for Marcus Rashford,
06:24 but it's worth remembering that for the rest of the year he looked like one of the best left-wingers in the world.
06:29 Form is temporary, class is permanent, he'll get it back.
06:32 Number 76, Moussa Diaby.
06:34 Now, playing that hybrid role at Aston Villa with his electric pacing behind and rotating with Leon Bailey,
06:39 he has really set the world alight so far at Aston Villa and has justified his prize tag.
06:44 And you know what? 2024 could be even better for him with how well Aston Villa are doing right now.
06:49 75, Hakan Kalanoglu.
06:51 Once a set-piece master who would just hang on the edge of the penalty area waiting for a chance to drop,
06:56 he now dictates the tempo and controls entire games for Inter Milan.
07:00 A simply incredible evolution this year.
07:03 Number 74, Dejan Kulesevski.
07:05 Yes, the ginger from Sweden, definitely one of Daniel Levy's better signings of recent years,
07:10 and now under Ange-Poste Koglou, he seems to arrive at the right moment when Tottenham need him most.
07:14 So I think the best is yet to come from Dejan.
07:17 73, Julian Brandt.
07:19 A consistent mainstay at Dortmund even when big stars around him have all departed,
07:23 Brandt is one of the most consistent stars on a side that on its day is capable of magic.
07:27 Number 72, Phil Foden.
07:30 Now, of course, limited game time in City's tail end of the treble-winning season,
07:34 but he's still had a great 2023 by anyone else's standards,
07:38 and he's one of the most exciting youngsters in the league,
07:41 and will no doubt be at the forefront of Gower Southgate's team in the Euros in the summer.
07:45 71, Sven Bottmann.
07:47 An absolute monster at the back for Newcastle United,
07:49 for someone so young to be so composed, dominant, and able to lead a back line is frightening.
07:55 If he stays on Tyneside, he could be a pillar of that club for a decade.
07:58 Number 70, Theo Hernandez.
08:01 No longer living in his brother's shadow, Theo Hernandez is one of the most consistent and fast.
08:06 He is very, very fast.
08:07 Full-backs in world football these days, and after winning the Scudetto,
08:11 he's really a jewel in that Milan side now.
08:13 69, Aurelien Tuschemeni.
08:15 Without hyperbole, this is a midfielder with one of the most impressive skill sets in the world.
08:21 Solid for Real Madrid, vital for France, and at 23, he's only going to get better.
08:27 Number 68, Granit Xhaka.
08:28 Now, he was crucial in that Arteta Arsenal system,
08:31 and now he's crucial in Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen system,
08:34 so to adapt in the way that he has in two different leagues, two different countries, in one year,
08:39 is impressive to say the least, and I think it's fair to say, Xhaka's in his prime.
08:43 67, Anthony Gordon.
08:44 A slow start to life, on Tyneside, Gordon returned from the under-21 Euros the player of the tournament,
08:49 and has since managed to turn that into a Premier League season absolutely full of goals and assists.
08:55 Number 66, João Pellinha.
08:57 The main reason really why Fulham didn't just survive last season,
09:00 they actually climbed up the table and tried to push in towards that top half,
09:04 and it's no coincidence that the likes of Bayern Munich and Liverpool are knocking on the door for his signature.
09:09 65, Tony Kroos.
09:11 Undoubtedly one of the most decorated players of his generation,
09:14 it's also worth pointing out he's one of the best.
09:17 At Real Madrid he has become a simply sumptuous player,
09:20 who appears to operate in his own time and space apart from everybody else.
09:24 Number 64, Marquinhos.
09:26 Ever since Thiago Silva left PSG, Marquinhos has really been the main man in that defence,
09:30 playing alongside Ramos, Kimpembe, and now Milan Skriniar.
09:34 He's as good as he's ever been, the captain of that PSG team, he deserves his place in the list.
09:38 63, Gavi.
09:40 He's going to miss a lot of 2024, but has 2023 more or less defined Barcelona.
09:45 If he manages to come back as good as he left, he's going to be a generational star for that club.
09:51 Number 62, Santiago Jimenez.
09:53 Yes, the Mexican hold-up man for Feyenoord, he's been nothing short of sensational this season so far,
09:58 strong physical and prolific.
10:00 It won't be long until someone else goes for his signature in the summer.
10:03 61, Florian Wurz.
10:05 There's not really any other way to put it,
10:06 the German is one of the most watchable young stars on the planet, and living up to that Wunderkid hype,
10:12 with excellent displays at Leverkusen every single week.
10:15 Number 60, Rodrigo.
10:17 Yes, Mr Clutch for Real Madrid.
10:19 Don't remind me of that semi-final game, oh my god.
10:22 But this season he's adapted into a forward in that front two with Vinny Junior after Benzema's left,
10:27 and he's been nothing short of phenomenal.
10:29 59, Ashraf Hakimi.
10:31 This man might just be the most box-office right-back on the planet.
10:35 Sometimes a wing-back, sometimes a winger, sometimes just a full-blown attacker,
10:38 he's had another good year at PSG and still looks like one of the best in the world.
10:43 Number 58, Alexander Isak.
10:45 Probably the closest thing aesthetically to Thierry Henry we've seen in the Premier League since Thierry Henry,
10:50 those long strides, the in-step finish with the inside of his boot,
10:53 just a fantastic, fantastic striker.
10:55 And he plays with a little bit of arrogance too that's justified.
10:59 57, Bruno Fernandes.
11:01 Both Fernandes and Manchester United have had their share of ups and downs in 2023,
11:05 but one wonders where the latter would be without the former.
11:09 Moving deeper, dictating the play, assisting, he is still a shining star in that side.
11:13 Number 56, Lois Openda.
11:16 So after having an amazing season at Lons and then joining RB Leipzig to replace Christopher Nkunku,
11:21 he's really done that and then some.
11:23 Quick, slight and direct, he's been amazing all year and is probably set for an even bigger move in the summer.
11:28 55, Dusan Vlaevic.
11:30 The event is admittedly a bit of a basket case right now, but this man remains the best signing in years.
11:35 Bullying centre-backs across Serie A,
11:37 he's carved out a reputation as one of the best centre-forwards on earth.
11:41 Number 54, Kingsley Coman.
11:44 Yep, that man with the ridiculous trophy cabinet who just wins stuff every single year.
11:48 Other than Harry Kane now, he is the mainstay in that Bayern Munich attack under Thomas Tuchel,
11:52 and for good reason as well.
11:54 53, Luis Diaz.
11:56 Getting onto this list will probably not be what Luis Diaz remembers 2023 for,
12:00 but regardless, he's still lit up the Premier League for Liverpool.
12:04 Quick, direct, lethal in front of goal, he's so much more than just the heir to Sadio Mane's throne.
12:10 Number 52, Alphonso Davies.
12:13 Now, whether you can even call this man a left-back is up for debate.
12:15 Definitely the most fun left-back to watch in world football, but he is just so fast.
12:21 51, Gabriel Martinelli.
12:22 The young Brazilian's attacking qualities are obvious, but what's really endeared him to Arsenal
12:26 fans is that he'll track back with as much intensity as he'll burst forward with a counter.
12:31 A manager's dream.
12:32 Number 50, Mike Magnan.
12:35 An integral part of Milan getting to the Champions League semi-finals last season,
12:38 and now France's number one in the sticks as well,
12:41 it's actually very impressive that Milan have upgraded on Donnarumma by bringing Magnan in.
12:46 49, Emiliano Martinez.
12:48 I know this was 2022, so it doesn't technically count,
12:50 but let's just enjoy that picture of him from the World Cup again for a few seconds.
12:54 There we go.
12:56 Number 48, Randall Kolomuani.
12:58 Sorry, mate, but you are the man who missed the biggest chance in the history of world football,
13:02 but nonetheless, you've had a fantastic 12 months, so pat on the back for you.
13:06 47, Kim Min-jae.
13:08 The South Korean defender joined Napoli, slotted into Koulibaly's position,
13:11 won the league title, and then got a massive money move to buy-in,
13:14 where he's also looked incredible.
13:17 Not bad, yeah.
13:18 Number 46, Frenkie De Jong.
13:20 Sorry, Eric Tenhage, he's still playing for Barcelona,
13:23 but I think many Barcelona fans thought that he'd be replacing Busquets in that number six role,
13:27 but that's not been the case.
13:28 Xavi's been deploying him as a number eight,
13:30 and he's been absolutely brilliant with his ball-carrying ability, ball winning.
13:33 There's been tough times for him at Barcelona, but he's still a top player.
13:37 45, Joshua Kimmich.
13:39 Now a fully converted midfield metronome, the Philipp Lahmification...
13:43 Who wrote this?
13:44 ...of Joshua Kimmich has been special to see.
13:46 Absolutely imperious in 2023, and the reason buy-in don't just dominate the league,
13:51 they kind of strangle it.
13:53 Number 44, Takafusa Kubo.
13:56 Now I think a lot of people wrote this guy off after he left Real Madrid,
13:59 and he kind of was paling into insignificance, but after joining Real Sociedad,
14:03 he's been one of the most otherworldly wingers in the game, to be quite frank.
14:06 43, Luka Modric.
14:08 Yes, okay, he probably had one of the quietest years of his career,
14:11 but he is still running rings in that Real Madrid midfield around players half his age.
14:17 At this rate, you wouldn't put it past him to play there until he's 40.
14:20 Number 42, Kauro Mitoma.
14:23 Probably, I would say, Brighton's best signing.
14:26 Maybe not for resale value, but certainly on ability.
14:29 He's really gone up a level under Roberto de Zerbi, two-footed,
14:33 and even if he's been double or triple marked,
14:35 he seems to just get out of it and weave his way through.
14:38 The word wizard really comes to mind, and I think it's justifiable.
14:41 Number 41, Marc-Andre Testegen.
14:44 The Barcelona goalkeeper has reportedly said that he just sees football as his job.
14:49 Well, my input on this is that he's really, really good at his job.
14:54 Number 40, Kieran Trippier.
14:56 Yes, the man who gave every England fan their best moment of their lives
14:59 with that free kick against Croatia,
15:01 but did any England fan really think that three years later,
15:04 he'd still be a mainstay on the side,
15:06 particularly with all the debates over recent years between Rhys James
15:09 and Trent Alexander-Arnold?
15:11 He is really still probably the most well-rounded fullback in the country,
15:15 so for good reason that he's in that England side,
15:16 and the fact he's playing in the Champions League,
15:18 well, not anymore, but he was for Newcastle United,
15:22 is impressive, and he fully, fully deserves his place on this list.
15:25 A great player.
15:26 39, Julian Alvarez.
15:28 In 2023, Alvarez here won a Premier League, an FA Cup, a Champions League,
15:34 and a World Cup.
15:35 Not bad for, and I'm doing extreme air quotes here,
15:38 Erling Haaland's understudy.
15:40 Number 38, James Maddison.
15:42 Now, for me, the signing of the summer,
15:44 I think not only the fact that he joined Tottenham and moved up a club,
15:47 but also the fact that he was kind of assigned
15:50 with giving Spurs fans hope back,
15:51 especially on the pitch with Harry Kane leaving.
15:54 So playing in that number 10 role,
15:55 his ball-striking ability from range,
15:57 and also his vision in the final third,
15:59 he's really matured into one of the finest midfielders in the country,
16:02 and it's going to be very, very hard for Gareth Southgate
16:05 to ignore him in the Euros, but obviously he will.
16:08 37, Alejandro Balde.
16:10 In a world of inverting, Fulback's Balde here is a classic.
16:14 Bombing up and down the touchline rather than moving into midfield,
16:17 his development in 2023 has been nothing short of incredible.
16:21 Number 36, Eduardo Camavinga.
16:24 The, the Swiss army knife in world football.
16:26 Play him left-back, play him CDM, play him centre-back,
16:29 play him in net, play him in the stands.
16:31 It don't matter, he will do a job.
16:32 He will, he will have an impact on the game.
16:34 And it's for that reason why he's been so tried and trusted
16:37 in this Ancelotti team.
16:38 Ancelotti will play him in any position on the biggest of stages.
16:41 You know, the Champions League semi-final, for instance,
16:43 he played at left-back, and at such a young age,
16:45 he's such a mature player.
16:47 Number 35, Warren Zaire Emery.
16:49 Despite being just 17 years old, there are those in French football
16:52 who believe his importance to the French national team
16:55 is second only to Kylian Mbappe.
16:57 There is a lot of hype around this young man right now,
17:00 but in 2023, it was fully deserved.
17:03 Number 34, Lautaro Martinez.
17:06 Now, if you ignore the fact that he couldn't hit a barn door
17:08 in the World Cup final against France,
17:09 he has actually got 21 goal contributions this season in Syria,
17:13 and has been one of Syria's best forwards for the last few years.
17:16 33, Pedri.
17:17 Carrying both the weight of Barcelona and Spain on his back,
17:20 Pedri already feels like a veteran of the game,
17:23 despite being just 21.
17:25 Number 32, Virgil van Dijk.
17:27 Now, he's dropped down on this list a bit.
17:28 Of course, he was an absolute behemoth and goliath
17:31 of a centre-back a couple of years ago,
17:32 but even at 32, he tends to bully strikers.
17:36 And I think what's so impressive about van Dijk
17:38 is that Klopp likes to play a high line,
17:39 and even at his age, he's completely comfortable
17:41 not only covering for Trent Alexander-Arnold,
17:43 but seemingly being one step ahead of any attacker that approaches him.
17:47 31, Xavi Simons.
17:49 PSV's best player at the start of the year,
17:51 and now moving to Leipzig,
17:52 where he's easily one of the best in the Bundesliga too,
17:55 2023 was a year that suggests that Xavi Simons
17:58 will probably go on to very big things.
18:01 Number 30, Son Heung-Min.
18:03 Now, I think some people were starting to be fickle and reactionary,
18:06 and right, Son off at the end of last season under Antonio Conte,
18:08 but under Ange-Pasta Koglu, he's been revived.
18:11 Captain of Tottenham too,
18:12 and of course reaching the Premier League 100 club recently,
18:15 I think it's time that English football fans start discussing Son
18:18 as one of the all-time greats in the English game.
18:21 29, Kyle Walker.
18:23 Incorrectly classified as merely a speed merchant,
18:25 Kyle Walker has spent the last 12 months
18:27 adapting to every single crazy tactical tweak
18:30 Pep Guardiola has thrown at him.
18:32 Wing-back, centre-back, central midfielder,
18:34 he's now got a treble to add to his collection too.
18:37 Number 28, Robert Lewandowski.
18:40 This guy has just been scoring goals forever.
18:44 The definition of a bagsman, if you look it up in the dictionary,
18:47 Robert Lewandowski will come up.
18:49 Of course, a legend at Bayern Munich,
18:51 but now playing in Catalonia for Barcelona,
18:53 he spearheaded them last season to the La Liga title,
18:57 and is continuing to do it at 35 years of age.
18:59 So Blackburn fans, just imagine what would have happened if you'd assigned him.
19:03 27, Leroy Sane.
19:05 It may have taken him a while to return to the levels we all knew he was capable of,
19:08 but the Allianz Arena is simply his backyard now.
19:12 Another unbelievable year of performances tearing up Bundesliga defences.
19:17 Number 26, Ruben Dias.
19:19 Now I'm surprised that Pep Guardiola doesn't actually hate this man's guts,
19:23 because he can only play one position.
19:25 But he plays that one position very, very well,
19:28 because he's the most defensively adept defender in Manchester City's system.
19:31 Not the best on the ball by any means,
19:33 but certainly the rock and the glue of that Manchester City side.
19:36 And when he came back from injury at the start of the year,
19:38 that was really what won City the treble.
19:41 25, Kvitska Kvartskelia.
19:44 18 months ago, nobody knew his name,
19:46 but today, few can pronounce it correctly.
19:49 He has Napoli's first Scudetto in decades to add to his breakout year,
19:53 and you will no doubt spend most of 2024 speculating on where he goes next.
19:58 Number 24, Martin Oerdegaard.
20:01 Now, do you remember kind of like nine or ten years ago,
20:03 when Oerdegaard was a kid?
20:04 He was like 15, and there was loads of YouTube compilations about him.
20:08 And then he went to Madrid and tailed off,
20:10 but people really forgot how young Oerdegaard was at the time.
20:13 People wrote him off, and then he went to Arsenal
20:16 after an impressive spell at Real Sociedad,
20:18 and is now one of the best number 10s in the world.
20:21 He really can do it all.
20:23 And without him, Arsenal look a much, much weaker side.
20:26 So fully justified that he goes in at 24,
20:28 and I think he'll be in this list for many, many more years to come.
20:32 23, Edison.
20:34 Arguably the most underappreciated player in world football.
20:38 Despite not even being a number one for his country,
20:40 Edison has once again displayed a level of technical excellence
20:44 rarely seen by players of any position, let alone a goalkeeper.
20:48 Number 22, Bruno Guimaraes.
20:50 Now, the best signing of the takeover for Newcastle so far.
20:54 I don't think anyone can argue with that, but also he can do it all.
20:58 He has grit, he has bite in the middle of the park,
21:00 and he holds that Newcastle midfield together alongside Joe Linton,
21:03 but also has that ability to arrive in the box when needed
21:06 and get the odd important goal for Newcastle as well.
21:08 21, Alisson.
21:10 Cover your ears, Liverpool fans, but at one stage in 2023,
21:13 Alisson was playing so well, he was statistically propelling
21:16 a mid-table side into European contention.
21:20 And while the Reds have certainly reversed their fortunes this season,
21:22 Alisson's ability to bail them out of a jam has remained consistent.
21:26 Number 20, it's Rice, Rice, baby.
21:28 Declan Rice, yes, a scorer of late goals for Arsenal now, Mr Clutch,
21:32 but also one of the best number sixes on the planet.
21:36 And also now, at the age of 24, he's really matured
21:38 into that leader that we all knew he could be.
21:40 He is captain material to a T.
21:44 19, Raphael Liao.
21:46 2022 brought a Scudetto, 2023 saw a Champions League semi,
21:50 but in the land of Cagnaccio and Maldini,
21:52 there have been few stars who have dazzled with such swagger and ferocity.
21:56 Liao has been Milan's Atlas, standing as majestic as the San Siro itself,
22:01 bulldozing and bludgeoning.
22:03 He has been electric as ever this year.
22:06 Number 18, John Stones.
22:08 Now I was just talking about Declan Rice as being one of the best sixes on the planet,
22:11 but is John Stones as well?
22:13 The revolutionary tactical change that shifted John Stones up to number six
22:17 from Pep Guardiola was the main reason really why Manchester City won the treble.
22:21 They were able to control games so much more,
22:23 and John Stones' spatial awareness of what's around him
22:26 and how he receives the ball on the turn is just freakishly good
22:30 for a player that is a centre-back by trade at the end of the day.
22:34 17, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
22:36 A player so good that the rest of the game just bends to his will.
22:39 Jurgen Klopp has ripped up a highly structured formation
22:42 and redrawn it with Trent Alexander-Arnold as its nucleus.
22:46 After spending 2022 hearing about how he couldn't defend,
22:49 he has responded by becoming the side's most important player,
22:52 dictating play through midfield and showing himself to be absolutely unpressable when doing so.
22:58 Number 16, William Saliba.
23:00 Yes, the new wave van Dijk.
23:01 He's really imperious is kind of the word when you think of Saliba now.
23:05 He got injured at the start of this year and then Arsenal started to drop points
23:09 and then he's come back and Arsenal has stopped leaking goals this season.
23:12 So that paints a picture in of itself.
23:14 But again, similar to van Dijk,
23:16 the way he seems to be one step ahead of his attackers, he's so imperious, so fast,
23:20 his anticipation of where the ball's going to go from a long ball over the top,
23:24 he really, really is the all-round centre-half at the moment.
23:27 Truly one of the best centre-backs, if not the best centre-half on the planet.
23:31 So fully justified, number 16.
23:33 15, Ilkay Gundogan.
23:35 Often categorised simply as the man who finished the moves at Man City,
23:38 2023 showed that he's one of the most intelligent footballers of a generation.
23:44 He became immortal this year with the treble,
23:46 but the lack of his stability, craft and guile has punctuated City's faltering campaign so far.
23:52 Pep Guardiola, or any manager for that matter, would have him back in a heartbeat.
23:56 Number 14, Victor Ossiman.
23:58 Now, you remember earlier on in this list when I was talking about Victor Boniface
24:02 and how he's a backup striker for Nigeria?
24:04 Well, that's because of this man.
24:06 He is that, but just on absolute steroids.
24:10 There is nothing this man cannot do.
24:12 His hold-up play, his first touch, his variety of finishing,
24:14 his aerial ability, his pace, his two-footedness,
24:17 he just has absolutely everything.
24:20 And at 24 years of age now, he has become a Napoli talisman
24:23 and made history winning them their first title in 33 years.
24:27 So he's already gone down in history.
24:28 He's destined for greatness.
24:30 13, Kevin De Bruyne.
24:31 Perhaps Guardiola's finest tactical achievement at City,
24:34 turning a playmaker into a Swiss army knife of a midfielder.
24:38 Playmaker still, yes, but forward, winger, number 10,
24:41 and sometimes all at once, en route to three trophies.
24:44 The fact he's missed most of this season and still feels like he has dominated 2023
24:50 is testament to just how important, just how good he is.
24:54 Number 12, Jamal Musiala.
24:56 This has really been the year that Musiala has stepped up
24:59 and become the face of Bayern Munich.
25:01 He pulled Bayern Munich to the title last season
25:03 with that last-minute winner when Dortmund choked.
25:06 And he's now established himself as probably Bayern Munich's most important player.
25:10 Maybe not since Kane's come in, but definitely last season anyway.
25:13 11, Bukayo Saka.
25:15 First pick for his club and as good as for his country,
25:17 an absolute icon in English football already.
25:20 He has two traits that make him potentially generational.
25:24 One, he always steps up from a setback,
25:26 taller and broader than when he was knocked down.
25:28 And two, he has that incredible knack for seemingly downloading new patches
25:33 to his repertoire as a footballer.
25:35 Formerly a humble left-back capable of exhilarating with his pace and precision,
25:39 he now dictates games with his stop-start runs,
25:42 passing, drifts in and out of space, and lethal left foot.
25:45 Number 10, Vinicius Junior.
25:48 Yeah, I mean, quite simply put, one of the best wingers in Europe, if not the best.
25:52 I think the most impressive thing about Vinny Junior now really is how watchable he is.
25:57 You know, in an era of football where, you know, everything is so methodical
26:00 and players are pigeonholed into zones and systems,
26:03 he really, maybe he's the last of a dying breed of Brazilians
26:07 who sort of has that flair and that maverick sort of style of play about them.
26:11 And he's just a joy to watch, quite simply put.
26:14 Nine, Antoine Griezmann.
26:15 Few could touch him in Qatar and no one scaled the same heights
26:18 as him in Spanish football in 2023.
26:22 The Barcelona nightmare has led to a fabulous renaissance
26:25 back in his spiritual home in Madrid,
26:27 with Griezmann reborn as an all-action figure of invention and intelligence.
26:31 As well as the goals, and there have been loads of goals,
26:34 the Frenchman's hard-running and creativity have separated him
26:37 as being an utterly unique footballer,
26:40 and one that Diego Simeone surely cherishes as the best he's ever had at Atletico.
26:46 Number eight, Mohamed Salah.
26:48 I mean, at what point do we start talking about Salah now as an all-time great at the game?
26:52 I think that time has come now.
26:53 The consistency from Salah is just absolutely staggering.
26:56 Last year was another 30-goal season for the Egyptian on the right wing,
27:00 and, you know, it's just been that way for the last six or seven years.
27:03 Quite simply put, one of the best footballers I have ever seen,
27:06 and one of the best players in Liverpool history now.
27:09 So, well done, Mo.
27:11 Pat on the back.
27:12 Seven, Bernardo Silva.
27:13 Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
27:17 But Bernardo Silva, the weird little freak, is absolutely both.
27:21 This was the year that the Portuguese established himself
27:24 as one of the defining footballers of the entire 2020s.
27:28 He destroyed Real Madrid in one of the most breathtaking Champions League performances
27:32 in recent memory, and has toyed with opponents of every level, always one move ahead.
27:37 Number six, Lionel Messi.
27:39 Now, to be quite honest, I don't, like, what, what, what,
27:42 is there any point in me saying anything about this guy anymore?
27:45 Like, everyone knows who he is, everyone knows what he's done,
27:47 everyone knows the trophies he's won, the goals he's scored,
27:50 and just the fact that he's a bloody good player.
27:52 But I think the main thing to note with Messi right now is,
27:55 despite playing for Inter Miami now in America,
27:57 I still firmly believe he is football's best player at walking pace.
28:01 Still the best passer, the best mover, the best striker,
28:04 well, he's up there with the best strikers of a ball.
28:07 700 career goals at club level this year,
28:09 and also his 300th club career assist as well to go on top of the World Cup.
28:13 So this might be the last time that he's in the top 100 list,
28:16 because of the league he's playing in now,
28:18 but ultimately this year still belonged to him, and that league is now his.
28:23 The consistency of this man has been almost robotic.
28:29 It's not that he never loses possession, but he never wastes it either,
28:32 always looking to progress, always looking for the next move forward,
28:36 rather than thinking about the last.
28:38 Midfield metronomes are supposed to provide control,
28:41 but Rodri is there to ensure dominance.
28:44 He has the grace of a Perlo for sure, but the edge of a Gattuso,
28:48 wanting to strangle opponents with incessant strings of passes.
28:51 The midfielder of the year.
28:54 24 years old now, this guy is greatness personified already,
29:01 and I think he's going to go on to,
29:02 I mean the scary thing is he could hit his prime in about 2030,
29:06 which is incomprehensible given he started playing in the Champions League in 2017.
29:10 2023 wasn't exactly the most glittering year in terms of silverware for Kylian Mbappe,
29:14 but nonetheless, in January he came on and got a 10 minute hat trick,
29:17 and then five in a different game, and then in February,
29:20 he drew level with Edinson Cavani for PSG goals in 20 fewer games,
29:24 before then breaking his record in March.
29:26 He also won league on again of course,
29:28 and then was the division's player of the year award for the fourth consecutive season.
29:32 And of course this year as well, he netted his 300th career goal,
29:35 and became France's all-time scorer by the end of the year.
29:39 And that's not even touching on how electric he is to watch,
29:42 and how he sits defenders down and gets fans off their seats and stood up.
29:46 He really is just, he's a complete showman 24 years of age, and only gonna get better.
29:51 Number 3, Harry Kane.
29:52 30 goals in the Premier League before the definitive big money move to Bayern Munich,
29:58 where he's made a mockery of all who faced him.
30:00 He has been unstoppable.
30:03 What a year for Harry Kane.
30:05 The England captain was phenomenal in his final flourish in England,
30:08 as the focal point of arguably the worst side he's ever led.
30:12 Then came Hollywood FC, where he was merely one of many stars,
30:16 and unbelievably, he's had pretty much the same impact.
30:19 It's the sign of a genuine great to simply perform,
30:23 almost in defiance of opposition or teammates.
30:27 All that's left for him to do, is fire England to similar glory.
30:31 Number 2, Jude Bellingham.
30:33 Now, truth be told, like honestly, I don't really know what more can be said about this guy.
30:39 Do you remember that FIFA game mode a few years ago?
30:41 I think it was about FIFA 17, and it was called The Journey.
30:44 And you played as this kid called Alex Hunter, and then you could go to any club you wanted.
30:48 And it was kind of just like the ideal footballing career that never even seemed remotely realistic.
30:53 Or the film Goal with Santiago Munez, where he ends up playing for Real Madrid,
30:57 and it's all fairy tale.
30:58 That is literally what is happening here.
31:00 Of course, he's very, very young, but it's so rare that you actually see a player
31:04 get exponentially better at football, the bigger a football club he goes to.
31:08 Like, it's actually so rare that joining Real Madrid has made him
31:11 twice as good and scary a footballer to play against.
31:14 20 Real Madrid games, 17 goals so far.
31:17 That's playing at the tip of a diamond, sort of as a shadow striker, kind of.
31:21 But it's just absolutely ridiculous.
31:24 He turned into a complete world beater.
31:26 And like, I can't remember football seeing anything quite like this in
31:30 at least a decade.
31:32 Maybe, honestly, maybe since the days where Messi just sort of exploded into this goalscorer.
31:36 Not saying he's that good, but it's not far off in terms of like,
31:39 everyone just being in awe of what they're actually witnessing.
31:42 I don't know what the hell is in his dad's genes,
31:44 but he's got Joby Bellingham as a younger brother too,
31:46 who's of course at Sunderland and is doing really well.
31:49 So this family, honestly, could be solely what ends up winning England
31:54 major silverware in the next few years.
31:55 But Joby Bellingham right now on form, undoubtedly.
31:58 I mean, he's got a case to be number one.
32:00 But I think number two is fair because...
32:02 Number one, Erling Haaland.
32:06 Those who have been blessed by Erling Haaland's company know him as a man of few words.
32:10 As minimalist as you would expect from a Scandinavian artist.
32:14 But that is also how he plays the game.
32:17 No fluff, no filler, he barely touches the ball in 90 minutes,
32:21 but he makes every single one count.
32:24 It might seem underwhelming or very anti-football to call the best player on Earth
32:29 the one who does things with the most efficiency,
32:31 without ever giving you time to feel, but it is also completely accurate.
32:37 2023 belonged to Haaland.
32:40 Three trophies, a Premier League goal record for a 38-hole in a season,
32:44 and the fastest man to 50 in the competition by an absolute mile.
32:49 He is pretty much guaranteed to net if he plays.
32:52 Others may be more complete or poetic as players,
32:56 but no one does what Haaland does as well as him.
32:59 And no one has done for a very long time.
33:02 He was the best player in the world this year.
33:05 That is just a fact.
33:07 As cold and as simple as the man himself would appreciate.
33:11 And there you have it, my friends.
33:13 That was the top 100 players of 2023, according to us.
33:18 Anyway, if you like that kind of thing,
33:20 you should really check out the brand new issue of 442 magazine,
33:23 available in all good retailers.
33:24 And I am required to say all the crap ones as well.
33:27 It's our awards issue, so it's got all kinds of fun stuff in it,
33:31 like the best this and the best that.
33:33 And I even wrote a thing which was meant to be funny,
33:35 but I've read it back now and it's a bit, I don't know.
33:37 Follow 442 wherever you have your social fun.
33:40 The handles are in the corner of the video.
33:41 You can get me wherever you like as well at Adam Cleary, C-L-E-R-Y.
33:45 But until 2024, next year, my friends, I will see you very soon.
33:51 Unless, of course, it is already 2024 when you're watching this video,
33:54 in which case we'll just be calling it this year then.
33:57 Won't we not next year because that's how that's how that works. Goodbye