Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and the top 25 players in the FIFA Club World Cup - ranked

When the phrase fights for the badge 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.

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.

He's called Kvaradona for multiple reasons: one, nobody really 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.

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.

One of two goalkeepers to crack the top 25, Donnarumma had a remarkable European campaign that just cannot be ignored. He's had his doubters over the years, but his 2024-25 season with PSG certified him as one of the world's best in goal.

A brilliant shot-stopper with an otherworldly reach, the Italy international is a remarkable 1v1 goalkeeper as well. Perhaps the most well-rounded in the competition, he's a brick wall in net, and no goals will come easily against him this summer.

A true workhorse, Valverde is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world, but throughout the 2024-25 season, he expressed incredible versatility by playing right back as well. His importance to the setup of Los Blancos cannot go unnoticed, and following the departure of Luka Modric, he will only grow in value for the Spanish outfit this summer at the Club World Cup.

A key figure to the Uruguayan national team as well, Valverde is a reliable midfielder who can progress the ball forward in transition swiftly, while also offering defensive prowess and tight pressing off the ball.

When it comes to Courtois, little needs to be said. A world-class goalkeeper, the Belgian shot-stopper has been one of - if not the - best goalkeeper in the world over the past decade. A legend for Real Madrid, he's carried Los Blancos to numerous trophies, including two previous Club World Cup titles in both 2018 and 2022.

Standing 6-6, the 33-year-old is the gold standard for shot-stopping brilliance, and this summer, he'll make a splash in net.

Griezmann, a 2018 World Cup winner with France, is arguably the tournament’s most unique talent - a player who flourishes wherever Simeone places him, always making those around him better.

Griezmann is a lethal finisher, a terrific passer of the ball, and a forward who offers an exemplary work rate. He can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder, on the wing, or even as a central midfielder and still offer the same exact output as he would everywhere else on the pitch.

There are very few footballers like Griezmann, and having just signed a contract extension with Atleti, the Club World Cup will be his stage this summer.

One of the most promising defenders in the world, Bastoni has helped lead Inter Milan to two UCL finals over the past three years. At 26, he's already completed Italian football, winning Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and Supercoppa Italiana with the Nerazzurri.

Aggressive, pacey, and physical on the ball, Bastoni is one of the few defenders in this competition that no attacker will want to go up against. The Inter phenom has been linked with multiple clubs around the world this summer, too, as much of Europe's elite monitors him ahead of a potential transfer after the completion of the Club World Cup.

A colossal defender, Dias was part of City's 2023 Club World Cup-winning squad. The Portugal international has become one of the best central defenders in the world since arriving at City in September 2020. An aggressive center-back, Dias is also a ball-playing defender who boasts a wealth of experience in high-intensity situations - including European and international competition.

Arguably the most well-rounded central defender in the world, he's a key part of what has made Pep Guardiola's squad successful in recent years.

Alvarez, another reigning World Champion with Argentina, is a striker who knows what it means to win the Club World Cup. He scored a brace in the 2023 Club World Cup final, leading Man City to their first title in the competition. Following his transfer to La Liga with Atleti, he's absolutely flourished and developed into a world-class finisher.

He bagged 29 goals and notched seven assists across all competitions for the Spanish outfit this past campaign in his debut season for Simeone. Ahead of this summer's tournament, he should be viewed as one of the most lethal forwards in the competition, and the key to their attack as well.

Musiala is a unique talent who has broken through the ranks at Bayern and absolutely flourished. A brilliant technician on the ball, the Germany international is one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the world, through his tidy footwork and brilliant football IQ. One of Musiala's best traits is his awareness in the final-third, understanding where to be on and off the ball, while being Bayern's primary creator in the center of the pitch.

Still just 22, Musiala plays like a seasoned veteran and strikes fear into the hearts of all defenders who come up against him. A predominantly right-footed midfielder, he also has an effective left boot, which often catches opposition off guard - which only adds to the excitement when he's on the ball.

The lone MLS representative on the list, there's not much to say that the world doesn't already know: a reigning World Champion with Argentina, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, and the most recent MLS MVP winner.

Messi might be 37, but he's still a world-class footballer who, on his best day, is still one of the best players in the world. All eyes will be on him as Inter Miami looks to make a surprising run in the tournament, while the Argentine himself looks to prove he's still at the top of his game.

Technical on and off the ball, lethal from set pieces, and a playmaker who is magician-like - opposition should be on watch if they come up against him.

The young breakout star of Europe in the 2024-25 season, Doue burst onto the scene and has caused a stir in the global game. Comparisons to a young Neymar and Thierry Henry were brought up, as the 19-year-old carved up some of Europe's best defenders en route to winning a UCL title with PSG.

Named Man of the Match in the final, he scored two sublime goals and recorded an assist in the final, helping the Parisian outfit to the top of the European throne.

With incredible technique on the ball, the young Frenchman has some of the best footwork in the global game at the moment. He dazzles week after week and is developing into one of the most exciting players in the world. Following a treble with PSG, a CWC title would only add to that excitement.

Vitinha, what a player. A proper midfield maestro, the Portugal international, along with Mendes, won the treble with PSG and the UEFA Nations League title with Portugal. He's having one hell of a season, and a Club World Cup title would only add to it.

The 25-year-old is so, so smart on the ball. He knows where to be every second of the game, knows when to speed things up or slow the game down; he has an understanding of how to operate a midfield unlike many others across the game. He doesn't offer blistering pace or immense strength, but rather, outsmarts everyone around him - perhaps the most important trait of a midfielder.

Caicedo has developed into one of the best ball-winning midfielders in the world since his $146 million move to Chelsea from Brighton. A monumental fee for a midfielder at the time, he's since lived up to the price tag, rivaling Rodri for the best defensive midfielder in the world.

The Ecuador international led the club to a UEFA Europa Conference League title this past campaign, while internationally, he has already helped La Tricolor clinch a berth in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With a tireless work rate, Caicedo runs the tempo of any match he plays in, while gliding through the midfield with ease. For the Blues this summer, he will be integral to their success, both on and off the ball, as he orchestrates the play from the center of the pitch.

Kane finallylifted a major trophy for the first time in his club career this past season with the Bundesliga giants, and at the Club World Cup this summer, he'll be in search of No. 2.

A multifaceted striker, Kane is as lethal as they come in the box. A proper threat on set pieces with his height, he is also a natural poacher who manages to get into spaces that no other forward does - he is a sublime talent, who, surrounded by elite young attackers at Bayern, should terrify every defender that comes up against him this summer.

The English forward is one of the best in the world at his job for a reason.

What a phenomenal season for Mendes. The domestic treble, and by all accounts, the best left back - and potentially, defender overall - across Europe in 2024-25. To cap it off, he added a UEFA Nations League title with Portugal to his resume, just one week before the start of the Club World Cup.

It was nothing short of a remarkable campaign, and he deserves the attention right now. Across his UCL run, he bested Mohamed Salah, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka, and in the final, the entire Inter attack that came up against him. At this Club World Cup, he should be looked at as elite in his position.

Chelsea's English star, Cole "Cold" Palmer, has become a must-watch week in and week out for the London-based club. A proper maestro of an attacking midfielder, the 22-year-old can string a pass unlike anyone else in England, while offering one of the best left-footed strikes in all of Europe.

Across all competitions this past season, he bagged 15 goals and recorded 12 assists, helping the Blues to a UECL title. Did you feel that breeze just now? It's gotten a bit colder all of a sudden.

Bellingham, by his standards, had a down year for Real Madrid. For him, that meant 14 goals and 14 assists, which is absurd. His 28 goal contributions across all competitions is up there with some of the world's best footballers.

He is a stupendous talent and arguably the best central midfielder in the world at the moment. His transition play is second to none when progressing the ball forward from the middle of the pitch, while his passing range and eye for the pitch are remarkable. Alongside Valverde, he creates a lethal midfield tandem for Los Blancos, while offering a larger attacking presence that often pays dividends.

He missed nearly the entire 2024-25 season due to a torn ACL, but he's the reigning Ballon d'Or winner for a reason. The Man City star is set to make his big comeback this summer at the Club World Cup, after logging just 28 minutes in two appearances to end the campaign after sustaining his injury.

A massive presence in the middle of the pitch, Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in the world, and his resume is absolutely stacked. A treble winner with City in 2023, he went on to lift the EURO title with Spain last summer before undergoing surgery early on in the campaign.

All eyes will be on him this summer.

Vini Jr. is a gem of a footballer who single-handedly has carried the torch for Brazilian football over the past five years. He dances on the ball; a must-watch spectacle every single game. He attacks defenders left and right, and in the box, he offers a clinical finish that is reliable nine times out of 10.

With Los Blancos, he's created an electric presence in the final third alongside Kylian Mbappe and Bellingham that is one of the most fierce in all of Europe. In transition, he's one of the fastest wingers in the game, and one of the most difficult to defend as well.

Winner of the CWC with Madrid in 2019 and 2022, he'll look to claim his third medal in the tournament this summer.

As unexpected as it is, Dembele is the frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d'Or heading into the Club World Cup this summer, and if he helps lead PSG to the title in this competition, it might further his cause in the race for the accolade this fall.

Dembele, coming off a treble with PSG, scored 33 goals and recorded 15 assists to manage 48 goal contributions in 49 games for the Parisian outfit this season. His best campaign to date as a professional, the 28-year-old attacker was lights-out the entire campaign.

Traditionally a winger, he moved into a more central role this year and flourished for his club. Now, heading into the CWC, he's being looked at as potentially the most exciting player in the competition.

City's big man is as lethal as they come in front of the net. A game reminiscent of the legendary Zlatan Ibrahimovic, once Haaland gets going, it's incredibly hard to stop him. Nearly impossible to defend, the 6-foot-4 Norwegian striker is a physical and clinical forward who has become one of the fiercest strikers in all of Europe.

He's physically imposing but offers blistering pace at the same time, while also being a threat on set pieces, in transition, and in the box across tight spaces. He's developed into a delightful forward at City under the leadership of Guardiola, and should be viewed as one of the most clinical strikers in the competition this summer.

There are so many ways to describe Mbappe, but the best one is a unicorn of a footballer. He's one-of-a-kind, truly. With world-class technique, finishing, and awareness on the pitch, the Frenchman is the complete package.

Right now, he's the best footballer in the world - he's taken the throne from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo since they left Europe, and has seized his opportunity for both club and country to establish himself as such.

For Madrid, he offers every trait you'd want from an attacker in the final third, and come the Club World Cup, he will be the most terrifying player to line up against. He's No. 1 for a reason, and come this summer, he will look to show why.