Power Rankings: Top 5 Best Soccer Players of the 2025/2026 Season
Calendar icon Updated 15 Nov 04:33

Power Rankings: Top 5 Best Soccer Players of the 2025/2026 Season

Juan Pablo Aravena Juan Pablo Aravena

The international break strikes again. While national teams continue to prepare their squads to qualify for the World Cup, the blog team has decided that the time to rank the best players of the season has come. Here is a list of the players who have impressed us the most, three months into the campaign. 

5. Nico González

Nico’s transfer to Manchester City took many by surprise, given that the ex-Barcelona midfielder had previously only played in Portugal. As Rodri’s replacement, Nico had big shoes to fill. In recent weeks, he’s become one of the most important players in Pep Guardiola’s puzzle, the glue to the midfield the manager had been looking for. His excellent run of performances includes a goal in their match against Liverpool (3-0). 

There have been few games where he’s underperformed, happy to use his physical strength when needed, but mostly relying on his technical skills and calm temperament to help the team advance through the midfield. He’s one of the best examples of how Pep can improve a player’s performance by adjusting their role and giving them the space to play confidently. 

4. Pedri 

Pedri González has been rated among the best midfielders for a while. Even when Barcelona have struggled to adapt to tactical changes following player departures (like defender Iñigo Martínez), Pedri has remained the most important figure for Flick. The Canarian midfielder has played with all types of players, until picking up an injury due to a lack of rest.

Pedri isn’t a player of the number: he has fewer than five goals to his name, but most fans would agree that he’s the most consistent player on the team. He’s combined with Frenkie de Jong in a double-pivot, but pushed up when necessary. 

In his absence, the difference is immediately noticeable, as he directs the team towards a slower tempo, which allows for more efficient counter-attacks. In systems like Flick’s, where players are required to run up and down, a quick thinker like Pedri is a necessity. 

Many teammates recognize him as an unofficial captain, particularly youngsters like Gavi or Marc Casadó. The Canarian may not be the loudest on the pitch, but he leads by example. His high position in the Ballon d’Or rankings only confirms the notion that he deserves to be considered among the best midfielders of his time. 

3. Harry Kane 

Harry Kane’s transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich has proven to be the best decision for both the receiving club and the player. The Englishman has scored 13 goals and registered three assists in 10 Bundesliga games. His stats are also similar in international games for England, as well as his performances in the Champions League with the Bavarian club. 

A valid concern was that Jamal Musiala’s injury would impact his game. Instead, he now typically plays on top of a formation where he combines with Michael Olise, Luis Diaz, and sometimes, Serge Gnabry. 

The striker has more than enough chances to convert, yet the addition of Diaz has been the best news for Kane. As he now always runs with two wingers, Kane thrives in Vincent Kompany’s system, which is well-suited to his abilities. 

It’s a similar story with England, where Kane also tends to play at the top of the formation. So far, he continues to be the team’s top scorer under Thomas Tuchel, as he can count on playmakers to find him in the box. 

2. Robert Lewandowski

Some players age and decay, while others age like fine wine. Lewandowski fits into the second category. At the end of last season, fans wanted him gone, criticizing his lack of mobility, wastefulness with chances, and limited involvement in the team’s build-up play. Barcelona supporters have a habit of preferring strikers who also contribute to playmaking and creating chances. Lewandowski’s recurring injuries, in addition to his lack of flexibility, meant that he didn’t fit the stereotype of the typical Blaugrana striker. 

Although injuries persist, the Pole has convinced Barcelona fans for now. He scored a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against Celta Vigo and also found the net against Real Sociedad and Real Oviedo. He may have been absent in some early-season games and faced criticism for his lack of involvement, yet few can deny his instincts and his physical dominance in the box. 

No other player can dominate defenders as much as he does, nor can anyone score as many goals as he does. For now, he’s reclaimed his spot as a starter in Flick’s line-up. Considering he’s already 37, it’s an impressive achievement. 

1. Kylian Mbappé

Carlo Ancelotti left. Xabi Alonso arrived. Kylian Mbappé stayed. He remains the most important player (and forward) despite a major system overhaul. In 12 La Liga matches, the Frenchman has scored 13 goals and registered two assists, while in the Champions League, he’s netted five in four appearances. 

Mbappé’s dominance is one of the scariest kinds because he scores no matter how well (or poorly) his team are doing. This holds true for both Madrid and France. A born leader, he’s learned to link up with different partners. Even when Jude Bellingham was out with an injury, Mbappé’s performance remained consistent. 

High expectations constantly fall on his head due to his superstar status. Although he initially struggled to adapt to wearing the white jersey, he’s now become a superhero. He scores enough goals for fans to worry about what would happen if he were to suffer an injury. 

For now, this scenario seems unlikely, meaning Madrid supporters can rest. Few top teams have been as reliant on one player to score goals since Lionel Messi left Catalonia, but Mbappé may be the new Ronaldo for the Bernabéu…

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