FC 100 Celebrates 10 Years of Ranking Football’s Best Players
The 2026 FC 100 rankings have been released, showcasing the top football players in the world as determined by votes from a global panel of ESPN editors, journalists, ex-players, and commentators. This marks the 10th anniversary of the FC 100, an initiative which assesses players based on their performance, achievements, and influence in the sport.
This year, the rankings highlight the perspective that statistical comparisons alone do not tell the whole story. For instance, while Kylian Mbappé may have outscored Harry Kane in the 2025-26 season, nuances such as the significance of the goals scored or the strength of opposition are crucial for understanding player impact.
Fifteen players have made it to the FC 100 list in at least eight of its ten years, indicating that consistent excellence is recognized in football. Notable players who frequently appear include Virgil van Dijk, Thibaut Courtois, Joshua Kimmich, Marc-André ter Stegen, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Antoine Griezmann, and Alisson, among others. Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski have been the only two players to appear in every edition of the rankings.
From a club perspective, the past decade has seen Real Madrid dominate with 99 appearances in the rankings, followed by Manchester City with 85 and Barcelona with 83. Conversely, traditional powerhouses like Manchester United (32), Borussia Dortmund (22), and Milan (19) have struggled, reflecting shifts in performance and success in recent years.
Real Madrid has made five Champions League finals during this time, solidifying their status as a leading brand in the sport. Manchester City claimed the Premier League six times, while Barcelona won LaLiga five times. In contrast, the combined success of United, Dortmund, and Milan in the last ten years has been limited to winning a Europa League and a Serie A title.
Analyzing the representation by country, France leads with 115 players, followed closely by Spain with 108, Brazil with 96, and England with 89. These countries have consistently shown strong performances in international tournaments, with France winning the World Cup in 2018 and Spain clinching the title in 2026. The talent development and coaching investment in these nations have greatly contributed to their success.
Although Brazil has not reached a World Cup final since 2002 and has secured only one Copa America in the last 19 years, it remains a football powerhouse, boasting a population deeply passionate about the sport and a legacy of nurturing talent.
The FC 100 rankings generate significant debate among fans, underscoring the subjective nature of assessing player impact. With numerous players from Paris Saint-Germain represented, their visibility in major competitions had a profound influence on their rankings. If their performance had faltered, the composition of the list could have looked very different.
Ultimately, the FC 100 serves not only as a talking point but also as a reflection of football fandom—highlighting what fans value and remember over the years.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
