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Some of the best players in the world are in football’s engine room, possessing an array of qualities, whether that be protecting their defence, dictating the flow of the play or creating goalscoring opportunities for teammates.

With such a range of playing styles across the midfield spectrum, working out the best in this position can be an unenviable task. But we have given it a go anyway, with plenty of star power in this list of the top 15 midfielders in the world today.

Ranking factors

To help rank the players in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their teams’ performances Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others say about them

Rank

Player

Age

Club

Nation

Pedri

22

Barcelona

Spain

Jude Bellingham

22

Real Madrid

England

Moises Caicedo

24

Chelsea

Ecuador

Declan Rice

26

Arsenal

England

Vitinha

25

PSG

Portugal

Rodri

29

Man City

Spain

Jamal Musiala

22

Bayern Munich

Germany

Federico Valverde

27

Real Madrid

Uruguay

Dominik Szoboszlai

25

Liverpool

Hungary

Joao Neves

21

PSG

Portugal

Scott McTominay

28

Napoli

Scotland

Bruno Fernandes

31

Man Utd

Portugal

Kevin De Bruyne

34

Napoli

Belgium

Martin Odegaard

26

Arsenal

Norway

Florian Wirtz

22

Liverpool

Germany

15 Florian Wirtz Liverpool and Germany

Florian Wirtz had a magical couple of seasons with Bayer Leverkusen, which resulted in Liverpool spending an initial £100m on his services in 2025.

Despite often playing behind the main strikers, Wirtz is still a goal machine in attacking midfield. Still a youngster at 22, it is frightening to think where Wirtz could go if he can stay injury-free and adapt to the demands of English football.

However, so far, he has struggled in the Premier League, showing signs of brilliance in the Champions League.

14 Martin Odegaard Arsenal and Norway

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has had to battle back from numerous injury setbacks over the last 12 months.

In a way, his temporary unavailability to Mikel Arteta’s side only served to prove how vital he is to the Gunners, who suffered creatively during his absence in attacking midfield.

Labelled as “world class” by Paul Merson, the Arsenal star possessed the maturity and level of talent that handed him the captaincy, and could yet be the man to lead the Gunners to their next trophy under Arteta having continued to improve at the Emirates Stadium.

13 Kevin De Bruyne Napoli and Belgium

Kevin De Bruyne may well be past his peak, but he is still showing his world-class ability after leaving Man City for Serie A champions Napoli.

The 34-year-old still has what it takes to be a leading figure, whether that be at club or international level, and has already scored numerous goals and registered assists for his new employers.

12 Bruno Fernandes Man Utd and Portugal

Bruno Fernandes has been Man Utd’s shining light in recent memory, with the Portugal international arguably the only world-class player on the books at Old Trafford.

At his best in an attacking midfield role, Pep Guardiola has even called Fernandes one of the best creative players he has ever seen.

11 Scott McTominay Napoli and Scotland

Scott McTominay has shown Man Utd what they have been missing after leaving Old Trafford for Napoli in 2024.

The Scotland international starred in his first season in Italy, being named Serie A’s Most Valuable Player after helping Napoli to the title. His displays were even recognised at the 2025 Ballon d’Or, where he finished 18th and his sensational bicycle kick helped Scotland reach the World Cup.

10 Joao Neves PSG and Portugal

Joao Neves’ first full season at the Parc des Princes couldn’t have gone any better, playing regularly under Luis Enrique and lifting all there was to be won, including the Champions League.

The ball-playing midfielder was key to PSG’s success in Europe and has continued to star in the French capital, making his initial £50m move from Benfica look a real bargain.

9 Dominik Szoboszlai Liverpool and Hungary

As part of a relentless Liverpool side, Dominik Szoboszlai has become a giant in the Reds midfield. The Hungarian improved on his goal threat from his first season at Anfield, coming amid a slight change in position, showcasing his versatility in a more advanced role under Arne Slot.

Now looking right at home in England, Szoboszlai is on the path to greatness on Merseyside, with his manager labelling him as “unbelievable” amid his role in Liverpool comfortably sauntering to the Premier League title.

8 Federico Valverde Real Madrid and Uruguay

A versatile and clinical technician, Federico Valverde hardly looks out of place among the best in the game following his recent performances for Real Madrid.

An almost guaranteed starter for one of the best teams in the world, there’s little to suggest there is anything other than the highest respect from his manager, Carlo Ancelotti.

In fact, the Italian has dubbed the Uruguayan as “the most complete player in football”. As of now, it is difficult to picture a Real Madrid side succeeding without him, as displayed through his vital winner against Athletic Club as the team’s title bid looked set to fall flat.

7 Jamal Musiala Bayern Munich and Germany

Jamal Musiala’s rise to stardom in Germany has been a rapid one, while his prominence in a Bayern Munich side, of all sides, is an illustration of his current status in the game.

Being able to dominate games for the Bavarians or on the international stage for Die Mannschaft is a sign of his rightful place at the elite level.

Statistically one of the best chance creators in the league from midfield, Musiala will hope to continue to blossom under the wing of Vincent Kompany, having worked his way up to the top in a short space of time.

6 Rodri Man City and Spain

2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has unfortunately suffered some injury issues, but he is perhaps the epitome of someone who shapes how his team plays and performs, as illustrated by his long unbeaten run when starting for Manchester City, which came to an end after the 2024 FA Cup final.

Man City’s form – and season – fell apart following the Spaniard’s layoff, and there is arguably no player as good as he is in his position of defensive midfield. But having been out for so long, he perhaps relies on returning to top form to reclaim his place as the best midfielder in the game.

Both powerhouses are through to the semis, but there is plenty to play for in Indore

S Sudarshanan21-Oct-20252:09

Preview: England’s middle order in the spotlight

Big picture: First defeat in store, but for whom?Australia and England. Two powerhouses of women’s cricket. Two sides that know how to push oppositions back to the wall. They will clash at Holkar Stadium on Wednesday, at the end of which only one will remain undefeated at the Women’s World Cup 2025. Both teams have already secured their semi-final spots.On paper, Australia sure have the edge. But England would quietly be confident ahead of this contest for two reasons. One, they played in Indore only a couple of days ago. And two, Australia are coming back after a six-day gap.Australia trained on each of the two days leading up to the contest. Their last two games were ones where the top order (read Alyssa Healy) flexed their muscles. Healy scored back-to-back centuries but she is out with a minor calf strain she picked up when Australia had a fitness session on Saturday morning. Their senior pros in Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney have stepped up in different games.Related

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Scenarios – Four teams fight for one spot

Only Tahlia McGrath, who has aggregated 43 in three innings, is yet to fire but captaincy could be the right potion for her. She revels under responsibility, and freed of the baggage of worrying about qualification, she could well join the party in batting-friendly conditions. There is little concern in their bowling.Which may make England rethink their strategies. Amy Jones, Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt have had at least one big innings with the bat. But the others haven’t yet stepped up. England’s lower-middle order has been a concern: Nos. 5 to 7 average only 9.25 at this World Cup, the lowest among all teams. At the start of the year, England also lost the multi-format Women’s Ashes 16-0, unable to win a single game. But their leadership has undergone a change since and they will look to turn a leaf on that episode.Charlotte Edwards’ tactics and Sciver-Brunt’s captaincy have served them well. Their come-from-behind win against India would only act as a further boost. They will perhaps play scant respect to the fact that they have lost each of the five meetings against Australia in India.While teams often maintain that “the past doesn’t matter”, Sciver-Brunt would want to pay Australia back after her heroics went in vain at the 2022 World Cup final. A small step will be on Wednesday, when one of the teams will have a first taste of defeat at this World Cup.Form guideAustralia WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
England WWWWLIn the spotlight: Phoebe Litchfield and Amy JonesWith Healy absent, the onus will now be on Phoebe Litchfield to lay the platform with the bat for Australia. She is coming on the back of 84 not out against Bangladesh. The flat surface in Indore will only play into her hands. England have a plethora of spinners, and Litchfield is a superb exponent of the sweep and the reverse sweep. She showed a glimpse of that in Australia’s opening match at this venue, now it’s time for a longer exhibition.Amy Jones was a little surprised when Edwards first mentioned that she could be back to opening the batting for England. She had played in the middle order for a good part of the last five years. She showed her hunger at home against West Indies but it wasn’t until her half-century against India that she made her presence felt at this World Cup. “I thought at the halfway stage of the tournament, it was a rocky phase,” Jones said. “I have been riding a wave of ups and down with opening, as you do in cricket. But I was pleased to get a bit of a start last game.” Australia better beware.Team news: Voll in for Healy?Georgia Voll is likely to take Alyssa Healy’s batting spot against England•ICC/Getty Images

Healy’s injury makes it a straight swap for Georgia Voll at the top with Mooney to keep wickets. Australia could also bring back left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux after she was rested for the Bangladesh game.Australia (probable): 1 Georgia Voll, 2 Phoebe Litchfield, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Beth Mooney (wk), 6 Ashleigh Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath (capt), 8 Sophie Molineux, 9 Alana King, 10 Darcie Brown/Kim Garth, 11 Megan SchuttEngland may consider bringing Danni Wyatt-Hodge in place of either of Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey or Emma Lamb. The trio has been low on runs and England would not want to take chances against a strong Australian team.England (probable): 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Alice Capsey, 7 Emma Lamb/Danni Wyatt Hodge, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren Bell/Lauren FilerPitch and conditions: Another batting belter in storeA black-soil pitch will be used for this fixture. It is expected to be flat. This track is right next to the red-soil one that was used for India vs England. It is the centre pitch at the venue, so expect the square boundaries to be more-or-less equidistant. Indore is expected to be humid and a little cloudy, with a slight probability of rain. There is no threat of a washout, however.Stats and trivia Mooney is 89 away from 3000 ODI runs. She will be the seventh from Australia to the mark Among bowlers, Megan Schutt is three wickets away from leapfrogging Lisa Sthalekar (146) to third on the ODI wicket charts for Australia. She also has 38 wickets in ODI World Cups and needs two more to go past Lyn Fullston as the leading wicket-taker for Australia in the tournament. Sciver-Brunt is four away from 1000 ODI World Cup runs. She will be the third from England to get there Sophie Ecclestone is two away from becoming England’s second-leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket. Jenny Gunn has 136 while Ecclestone has 135. One more wicket will push Ecclestone into the top five among wicket-takers in all women’s internationals. She is currently level on 317 with Shabnim Ismail.Quotes”I don’t think there’s any special ingredient. I feel like we prepare really well. Our players are really adaptable and we try to communicate around conditions. The girls have been fantastic at adapting and being able to get us out of some sticky situations and having different players step up and perform has been really critical for us.”
“Linsey’s been brilliant. For her to get the opportunity [to open the bowling] in 50-over cricket is brilliant. It was a big goal of hers to break into the 50-over team. In the summer, there were questions around: could Linsey and Sophie [Ecclestone] play in the same team. And it’s brilliant to see how she has taken on a different role opening the bowling.”

If the first five games of the ongoing season are an indicator, IPL 2025 will break records for big totals, sixes and fours count, and expensive overs

S Rajesh26-Mar-20253:14

Cricinformed – SRH’s six-hitters set for a new IPL high?

Going by the extremely early trends, it looks like the bar will be raised, as the current season has got off the blocks in turbo-charged fashion. Here’s a comparison between the first five games of IPL 2024 and IPL 2025.ESPNcricinfo LtdA 37% jump in sixesThe overall run rate in the first five matches has gone up by 17%, but the numbers that really jump out at you are those of boundary count and boundary intent.There has been a 37% increase in the number of sixes, while the count of fours is up by more than 34%.A whopping 32 more sixes have been struck so far this season – 119 vs 87. In fact, the most sixes in any previous season after five matches was 88 in IPL 2023. The sixes count this year after four games was already 87, while 146 fours were struck, ten more than in the first five games last season.Batters have found the boundary more often because they are also looking for them more often: the percentage of boundary-intent shots has gone up by 66%.Last year, only two team totals in the first five games exceeded 200, both at Eden Gardens when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) played Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and neither of them exceeded 210. This season, six out of ten innings have exceeded 200, with five exceeding 210 and three going past 240. There were 11 scores of 240 or more last season, but the first of those didn’t arrive till the eighth game, when SRH played Mumbai Indians (MI).The powerplay is for power-hittingESPNcricinfo LtdIn ten innings so far this season, there have been eight scores of 60 or more in the powerplay, including a highest of 94 by SRH against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The lowest so far this season is 52, by MI against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In 2024, the highest after five matches was just 65; there are five higher powerplay scores already in 2025.The overall powerplay run rate has jumped by almost 30%, which is the highest among the three phases. The middle overs have gone up significantly, too, by almost 17%, with four instances of 100-plus runs in this phase, including the highest of 125 by SRH versus RR. In 2024, the maximum runs scored in the middle overs in the first ten innings was 98.The death overs have seen a relatively smaller change of just 5%, though the highest here – 77 by Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Gujarat Titans (GT) – is higher than the maximum last year – 71 by SRH versus KKR.Zooming strike rates and expensive oversESPNcricinfo LtdThere have been 13 instances of batters going at a strike rate of 200 or more when facing 15 or more balls, from Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 106 off 47, to Vipraj Nigam’s 15-ball 39. Last year after five games, there were only four such innings.Similarly, overs yielding 20 or more runs have become commonplace. There have already been 20, compared with just eight after five games last year. The highest this year is 28, when Tristan Stubbs was taken to the cleaners by Pooran. Three other bowlers, Simarjeet Singh, Nigam and Prasidh Krishna, have leaked 24 or more in an over. Last year, there were only eight such overs, the highest being 26.

Tottenham are already making some progress on their transfer plans heading into 2026, with ‘very advanced’ discussions being held on the player side.

Tottenham make plans to sign new attacker

Spurs are believed to be ramping up their pursuit of attacking reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window, with Thomas Frank desperate to address the creative issues plaguing his side right now.

The Lilywhites were once again unconvincing against Newcastle on Tuesday, despite nicking a 2-2 draw courtesy of captain Cristian Romero’s brace.

Romero’s diving header and overhead kick in added time were Spurs’ only shots on target the entire game, so it remains clear that the north Londoners could do with that extra injection of quality going forward.

FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa has reportedly emerged as one of the club’s primary targets, with Spurs ‘intent’ on signing the 21-year-old, according to some reports.

The Spain international has impressed again this season with six goals and one assist in 11 league games for Porto, while his overall record stands at 37 goals in 62 appearances since joining the Portuguese giants from Atlético Madrid last year.

Dominic Solanke has been plagued by ankle problems since the start of 2025/2026, undergoing surgery in early October and remaining sidelined, with Mathys Tel, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani arguably failing to set the world alight.

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Kolo Muani’s also suffered injury issues which have limited his availability, but the Frenchman did put in a stunning shift against parent club PSG in the Champions League last week.

He bagged a brace and an assist during the 5-3 defeat as Spurs’ shining light, though he needs more support with Richarlison proving inconsistent and Mathys Tel still pretty raw.

That being said, with Solanke nearing a return, Tottenham are reportedly more likely to sign a wide forward than a central striker in January.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye are both rumoured targets to bolster Tottenham’s attack, with the former’s contract containing a £65 million release clause which will be active in early January.

However, Man City are just as keen on Semenyo as Spurs, meaning Frank’s side could face an uphill battle against the Premier League title contenders.

A potential alternative to Semenyo, according to Sky Sports Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri, comes in the form of RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.

Tottenham in 'very advanced' discussions with Diomande's camp

As per the reporter, Tottenham are in ‘very advanced’ discussions with Diomande’s representatives — positioning themselves alongside Liverpool as frontrunners in the race for his signature.

Spurs have monitored the Ivorian for months, and Tavolieri says that both the north Londoners and Arne Slot’s side are pressing in negotiations with the 19-year-old’s camp, though no club has yet made formal contact with Leipzig.

Diomande joined Leipzig for £17.5 million from Spanish side Leganes last summer and has quickly impressed, with the Bundesliga side now slapping a reported £88 million price tag on his head to ward off suitors.

The left-winger has scored four goals and racked up four assists in 14 appearances across all competitions this season, establishing himself as a star regular in Ole Werner’s attacking setup.

The promising talent only made his first senior club appearance in March and has enjoyed a meteoric rise since then, with Leipzig now poised to demand a fee which could eclipse their record sale of Josko Gvardiol to City for £79 million.

Barcelona have also expressed rumoured interest but haven’t opened negotiations with his agents, putting Liverpool and Tottenham in the driving seat.

Both Premier League clubs are even considering a January move, according to some reports (Foot Africa), though Leipzig are fully aware of the growing interest and haven’t yet held talks with any club.

For Frank, the signing of Diomande could be a risky one, as he’s only burst on the scene very recently and may cost serious money.

Former captain says retaining the incumbent over Bethell is the “sensible” decision

Matt Roller15-Oct-2025

Ollie Pope’s place is under pressure going into the Ashes•PA Images via Getty Images

Alastair Cook has urged England to keep faith with Ollie Pope at No. 3 for the Ashes, rather than taking a “gamble” on Jacob Bethell.England’s first-choice top seven has been unchanged for over a year, but Bethell’s emergence in New Zealand last November when Jamie Smith was on paternity leave put significant pressure on Pope’s position at No. 3. Pope responded with hundreds against Zimbabwe and India at the start of the 2025 summer, but only made one half-century in his next eight innings.Bethell made 6 and 5 in his only Test appearance of the summer, deputising for the injured Ben Stokes at The Oval, but scored half-centuries in each of his first three Tests last year. He will have the chance to push his case in six white-ball fixtures against New Zealand from Saturday, but Cook believes that sticking with Pope for the Ashes should be an “easy” decision.Related

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“I would bat Ollie Pope at No. 3,” Cook said on Tuesday, at the launch of TNT Sports’ Ashes coverage. “I think it’s quite an easy decision on this, actually. You’ve got someone who’s been part of this build-up for three or four years, he’s captained the side, he’s played some extraordinary innings for England and he’s a hundred-maker.”If you get rid of him now, I think that changes the whole dynamic of what they’ve built up over the last year, how settled they’ll feel for that top seven… If it doesn’t work out, do you then move back to somebody you just got rid of, confidence-wise? I think it’s easy to go the other way, and I think that would be the sensible thing.”Cook, who was player of the series when England last won the Ashes in Australia 15 years ago, described Bethell as an “incredibly talented player” but said that it would be a “big, big gamble” to pick him primarily on his performances against the white ball: “They’ve invested so much in people like Pope and Crawley that it’d be such a strange thing to change it now.”Brendon McCullum’s decision to replace Pope as vice-captain with Harry Brook has furthered the sense that England might move away from him. Rob Key, England’s managing director, denied last month that it formed part of an “elaborate scheme” to drop Pope, but said that a final decision would only be taken in the days leading up to the first Test in Perth on November 21.Jacob Bethell is waiting in the wings•Getty Images

Cook believes that the change in vice-captaincy will liberate Pope, rather than damaging his confidence or his standing in the England dressing-room. “I think that will just take the pressure off Ollie Pope,” he said. “I’m sure it will have hurt him, because any time you get taken off a leadership [position], it wouldn’t be ideal. But I don’t think it undermines him.”He also believes that Australia will be wary of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley’s opening partnership, and their ability to score at an unusually quick tempo. “Australia will be so respectful of Crawley and Duckett, and what they can do to impact the game,” Cook said.”Crawley is a different opening batter to what history says you need: a guy who is very inconsistent and averages 30 but, on his day, plays an innings which I don’t think anyone else in the world can play at the top of the order… Against bowling which suits him – he prefers the ball coming on at a good pace on good, true wickets – he is a real danger for Australia.”It has to line up well…. He’s not like this consistent machine who scores runs, but they’re definitely fearful of that, without a shadow of a doubt. Because an hour of Duckett and Crawley playing well, or an hour and a half on that first morning, England will build huge momentum and it starts the series well.”Watch live exclusive coverage of The Ashes on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Arguably one of the best sights in football is seeing a world-class winger in full flow. Whether it be through speed or skill, there are plenty of top-quality wide men in today’s game, including 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele.

In the past, we have been graced with the brilliant skills of Ronaldinho and crossing ability of David Beckham, but who is the best winger in football today?

Ranking factors

To help rank the wingers in order, we have considered the following criteria:

Current form – how well a player has been performing Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others are saying about them 15 Rafael Leao AC Milan and Portugal

One of the fastest wingers around in the game today is AC Milan star Rafael Leao, who has been called one of the players Ronaldinho most enjoys watching.

Tammy Abraham has even said that Leao “has no idea how good he is”, and he has wowed on the left wing, contributing with double figures for goals and assists in 2024/25.

Serie A

2022

Nations League

2025

Italian Super Cup

2025

Taca da Liga

2018

14 Rodrygo Real Madrid and Brazil

With Real Madrid’s squad filled with world-class stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo is sometimes forgotten about in Spain.

However, Jude Bellingham labelled Rodrygo as “the most gifted player in the squad” and a “pleasure to play with”, so he must be doing something right at the Bernabeu. Neymar is also a big fan of his fellow countryman, calling him a “joke” in 2025.

Champions League

2022, 2024

La Liga

2020, 2022, 2024

Copa del Rey

2023

FIFA Club World Cup

2023

UEFA Super Cup

2022, 2024

FIFA Intercontinental Cup

2024

Spanish Super Cup

2020, 2022, 2024

13 Luis Diaz Bayern Munich and Colombia

Luis Diaz has both the speed and the skill to leave defenders for dead and is already catching the eye at new side Bayern Munich.

Diaz, who left Liverpool in 2025, won his first Premier League title before leaving Anfield, and, according to Danny Murphy, has “gone under the radar”. His defensive work ethic has also been praised, and in the final third, he can come up with something special out of nothing.

Premier League

2025

Liga Portugal

2020, 2022

Categoria Primera A

2018, 2019

FA Cup

2022

League Cup

2022, 2024

Taca de Portugal

2020, 2022

Copa Colombia

2017

Community Shield

2022

Portuguese Super Cup

2021

Colombian Super Cup

2018

12 Nico Williams Athletic Club and Spain

After coming through the Athletic Club academy, Nico Williams has made a huge impact in La Liga and with Spain and is now regarded as one of the top left-wingers around. At the age of 23, Williams looks destined to move from Bilbao at some point, but did sign a new contract in 2025.

Jose Mourinho has even revealed that he prefers Williams to Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, calling the Athletic Club star “unique” and “wonderful” – high praise from an iconic manager.

European Championship

2024

Copa del Rey

2024

11 Bradley Barcola PSG and France

Bradley Barcola arguably goes under the radar slightly at Paris Saint-Germain due to the sheer amount of attacking talent at the Parc des Princes, but the 22-year-old enjoyed his best ever season in 2024/25.

Called “unstoppable” by Luis Enrique, Barcola has hit double figures for Ligue 1 goals and assists for the first time in his career, which has resulted in his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing to €70m.

Ligue 1

2024, 2025

Champions League

2025

Coupe de France

2024

French Super Cup

2024, 2025

10 Desire Doue PSG and France

Another exciting attacking PSG star is Desire Doue, who, on the right-hand side, has been making a name for himself all across the world.

In French, Doue means ‘gifted’, and the teenager has been living up to his name, with some even calling him the next Neymar due to his ability to stand defenders up, slow the play down before going past them with a piece of skill.

Ligue 1

2025

Champions League

2025

French Super Cup

2025

9 Mohamed Salah Liverpool and Egypt

Many would argue that Mohamed Salah would have been top of this list earlier in 2025, however, the Egyptian King has gone off the boil at Anfield in 2025/26.

The Liverpool star extended his Anfield stay and produced record numbers for goals and assists in a 38-game Premier League campaign, winning his second title with the Reds as a result. Arne Slot called Salah “outstanding” recently, but at 33, Salah may well be getting past his prime.

Champions League

2019

Premier League

2020, 2025

Swiss Super League

2013, 2014

FA Cup

2022

League Cup

2015, 2022, 2024

FIFA Club World Cup

2020

UEFA Super Cup

2019

Community Shield

2022

8 Jeremy Doku Man City and Belgium

Jeremy Doku has been a standout player for Manchester City in 2025/26, terrorising full-backs with his explosive speed, agility and dribbling qualities.

The Belgian’s display in a 3-0 win over Liverpool was unbelievable, and if it wasn’t for a certain Erling Haaland, you could say Doku would be the first name on the teamsheet under Pep Guardiola.

7 Michael Olise Bayern Munich and France

After swapping Crystal Palace for Bayern Munich in 2024, Michael Olise has taken his game to the next level with the Bundesliga giants, hitting double figures for league goals and assists for the first time in his career in 2024/25.

Olise “could be as good as anyone” and, according to Didier Deschamps, the Bayern star has a “lot of qualities and has progressed a lot”, so he could get even better over the coming years. His Transfermarkt valuation now sits at a career-high €100m.

Bundesliga

2025

6 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia PSG and Georgia

After starring for Napoli for over two-and-a-half years, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sealed a big-money move to PSG in 2025 and is so far proving to be worth the €70m fee.

The two-footed winger can play on either side and has helped PSG to another Ligue 1 title and a Champions League triumph. Kvaratskhelia is not just brilliant in attack, but the Georgia star also does a “titanic defensive job” with a “relentless” attitude in tracking back, something which doesn’t go unnoticed.

Ligue 1

2025

Champions League

2025

Serie A

2023

Russian Cup

2019

Bosch, de Klerk, Shangase and Dercksen are also first-timers for an ODI World Cup

Firdose Moonda03-Sep-2025Karabo Meso, the 17-year-old wicket-keeper batter, will go to her first World Cup after being included in South Africa’s squad for the ODI tournament in India and Sri Lanka which starts later this month.She has just two ODI caps to her name and has played seven senior internationals in all, but has featured in two Under-19 World Cups and won the SA20 Schools title with Steyn City earlier this year. Meso is one of two players who will play at a World Cup for the first time. Offspin-bowling allrounder Nondumiso Shangase, who was recalled to South Africa’s squad in May, is the other.Top-order batter Anneke Bosch and allrounders Nadine de Klerk and Annerie Dercksen will also feature in an ODI World Cup squad for the first time; they have previously been in T20 World Cup squads.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe rest of South Africa’s 15-player group is as expected, led by Laura Wolvaardt with significant experience in different departments. Allrounders Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus and Chloe Tryon and seamer Ayabonga Khaka all played important roles in South Africa reaching the last ODI World Cup semi-finals and will be present again.As reported last week, there was no room for former captain Dane van Niekerk, who was included in a training camp but her international comeback remains a while away.Others present in that camp but not making the squad are batters Lara Goodall and Faye Tunnicliffe, seamer Ayanda Hlubi, legspinner Seshnie Naidu and allrounders Eliz-Mari Marx and Luyanda Ntuza. Miane Smit, an allrounder who bowls offspin, has been included as the lone travelling reserve.”The make-up of the squad is underpinned by the consistent selection process that was adhered to during the recent ICC Women’s Championship cycle, while taking into account the subcontinent conditions and the different characteristics of the group required for a successful tournament of this nature,” Clinton du Preez, South Africa’s convenor of selectors, said.Under head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, SA have lost four ODIs in 10 outings•Cricket South AfricaThis will be the first major tournament South Africa will play under head coach Mandla Mashimbyi, who succeeded Hilton Moreeng in a permanent capacity last year. In Mashimbyi’s tenure, South Africa have been inconsistent, with four wins in ten ODIs, including a series win over West Indies in June. Mashimbyi was occasionally without some senior players – such as Kapp for the tri-series in Sri Lanka – but will have one more opportunity to fine-tune his combinations before the tournament starts.South Africa tour Pakistan for three ODIs to be played between September 16 and 22 before moving on to India for their World Cup opener against England. Their recent tournament run has included two ODI World Cup semi-finals and back-to-back T20 World Cup finals, and there is expectation for them to take the next step and claim a cup. Mashimbyi is confident this group of players can deliver.”From the moment I joined this team, and even before my time when the squad went through the qualification phase, it was all about working towards this moment,” Mashimbyi said. “We can look back at the amount of preparation we have put in and know that we have done our best. We are ready to send a squad to the World Cup that will make South Africa proud.”We believe we have the squad of players that can go out there and deliver on the world stage. Now it is all about carrying that belief with us every step of the way, along with the support of the entire nation.”South Africa squad for Women’s ODI World CupLaura Wolvaardt, Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Karabo Meso, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon
Travelling reserve: Miane Smit

Allrounder Deepti Sharma and fast bowler Renuka Singh are the two Indian players among the eight listed in the marquee set that will open the bidding at the WPL 2026 auction. Sophie Devine, Sophie Ecclestone, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr and Laura Wolvaardt are the others in the marquee set.Among the players in the marquee set, only Renuka (INR 40 lakh) and Wolvaardt (INR 30 lakh) have listed their base price lower than the maximum of INR 50 lakh.A total of 277 players have registered for the WPL 2026 auction for a maximum of 73 available slots. A total of 83 overseas players will vie for the 23 slots available for them in the auction that will be held on November 27 in Delhi.Three players in the marquee sets – Deepti, Ecclestone and Healy – have played for UP Warriorz (UPW), who have four right to match (RTM) options available. UPW retained just one uncapped player in Shweta Sehrawat.Related

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Tahlia McGrath, who played for UPW, and Sophie Molineux, who represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), are not part of the 23 players from Australia. That aside, there are 22 players from England, 13 from New Zealand and 11 from South Africa in the auction pool. Chamari Athapaththu, batter Harshitha Samarawickrama and left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera are the three from Sri Lanka. Athapaththu was part of UPW last season. Three players from Bangladesh – Marufa Akter, Shorna Akter and Rabeya Khan – have listed themselves at INR 30 lakh.India batter Harleen Deol, who played for Gujarat Giants (GG) for the first three seasons, has listed her base price in the highest bracket of INR 50 lakh and in the capped allrounders’ list. Her GG team-mate, Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield also has a base price of INR 50 lakh. But since GG have retained two overseas players, Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, they cannot exercise their RTM for Litchfield.Alyssa Healy and Sophie Devine are part of the marquee set for the WPL 2026 auction•ICC/Getty Images

Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry and N Shree Charani are among those in the set of capped allrounders. In that set all players except Deol have a base price of INR 30 lakh.Assam’s Uma Chetry, who was the back-up wicketkeeper in India’s World Cup-winning squad, and allrounder Kranti Gaud, who has represented UPW, both have listed themselves in the highest bracket of INR 50 lakh. Australia legspinner Alana King (INR 40 lakh), India’s Asha Sobhana and Priya Mishra (both INR 30 lakh) as well as Saika Ishaque (INR 30 lakh), who was part of Mumbai Indians (MI) for the first three seasons, are all part of the first set of spinners, which is the sixth set.Left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong is the only Thailand player listed, while Tara Norris, who played for Delhi Capitals (DC) in WPL 2023 and is the first player to pick up a five-wicket haul in the competition, is the only player from USA.UAE captain Esha Oza and wicketkeeper Theertha Satish round-off the four players from Associate teams. No players from Ireland or Scotland are in the list; Scotland wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce was part of DC last season.UPW and GG will enter the auction for WPL 2026 with the highest purse – INR 14.50 crore and INR 9 crore respectively – followed by RCB (INR 6.15 crore), MI (INR 5.75 crore) and DC (5.70 crore). MI and DC, who retained five players each, will not have any RTM option available.

Bangladesh have faced England only once in the format, at the 2022 World Cup

S Sudarshanan06-Oct-20253:40

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Big picture – a rare meetingEngland take on Bangladesh in an ODI World Cup match.The sentence itself is an event. Despite qualifying for back-to-back ODI World Cups – in 2022 and now in 2025 – Bangladesh have faced England only once in the format, and that too in the previous edition.”This is the stage where we show our capabilities so that teams like England and Australia show interest in playing against us,” Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said on match eve.Related

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As per the new future tours programme which will run from 2025-29, Bangladesh are scheduled to tour England for three ODIs and as many T20Is in September 2027. That is perhaps when the fixture will stop being an event.On the field, both teams are coming on the back of comfortable wins. England’s multi-pronged attack could pose a tough challenge for Bangladesh, whose batters often struggle to force the pace. Conversely, if the track assists spin, Bangladesh’s spin-heavy attack led by Nahida Akter could be more than just a handful for England. Their batters were hardly challenged in the opening game.Form guideEngland WLWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh WLLWWIn the spotlight: Lamb and MarufaShe is just 21 ODIs old, but Emma Lamb is already adapting to a second role in England’s batting unit. A natural opener, she scored her only century at the top of the order and was the leading run-scorer in the ECB Women’s One-Day Cup while opening for champions Lancashire. At the start of this English summer, though, Amy Jones was promoted to open, and Lamb was moved to No. 3 when Heather Knight was recovering from a hamstring injury. Now, with Knight back for the World Cup, Lamb is set to take on an altogether different role – batting in the lower-middle order and chipping in with a few overs of offspin. She wasn’t needed with either bat or ball in England’s tournament opener, but could get her first go in this new role against Bangladesh if her team bats first.Marufa Akter will be key for Bangladesh•ICC/Getty ImagesMarufa Akter just loves to bowl. After setting the tone in Bangladesh’s win over Pakistan, she lit up their first practice session in India. With rain forcing the team indoors, Marufa was full of energy, bowling at full tilt two days out from the contest. She constantly troubled captain Sultana in the nets, eventually bowling her once. With her ability to move the new ball and generate sharp pace, Marufa could be a real handful for England’s openers – Tammy Beaumont tends to struggle against the incoming angle early on, while Jones prefers a cautious start.Team newsGiven England’s line-up was hardly tested against South Africa, expect them to go in with an unchanged XI.England (probable XI): 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Emma Lamb, 7 Alice Capsey, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren BellAgainst England’s right-hand heavy line-up, Bangladesh could look to play left-arm spinner Sanjida Akter Meghla for an offspinner in Nishita Akter Nishi.Bangladesh (probable XI): 1 Fargana Hoque, 2 Rubya Haider, 3 Sharmin Akhter, 4 Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), 5 Sobhana Mostary, 6 Shorna Akter, 7 Fahima Khatun, 8 Nahida Akter, 9 Rabeya Khan, 10 Marufa Akter, 11 Nishita Akter Nishi/Sanjida Akter MeghlaPitch and conditionsA fresh pitch will be used for the game. But it may not behave too differently from the first two tracks. Both the pitches assisted spin as the afternoon wore on but against fast bowling, the ball came nicely onto the bat.As for the weather, there is slight chance of rain. There was rain predicted for the England-South Africa game on Monday, but it stayed dry, while Bangladesh were forced indoors two days before this match due to an unexpected shower.Stats and trivia Bangladesh’s only ODI against England came at the previous World Cup. Only Fargana Hoque, Fahima Khatun and Ritu Moni from the current Bangladesh squad have played an ODI in India before. England’s win/loss ratio of 1.0 in 2025, their worst in a calendar year since 2007. They have won three games against West Indies, one each against India and South Africa. England will play their 94th ODI World Cup game to be on par with Australia for the joint-most. Quotes”With sub-continent conditions comes the offer of extra spin. So, [I am] trying to really make sure that you’re hitting with the spin and going through all your different options. I’ve been sweeping quite a lot, reverse sweeping, which is something that I might not get out in a game straight away, but it’s something that I’ve put a lot of hours into to make sure that when I do, hopefully it goes well.”
“We have a lot of information on them because of our analysts. We want to play our “A” game and don’t want to go by just names. We will try to make lesser mistakes and take confidence from the win over Pakistan.”

A relieved Pep Guardiola joked that he lost his hair after Manchester City held on to beat Fulham in a nine-goal thriller. City escaped with a 5-4 victory at Craven Cottage in a match so chaotic, that even a comfortable four-goal cushion was not enough to calm Guardiola. And when he walked into his post-match press conference, the City boss was wearing the look of a man who had just survived a major life scare.

City cruise, then collapse, then somehow hang on

For the first 55 minutes, City were operating in ruthless form. Erling Haaland celebrated his 100th Premier League goal, shattering yet another record after reaching the milestone in just 111 appearances, and his team-mates followed with a flurry of strikes that suggested the contest was settled before the hour mark. Tijjani Reijnders added a second, Phil Foden curled home a stunning third, and Emile Smith Rowe clawed one back for Fulham before halftime. Foden scored again just after the restart, and when Jeremy Doku’s shot looped in via Sander Berge to make it 5-1, the away fans relaxed into their celebrations. This, it seemed, was routine. Another day, another five-goal haul under Guardiola; the 41st time his side had done so in the Premier League. 

But what followed bordered on chaos. Alex Iwobi unleashed a 20-yard curler to reduce the deficit, and suddenly Fulham discovered a fire they had lacked all afternoon. Substitute Samuel Chukwueze, then transformed the closing stages into something close to a fever dream. His first strike rattled City’s composure. His second arrived six minutes later and sent the home crowd into a frenzy, urging their team towards an unlikely equaliser. In the final moments, only a desperate clearance off the line from Josko Gvardiol prevented one of the most improbable comebacks of the season.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGuardiola: 'It was survival!'

Laughing in disbelief, Guardiola opened his press conference with a quip: "Did you enjoy it? Nice, huh?!"

But when a reporter asked whether he had enjoyed it, the City manager threw his hands up. "Me?! My god, I lost my hair! My god!" he exclaimed, half-joking about the ninety minutes he had just endured. 

Guardiola admitted that, during those frantic final minutes, City were simply trying to keep themselves afloat. 

"It's the Premier League, you can't control, it's the Premier League," he said. "I know you're going to ask what happened, and I don't have an answer. It's the emotion, it's the football. Why you do this, why you do that? But I'm sorry to tell you, we made incredible things today, incredible, because I know how difficult that team is.

"We proved it and scored the goals that we score and the quality we have done. Erling had a chance for 6-3 and immediately later, 5-4. And when that happens, it's just a question of survival. Don't tell me how, the players don't know either. At the end we take it."

City are now just two points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Brentford next, yet their sloppiness at the back poses uncomfortable questions for a side chasing a sustained title charge.

"Arsenal are so strong and so solid. So I know what we have to do," added Guardiola. "It will be difficult, but at the same time, the Premier League is so long. And I promise you that I have enough experience to make long, long runs to try to fight to win the Premier League."

History made but defensive worries linger

The match produced a catalogue of statistical firsts. It was Fulham’s first top-flight game with nine or more goals since 1968 and their first such home fixture since 1965. For City, it marked the first time since December 1957 that they had won a league match while conceding four goals. It also became the sixth Premier League match involving Guardiola’s City with nine or more goals, a tally bettered only by Manchester United (7).

"Of course I was concerned [Fulham could come back], but this will help us in future games," Guardiola said. "Every game is a new team for some players. You have to make a process to start to correct. There were some really positive things in what we have done – to come here, to score five goals, and the way we played in that first half.

"In the end, it was a question of character, resilience and defence. They did what they had to do."

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GettyWhat comes next for Man City?

City will have little time to recover from the mayhem. They return to action on December 6, when they welcome Sunderland to the Etihad, and Guardiola will hope for something considerably calmer than the madness he survived on Tuesday.