The Best Of The Best: Top 10 Footballers In The World 2023. As Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi approach the twilight years of their careers, football fans across the globe are contemplating the question, “Who is the best footballer?” Emerging stars are captivating their imaginations. The current football transfer window provides an excellent opportunity to spot upcoming talents and future football stars.
Clubs are willing to invest millions in players they believe can win them silverware immediately and in the long term. Fans who closely track the transfer window can gain valuable insights into who might be the world’s best footballer over the next few years. In this blog, you will find out about the top 10 footballers in 2023. Amidst the ocean of talented footballers, we have picked the top 10 footballers as per their number of goals and performance.
Top 10 Best Footballers In The World: 2023 Rankings
The top 10 footballers in the world as per 2023 rankings are –
Lionel Messi
PSG & Argentina
Goals: 804
Lionel Messi’s tally of goals for his club and country stood at over 700 and 100, respectively. Despite being in his second season away from his childhood club Barcelona, Messi has net 29 goals for PSG in 66 overall appearances.
Messi’s impressive achievements and popularity with football fans have earned him a spot among the world’s best football players. He holds the record for the most appearances (26) and highest goal scorer (13) for Argentina in the Football World Cup. Additionally, he led his team to victory in the 2022 Football World Cup final, defeating France 3-3 (4-2 penalties) on December 18th, 2022.
Currently, Al Hilal club offered Messi Rs 3600 crores to join their club which is till now the highest record-breaking amount offered to any football player. It is difficult to rank Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi as somewhere both are tied to the number 1 spot but, as Messi won the World Cup for Argentina and received the best player Men’s at the FIFA Awards 2022 we are ranking him no.1.
Also Read: Saudi Club Offer Lionel Messi Double Ronaldo’s Salary And, 4 Times The IPL Players’ Earnings
Cristiano Ronaldo
Al Nassr & Portugal
Goals: 834
Cristiano Ronaldo set the record for the most appearances (198) in international football. He accomplished this feat while playing for his club, Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he also scored his 500th league goal. Ronaldo currently holds the title of the highest-paid footballer in history, earning a salary of €200 million per year.
Throughout his career, Ronaldo has won almost every major football trophy. Despite starting as a winger, the 37-year-old now plays as a lone striker for both his club and his national team, Portugal. His country heavily relies on his ability to lead them out of difficult situations. In the 2022-23 season, Ronaldo has already scored 12 goals for Al Nassr.
Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona & Poland
Goals: 591
On March 19th, 2023, Robert Lewandowski, playing for Barcelona, scored his 25th goal of the 2022-23 season. He also helped his team secure a 5-0 victory against Ceuta in the Round of 16 matches of the Copa del Rey 2022-23 by contributing 2 goals.
Robert Lewandowski, who is considered one of the greatest players to have worn the Polish shirt, joined Barcelona after an eight-year stint with German giants Bayern Munich. Throughout his career in the Bundesliga, he had scored a total of 312 well-crafted goals. Lewandowski, who stands at 6 feet 1 inch, provides his teammates with an aerial presence inside the opposition box and possesses skills with both feet.
Also Read: Top 5 Richest Footballers In The World And Their Net Worth In 2023
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid & France
Goals: 466
As of April 5th, 2023, Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick as he led Real Madrid to a 4-0 victory over arch-rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semifinal at Camp Nou, Barcelona. He also announced his retirement from the France national team, and his impressive tally of 25 goals in 31 appearances for Madrid during the 2022-23 season stands as a testament to his skill and talent.
Karim Benzema claimed the Ballon d’Or Award for 2022, beating out other great players like Kevin De Bruyne, Mohammad Salah, and Robert Lewandowski. He played a significant role as one of the main architects of Real Madrid’s 14th Champions League victory, filling the void left by Ronaldo’s departure in the team’s attack. Los Blancos rely not only on his aerial presence inside the box but also on his exceptional ball control and long-range shooting skills.
Neymar
PSG & Brazil
Goals: 436
Neymar and Pele both scored 77 goals, sharing the top spot as all-time leading goal scorers for the Brazil National Football Team. However, Pele achieved this feat in 92 matches, while Neymar took 124 matches.
Despite facing multiple injury setbacks throughout his career, Neymar has maintained his status as one of the most popular and talented footballers in the world. His country heavily depends on his skills as he is not only a prolific goal scorer but also an adept creator of goals. Many players envy his highly impressive dribbling abilities.
Although PSG’s current situation may be uncertain, there is no denying Neymar’s abilities.
Harry Kane
Tottenham & England
Goals: 345
Harry Kane has broken records to become the all-time top goal scorer for the England National Football Team, scoring 54 goals in 81 matches. After Jimmy Greaves, he is the second Tottenham player to have achieved 200 league goals. Kane has also secured the title of England’s second-highest goal scorer in Football World Cups, scoring 8 goals across the 2018 and 2022 editions.
Kane’s prominence as a striker for England is undeniable, and he is an essential name on this list. His partnership with Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min has been extremely beneficial for the club, with the two players complementing each other well and often creating opportunities for one another.
Kane’s impressive aerial skills and ability to score inside the box make him stand out, and as the captain of the England team, his presence instills confidence in both his teammates and fans.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Will Have 104 Matches With 48 Teams To Feature
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool & Egypt
Goals: 307
Under Jurgen Klopp’s guidance, Salah first played as part of a three-man attack, transitioning from his initial role as a winger. He has since scored 178 goals for Liverpool and assisted in 72 more for his teammates.
Salah, a skilled Egyptian international, is one of many players whose development has been aided by a great club manager. Although he has been instrumental to Liverpool’s recent triumphs, his contributions to the Egyptian team have yet to produce substantial outcomes.
Kylian Mbappe
PSG & France
Goals: 271
Kylian Mbappe holds the title of France’s second-highest goal scorer in Football World Cups, with 12 goals in 2 editions, just one goal shy of Just Fontaine’s record of 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup. In addition to being the captain of France’s national football team, Mbappe is renowned for his remarkable speed on the field, as he is recognized as one of the fastest footballers in the world with a sprint speed of 38km/hour.
PSG places great trust in Mbappe’s ability to run with the ball from midfield and score goals on a regular basis. The Frenchman has been in sensational form for his club, scoring 31 goals from 33 appearances in the 2022-23 season. Furthermore, he played an indispensable role for France throughout the 2022 Football World Cup.
Erling Haaland
Manchester City & Norway
Goals: 218
An elite group of players, including Lionel Messi of Barcelona in 2012 and Luiz Adriano of Shakhtar in 2014, share the distinction of scoring five goals in a single Champions League match with Erling Haaland. Impressively, Haaland has already scored 42 goals for Manchester City in the 2022-23 season.
Although Norway has a relatively low profile in international football, the 6-foot-5 striker Haaland has made a name for himself as a sensation. His imposing physicality inside the penalty area is a crucial asset for any successful striker, and Haaland certainly delivers in this regard.
The record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League campaign is now just four goals away from being equal.
Kevin de Bruyne
Manchester City & Belgium
Goals: 166
Kevin De Bruyne, known as the Manchester City and Belgium playmaker, is widely considered one of the finest midfielders of his generation. With 26 goals scored for the Red Devils, De Bruyne is just one game shy of completing a three-figure appearance for his country.
As a reliable supplier of goals, De Bruyne is highly valued by strikers. His exceptional creative abilities were honed under the guidance of his current club manager, Pep Guardiola, which has translated into great performances for his national team.
