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13 World-Class Footballers in the Premier League Right Now
As perhaps the best league in the world, the Premier League is filled to the brim with incredible talent and is largely considered the most stacked division in football. Even at the bottom of the division, you have elite players like Jordan Pickford, Jarrod Bowen and, before his move to Manchester United, Matheus Cunha.
The group of footballers who are genuinely world-class in England, however, is a very small and prestigious group. Indeed, there is a case to be made that just 13 players are operating at that level right now. With that in mind, GIVEMESPORT has revealed which stars are currently making the cut and why.
Ranking Factors
The main factors taken into account when ordering these players were as follows:
Current ability – Historical quality will be taken into account, but if they are past their peak – such as Kevin De Bruyne – they will no longer be deemed as World Class
Importance to the team – This can be classed as goals, assists, clean sheets or just sheer contribution to the team. You don’t necessarily have to score all the goals or provide all of the assists to be considered world-class.
Best in their position – It goes without saying, but to be considered as a world-class player, you have to be at least in the top five in your respective position on the pitch.
Goals – Goals win games, obviously. A world-class player arguably has to net at least 20 times in a single league campaign to be placed in the top bracket.
Assists – Similar to goals, being able to provide for your teammate on a regular basis can place you in the world-class category. In this day and age, players have to be able to have exceptional distribution and be able to deliver in the final third.
Clean Sheets – Unsurprisingly, for a goalkeeper to make the cut, you have to be able to keep the ball out of the net and be consistent when your teammates need you in pivotal moments.
Manchester City
Rodri, Erling Haaland
Considering just how dominant Manchester City have been over the last decade, and with the side winning a record-breaking fourth straight Premier League title just two seasons ago, it may come as a shock to see that just two members of Pep Guardiola’s are classed as world-class. Their form last season only goes to suggest that a rebuild is needed before they can return to the top.
The issue is that many key men of the past now appear to be past their peak. For so long, Kevin De Bruyne was among the best in the world, but age finally caught up with him, and he was shipped off to Napoli over this summer. It’s a similar story for other players like Kyle Walker, who moved to Burnley, and midfield maestro Bernardo Silva, who is now past his 30th birthday. In the past, all three would have been included on this list.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has suffered from numerous injuries since claiming the prize, but they don’t diminish his status as one of the best footballers of the modern era. Now 29, the Spaniard should still have a few years left at the top as he hopes to play a significant role in the 2025/26 season.
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2
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There’s not really much to even say about Erling Haaland right now that hasn’t already been said by just about anyone who knows a thing about football. The Norwegian has been a goal-scoring phenomenon, completely tearing Premier League defences apart since he moved to England in 2022, smashing the league’s record for most goals in a single season. He finished as the league’s top scorer in both of his first two campaigns at the Etihad stadium and continues to dominate, even if last season’s total of 22 had people finally realising he can be somewhat human.
Man City’s World-Class Players – Premier League Stats in 2025/26
Name
Matches
Goals
Assists
Rodri
6
0
0
Erling Haaland
10
13
1
Liverpool
Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk
After having wrapped up their 20th English league crown last time out, Liverpool have three world-class players among their ranks. Indeed, there’s no denying that Alisson Becker, Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk – while the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch are perhaps unfortunate to miss out.
Alisson’s impact on Liverpool since he joined the club, and the incredible upgrade he provided, can’t be overstated. The Brazilian has been fantastic throughout his entire Reds career and is one of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history.
Salah has been, hands down, Liverpool’s best player since he joined from Roma in 2017, and has been consistently one of the best players in the world. His goal-scoring record and influence on the team have been otherworldly. As for Van Dijk, pundits are beginning to run out of superlatives for the Dutch centre-back. Both players haven’t been at the peak of their powers to start the 2025/26 season but can still be considered the best of the best.
Liverpool’s World-Class Players – Premier League Stats in 2025/26
Name
Matches
Goals
Assists
Clean sheets
Alisson Becker
6
0
0
2
Mohamed Salah
10
4
2
N/A
Virgil Van Dijk
10
0
0
N/A
Arsenal
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, David Raya
After their impressive title challenges over the last few seasons, there’s no denying that Arsenal have a few world-class players. Bukayo Saka has proven himself for club and country time and time again – anyone who feels differently should probably start watching a different spot.
The addition, albeit for a lofty price in excess of £100 million, of Declan Rice in 2023 was a huge boost for the north London outfit. Mikel Arteta’s side firmly believe major silverware is on its way soon, even if they won’t win a league title this season, and it’s hard to argue with Saka and Rice in the team, while the addition of Viktor Gyokeres this summer should raise their game even more.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Rice is the fourth-most expensive signing in Premier League history – behind Manchester City’s move for Jack Grealish, Enzo Fernandez’s arrival at Chelsea, and Liverpool’s signings of Forian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are among the best defenders in world football right now – and perhaps the greatest partnership going. With the brilliant David Raya behind them, they rarely lose, let alone concede.
Club captain Martin Odegaard is unlucky not to make the list, but a dip in form of late sees him fall out of the highest bracket.
Arsenal’s World-Class Players – Premier League Stats in 2025/26
Name
Matches
Goals
Assists
Clean Sheets
Declan Rice
11
2
3
N/A
Bukayo Saka
9
3
0
N/A
Gabriel Magalhaes
11
1
2
N/A
William Saliba
10
0
0
N/A
David Raya
11
0
0
7
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Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes
There are no two ways about it: Bruno Fernandes has been world-class since he joined the Red Devils. The 31-year-old has been instrumental for the club since he moved to Old Trafford back in 2020. It’s hard to imagine where they might have ended up if they didn’t have the Portugal star carrying the workload throughout a rough period for the side, and his elite talent would be enough to see him walk into just about any team in the world.
Understandably, there are plenty of fans and pundits alike who get frustrated with his petulance, but it would be remiss to let that cloud any judgment of his footballing talent because he’s sublime. Amid the club’s many troubles, the attacking midfielder has continued to operate at a superb level. He will be key in any success that Ruben Amorim’s men might have going forward.
Bruno Fernandes’ Premier League Stats in 2025/26
Matches
11
Goals
2
Assists
3
Chelsea
Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo
The 2023/24 campaign was a huge one for Cole Palmer, who moved from Manchester City to Chelsea and became a world-class footballer in the process. The young Englishman continues to thrive at Stamford Bridge and was crucial to their fortunes on the pitch last season as Enzo Maresca’s side won the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup double.
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He has had an injury-hit start to the 2025/26 campaign but, when fully fit, he is an absolute nightmare for opposition defenders.
Another Chelsea player who has established himself as world-class in recent times is Moises Caicedo. The Ecuadorian midfielder endured some criticism towards the beginning of his time in west London as he struggled to live up to his hefty £115 million price-tag.
But he has now found his feet and is an absolute monster in the middle of the park. A defensive-minded midfielder who also has the technical ability required to contribute in attack, Caicedo really can do it all.
Chelsea’s World-Class Players – Premier League Stats in 2025/26
Name
Matches
Goals
Assists
Cole Palmer
3
1
0
Moises Caicedo
11
3
1
FA Cup third round LIVE! Match updates, score, match report as Premier League teams enter the competition
Sunday 11 January 2026 14:27, UK
FA Cup third round LIVE!
First Half: Portsmouth 1-2 Arsenal – Gunners score twice from two set pieces! View post
2.30pm: West Ham vs QPR | Sheff Utd vs Mansfield | Hull vs Blackburn | Norwich vs Walsall | Swansea vs West Brom
4.30pm: Man Utd vs Brighton | FT: Derby 1-3 Leeds
GOAL! Portsmouth 1-2 Arsenal (Martinelli, 25)
Arsenal’s set piece strength comes to the fore again!
It’s far too easy for the Gunners from a Portsmouth perspective.
Martinelli rises highest at the near post to flick Madueke’s corner into the back of the net.
FA Cup third round LIVE! Match updates, score, match report as Premier League teams enter the competition
Sunday 11 January 2026 14:10, UK
GOAL! Portsmouth 1-1 Arsenal (Dozzell OG, 8)
Arsenal get an instant response and of course, it is a set piece!
Eze’s corner is flicked on at the near post and there’s a scramble in the box.
Noorgard is there to disrupt as the ball crosses the line.
it’s not clear who got the decisive touch but the goal is given as a Dozzell own goal.
Game on!
FA Cup third round LIVE!
First Half: Portsmouth 1-1 Arsenal – Own-goal cancels out Pompey’s early opener View post
FT: Derby 1-3 Leeds – Leeds complete second-half turnaround View post
2.30pm: West Ham vs QPR | Sheff Utd vs Mansfield | Hull vs Blackburn | Norwich vs Walsall | Swansea vs West Brom
4.30pm: Man Utd vs Brighton
Preview: Portsmouth v Arsenal
Our quest to add to our record 14 FA Cup triumphs begins at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park on Sunday (2pm UK), as our fight for silverware moves onto a fourth front.
We start the first of four successive away games, all in different competitions, by heading to the home of the Championship side for the first time in six years. Back then, we advanced into the quarter-finals of the competition, en route to lifting the trophy in the early months of Mikel Arteta’s reign.
He’ll hope that history repeats itself in more ways than one, and the omens are good as we haven’t lost to Portsmouth in our last 22 meetings, a run that incredibly stretches back 67 years to 1958.
Welcome cup distraction

In their second season back in the second tier, Pompey are once again scrapping to maintain that status. Last term saw them finish 16th, five points above the relegation zone, but things are more precarious this time around, as they sit 21st, one point above the drop zone, albeit with games in hand.
Manager John Mousinho was handed his first managerial role by the club just over three years ago, and has rewarded that faith by leading them to the League One title in his first full season in charge. But after a promising start to this campaign that brought a single defeat in their opening five Championship games, the south-coast club have slowly slipped down the table.
They come into this cup tie with one win in their last four, albeit that came in their last home game – a 2-1 success over Charlton Athletic thanks to a 98th-minute winner. 2026 began with a chastening 5-0 loss at Bristol City, before last weekend’s game against Ipswich Town was postponed due to a frozen pitch, leaving them without a fixture for 11 days.
What the managers say

Arteta: “We want [more trophies] for sure, that’s what we are chasing. That’s the purpose of this team.
“At the end, I think we have to get judged, and we get judged for what we do today. Last week is not important and we will get judged for what we are able to do at the end of the season. One thing is the trophies for our football club and the many other things that you have to do in a football club, especially in the situation we are in.”

Mousinho: “The fact that we have a free week building up to the game and a free week after it means we’re not worried about fixture congestion. The fact that we’ve drawn Arsenal at home means it’s a massive opportunity for us to go and enjoy the day and put on a decent enough performance and enjoy the FA Cup.
“There are some very good sides in the Championship, but it just so happens that this weekend we’re playing one of the best sides in the world. It’s an exciting proposition, a bit of a daunting one as well, but we just have to prepare as we normally would.”
Team news

Piero Hincapie came off during the 0-0 draw against Liverpool on Thursday and is a doubt, while Arteta suggested before that match that Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera are still a little bit away from returning from their injuries.
Max Dowman is nursing a hamstring issue, while Kai Havertz could be an option as he continues to work his way back from the knee injury he sustained on the opening day.
Portsmouth have a packed treatment room at present, which got fuller this week when midfielder Mark Kosznovszky was ruled out long-term with a serious ACL injury, while centre-backs Hayden Matthews (ankle) and Josh Knight (back) have missed recent matches and will do so again here.
Forwards Callum Lang and Josh Murphy are a few weeks away from returning from their hamstring injuries, so Mousinho will be hoping that captain Marlon Pack and striker Colby Bishop will recover from their issues to feature, especially after Minhyeok Yang was recalled by Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week.
Talking tactics

Adrian Clarke: Mousinho likes to use a 4-2-3-1 that focuses hard on releasing his wingers down the sides, but he also occasionally plays a back five. Their young head coach may wish to opt for safety in numbers – but his side are certainly more comfortable in their preferred set-up.
In possession, they have a balanced approach, play through the thirds, and they love to get the ball to their wingers, who tend to put plenty of crosses into the box. But Mousinho’s men will also go direct at times – no Championship side averages more long passes (69 per 90 minutes) than Portsmouth.
Scoring goals has been an issue, netting just 21 times in league games – the second-lowest tally – while their top scorer is central attacking midfielder Adrian Segecic [above] who has four of them. They have also had issues defending crosses which has led to them conceding 14 set-piece goals: the second most at Championship level, while eight of the 35 goals they have let in have been headers.
Backed by vociferous support at Fratton Park, Pompey will try to upset our rhythm with fierce closing down and a well-organised shape. Known for displaying fight on home turf, they have beaten three of the Championship’s top five on their own patch this season, and as shown by the fact they’ve yet to concede more than twice in a home match too, they can be a tough nut to crack.
Facts and stats

Portsmouth are winless in their last 22 games against us in all competitions (D8 L14), dating back to a 5-4 win in March 1958. Only against Chelsea (31 between 1962 and 2012) have they ever had a longer winless run.
We have progressed from all four of our FA Cup ties against Pompey, in 1931/32, 1970/71, 2003/04 and 2019/20. We’ve only faced Brighton and Leyton Orient in more ties with a 100% success rate (5/5).
Portsmouth have lost their last three FA Cup third-round ties and their last five FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition since beating Tottenham Hotspur in the 2009/10 semi-final.
We have been eliminated from the FA Cup third round in each of the last two seasons, albeit against top-flight opposition in Liverpool and Man Utd. We haven’t gone out at this stage in more consecutive campaigns since a run of four between 1938/39 and 1947/48.
Read more
Storey’s pair of penalties pip Portsmouth in 1971
Match officials

Tony Harrington has been handed just his second Gunners game, and we won the previous two. We beat Southampton 3-1 last season, while he was also the man in the middle for last month’s 2-0 success over Brentford. He has refereed 14 games in all competitions this term, averaging 3.1 yellow cards a game, and he has sent off two players and awarded two penalties.
If the scores are level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will follow before a penalty shootout if required. VAR will not be in operation at this stage of the competition.
Referee: Tony Harrington
Assistants: Steven Meredith & Sian Massey-Ellis
Fourth official: Leigh Doughty
Previous trips to Pompey
This will be our first trip to Fratton Park since 2020 – the season in which we last won the FA Cup. That encounter was at the fifth-round stage, and a youthful side progressed thanks to goals from Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Eddie Nketiah.
You have to go back to December 2009 for the previous league encounter when we ventured down to the south coast for a Premier League clash, and were 4-1 victors with Eduardo, Samir Nasri, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song all finding the net. Seven months earlier, we also recorded a three-goal winning margin when a double from Nicklas Bendtner and a Carlos Vela effort secured three points.
Tune into Arsenal.com and the official app just before kick-off to get live commentary of the game, with Dan Roebuck and Adrian Clarke talking you through all the on-field action.
You can also find out which broadcaster is showing the action live wherever you are in the world.
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