Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Putellas: Ranking the best 40 footballers in the world

“The best player in the world”: A phrase aptly used to describe either Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi for more than a decade. 

Since 2008, only one other player in Luka Modric has managed to wrestle the Ballon d’Or trophy away from the two best male players of this generation. 

Even now, at the ripe old age of 34, Messi is the reigning holder of the prestigious annual award. 

But given the Argentine maestro has scored just three league goals this season for PSG and Ronaldo has been subject to intense scrutiny at times for Man United, it seems as though a changing of the guard is occurring at long last. At least, we think so. 

If not Messi or Ronaldo, then who? Mohamed Salah was mesmeric at the start of the season for Liverpool. Robert Lewandowski continues to be a goal machine for Bayern Munich and Karim Benzema almost single-handedly destroyed Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals. 

Throw in the likes of a red-hot Kevin De Bruyne, the impenetrable Virgil van Dijk and a  resurgent Harry Kane into the mix and the world’s best player debate suddenly got very interesting indeed. 

Equally, women’s football has been a similar story in recent decades. While the USA have showcased their dominance by winning the past two World Cups, their most renowned stars in Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd are now past their best. 

Given the extraordinary growth of women’s football in recent years it would be foolish not to give mention to the prodigious individuals who are transcending the game today. Given a record 91,553 people packed the Nou Camp recently, fans are clearly gunning to see the world’s best female talent in action.

The question is though, which of these names is the best female footballer on the