Best Of
Ballon d'Or 2026 Results: Harry Kane Wins
Harry Kane won the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or ahead of Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. See the official top ten and our dated pre-award prediction.
playersBest Of Archive
Football Rankings and Best-Of Lists
This archive brings together ordered football debates, from all-time player and position lists to clubs, managers, stadiums and rivalries. Each feature states the factors behind its order; medals and statistics are read alongside role, era and competition context.
For a broad starting point, read the greatest players or biggest clubs. For a narrower route, browse player profiles, club profiles, stadium guides and derby guides.
Best Of
England Men's All-Time Top Scorers
England men's all-time top scorers, with official senior goals, caps and goals per game. Harry Kane leads; tied places include Vivian Woodward.
players Best Of
Highest-Paid Footballers in the World: 2026/27 Earnings
The highest-paid footballers in Forbes' 2026 list, with total, on-field and off-field earnings estimates and a clear explanation of salary versus income.
players Best Of
Oldest Football Clubs in the World: Dates and Disputed Claims
12 early clubs, from Sheffield FC onwards, with their founding records. Cambridge’s 1856 claim and disputed origins are explained alongside the dated selection.
history Best Of
Best Right Wingers of All Time
The 15 best right wingers of all time, from Lionel Messi and Garrincha to Arjen Robben and Luís Figo, ranked by their work on the right.
players Best Of
Best Defenders in the World Right Now
The best defenders in the world right now, reviewed on October 14, 2026 with new-season form and availability, led by Gabriel Magalhaes and Pau Cubarsi.
players Best Of
Best Goalkeepers in the World Right Now
The best goalkeepers in the world right now, reviewed on October 14, 2026, using the 2025/26 season, World Cup and early 2026/27 evidence.
players Best Of
Best Football Players in the World Right Now
The best football players in the world right now, reviewed on October 14, 2026 using the 2025/26 season, World Cup and early 2026/27 form.
players Best Of
Best Left Wingers of All Time
The 15 best left wingers of all time, from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho to Paco Gento, ranked by their peak, longevity and influence from the left.
players Best Of
Football Stadiums Ranked
A football stadium ranking for grounds where the building, the crowd and the history make the match feel heavier than the fixture list says.
stadiums Best Of
Football's Biggest Clubs Ranked
A biggest-clubs ranking for the teams whose trophies, stadiums, shirts, players and arguments keep travelling far beyond their own city.
clubs Best Of
Best World Cup 2026 Players Ranked
The final World Cup 2026 player ranking: Golden Ball winner Rodri leads Spain's champions, with Mbappe's 10-goal Golden Boot run second.
players Best Of
2026 World Cup Golden Ball: Rodri Wins
Rodri won the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball after anchoring Spain's title run; Mbappe took the Golden Boot and Cubarsi the Young Player Award.
players Best Of
Best Football Wingers of All Time
The best wingers of all time, with Garrincha at No. 1 and the right-winger, left-winger and wide-forward distinctions explained before the Top 10.
players Best Of
Best Football Midfielders of All Time
The 15 best football midfielders of all time, ranked by control, peak and legacy. Zinedine Zidane leads Xavi, Iniesta, Matthäus and Modrić.
players Best Of
Best Football Managers of All Time
Sir Alex Ferguson leads our Top 10 football managers of all time, ranked by trophies, tactical influence, longevity, adaptability and legacy.
managers Best Of
Best Football Players of All Time
Lionel Messi leads our Top 10 football players of all time, ranked by peak, longevity, tournament weight, club impact and influence across eras.
players Best Of
Players Who Defined World Cup 2026
The players who defined World Cup 2026: Golden Ball winner Rodri, record-breaking Golden Boot winner Mbappe and Spain's title-winning core.
players Best Of
Best Football Goalkeepers of All Time
A football-first ranking of the best goalkeepers ever, from Buffon and Yashin to Neuer, Casillas, Zoff, Schmeichel and Alisson.
players Best Of
Best Defenders of All Time in Football: Top 20 Ranked
Who is the best defender of all time? Our Top 20 ranks Franz Beckenbauer first, followed by Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Cafu and Sergio Ramos — with the method behind every place.
players Best Of
World Cup Final Nights Ranked
World Cup final nights ranked by drama, quality, historical weight, star performances and the memories that still travel, including Spain's 2026 extra-time win over Argentina.
matches Best Of
World Cup Moments People Still Replay
A top ten for the World Cup moments that refuse to go quiet: Messi and Mbappe in Qatar, Maradona against England, Pele in 1970 and Ferran Torres' 2026 final winner.
world cup Best Of
Young World Cup 2026 Players Ranked
The best young players at the completed World Cup 2026, in an editorial ranking led by Lamine Yamal while FIFA's Best Young Player award went to Pau Cubarsi.
players Best Of
World Cup Tournament Impact Rankings
A World Cup-only argument for Pele, Messi, Maradona and the players whose tournament peaks still shape the event, updated after the 2026 final.
players Best Of
Great World Cup Teams Ranked
Ten World Cup sides worth arguing about, with Brazil 1970 still setting the standard and Spain 2026 now a completed title case to assess over time.
world cup Best Of
2026 World Cup Dark-Horse Runs Ranked
The strongest 2026 World Cup dark-horse runs ranked after Norway, Switzerland and Belgium reached the quarterfinals before Spain won the tournament.
world cup Best Of
World Cup 2026 Final Standings
Spain won World Cup 2026 after a 1-0 extra-time final against Argentina; England finished third after a 6-4 win over France.
world cup Best Of
2026 World Cup Golden Boot: Mbappe Wins
Kylian Mbappe won the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, including a third-place-playoff brace that took him to 22 World Cup goals.
players Best Of
World Cup 2026 Stadiums Ranked
World Cup 2026 stadiums ranked after the completed tournament by football history, match importance, atmosphere, fan experience, venue identity and tournament role.
stadiums Best Of
Men's World Cup Goals Table
Kylian Mbappe leads the men's World Cup scoring table with 22 goals after a 10-goal 2026 tournament, one ahead of Lionel Messi.
players Best Of
Football Strikers Ranked
An all-time striker ranking for forwards who made defenders nervous before the pass arrived: finishers, runners, box thieves and chaos merchants.
players Best Of
Football Rivalries Ranked
A football rivalry ranking built around history, matchday pressure, identity, trophies, global reach and stadium atmosphere.
rivalries Best Of
Champions League Players Ranked
A Champions League-only ranking for the players who owned knockout nights, finals, long European runs and the hardest club stage.
players Best Of
Best Football Full-Backs of All Time
The best football full-backs of all time ranked by defending, flank control, attacking nerve, stamina, big-game trust and tactical influence.
playersImage sources and credits
AI-generated editorial image of an imagined football ground; not a photograph of a real stadium or match.
- AI-generated editorial image — The Top Football / OpenAI ImageGen. Source. Created for The Top Football. Generated 20 October 2026; resized and cropped for social previews.