ESPN FC 100: PSG and Arsenal dominate 2026 men’s soccer rankings
Paris Saint-Germain leads club representation with 13 players, while Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski mark a decade of consecutive appearances on the list.
ESPN has released its 2026 FC 100 ranking, identifying the top 100 men’s soccer players ahead of the 2026-27 season. The publication utilises a position-by-position depth chart approach across seven categories, departing from a linear one-to-100 order to mitigate the over-weighting of forwards that characterises many traditional countdowns. The list features prominent figures including Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, and Lionel Messi, reflecting performances from the 2025-26 campaign.
The ranking methodology divides players into seven distinct groups: goalkeepers, fullbacks, centre backs, defensive and central midfielders, attacking midfielders, wingers, and centre forwards. This structure aims to provide a more balanced assessment of talent across the pitch, acknowledging the strategic importance of less glamorous roles such as defensive midfielders and centre backs. Voters were instructed to weigh the 2025-26 season heavily, with discretion allowed regarding injuries and the relative impact of short-tournament formats like the FIFA World Cup.
Paris Saint-Germain leads the club representation with 13 players, a figure bolstered by their second consecutive UEFA Champions League title. Arsenal follows with 10 players, benefiting from their first Premier League title in over 20 years, while Manchester City rounds out the top three with nine nominees. The significant presence of these clubs underscores the depth of talent concentrated within Europe’s elite domestic leagues.
Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the only players to appear on the list for a tenth consecutive year, marking the 10th annual edition of the ranking. Messi, now with Inter Miami CF, and Lewandowski, at Barcelona, remain consistent fixtures in the global football landscape. Conversely, 32 players are first-time nominees for the 2025-26 list, highlighting the emergence of new talent across all positions.
In terms of national representation, France leads with 14 players, ahead of Spain and England, who each have 12. Despite Spain winning the FIFA World Cup this summer by defeating Argentina in the final, French players maintain a slight edge in the ranking. The Premier League remains the most represented domestic league with 38 players, followed by La Liga with 21 and Ligue 1 with 14, reinforcing the league’s structural dominance in global player development.
