GOAL ranks the top 25 players in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup, from Kylian Mbappe to Harry Kane to Lionel Messi
The FIFA Club World Cup is going to have it all: European champions, World Cup winners, Golden Boot winners, Golden Glove winners – individuals with accolades upon accolades.
The biggest names in world football will be playing in the United States for nearly a month, as 32 elite clubs battle for glory and a share of the staggering $1 billion prize pool. Every team is guaranteed a cut, but only one will lift the trophy.
Manchester City return to defend their CWC crown, joined by powerhouse teams such as Real Madrid, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain – each stacked with global stars.
Fans can expect fireworks up front, with Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Julian Alvarez, and Ousmane Dembele all chasing the tournament’s Golden Boot. Midfield maestros like Jude Bellingham, Rodri (the reigning Ballon d’Or winner), Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and Vitinha will pull the strings in the center of the pitch, setting the stage for a thrilling summer showdown.
Perhaps the brightest performer of the 2024-25 campaign in Europe, Nuno Mendes, leads the way for defenders as well, but two of the world's best central defenders in Alessandro Bastoni and Ruben Dias, join him in the competition, too. Who could forget goalkeepers? Two of the best across Europe are taking their talents to the U.S.
GOAL ranks the top 25 players in the 2025 Club World Cup.
Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowGetty Images Sport25Rodrigo De Paul: Atletico Madrid
When the phrase is dropped, the first player that should come to mind is De Paul. For club and country over his career, the Argentine has been arguably the most intense midfielder in the world. He never backs down from a challenge, but at the same time, possesses the intelligence to not overstep in moments – a rare combination of traits for a central midfielder.
On the ball, he can ping a pass unlike many, while off it, he reads the pitch with sublime intelligence. He's the perfect midfielder for Atleti manager Diego Simeone, and is the glue that makes Atleti the elite possession-based squad they are.
AdvertisementGetty/GOAL24Enzo Fernandez: Chelsea
Fernandez, breakout star of the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, has developed into a complete midfielder since joining Chelsea from Benfica. A perfect partner with Moises Caicedo, he's incredibly aggressive on the ball, but offers splendid vision with his passing while being an outlet for the Blues' transition-based game.
A box-to-box midfielder who also offers a presence in the final third of the pitch, Fernandez can pick out a pass unlike any other, while offering Chelsea a terriffic workrate on and off the ball.
Getty Images23Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: PSG
He's called for multiple reasons: one, nobody wants to pronounce his name regularly, and two, his footwork is reminiscent of the legendary Argentine midfielder himself.
The Georgia international is coming off a terrific campaign with PSG, where he bagged 12 goals and recorded nine assists across all competitions. He lifted the UCL with the Parisian outfit, while winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France as well.
With a proper breakout campaign in his first full season with the club, he's one of the most exciting players on the ball in this competition, with tremendous technical ability and an incredible right foot.
AFP22Lautaro Martinez: Inter
Martinez has had his flaws on the international stage with Argentina, and they've been well documented. However, at the club level, there is no denying he is a world-class striker around the box. This past campaign, he led Inter to the UCL final behind a campaign that saw him score 22 goals and record seven assists across all competitions.
Lethal in tight spaces, from distance, on set pieces, or the counter, the Argentine is the complete package when it comes to elite forwards. He's one of the best finishers in all of Europe, and if he shows up to the Club World Cup with his shooting boots, the rest of the tournament should be on the lookout.
