Rules stopping footballers joining clubs by tearing up contracts are declared unlawful

The following summer he was gone, flown off to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. After concreting himself in Premier League history with first Leicester City, and then Manchester City, Mahrez jumped ship to Saudi Arabia, where he joined Al-Ittihad. Some of you might have expected Mbappe to be a little higher up this list but no, the Frenchman is on a meagre £300k per week at Real Madrid. Footballer wages are higher than they’ve ever been right now, with the sport watched around the world, TV rights skyrocketing, and the Saudi Pro League throwing cash at the sport with reckless abandon.

Marquinhos — Center Back, PSG

One of the most underappreciated attackers in the modern game, Rodrygo has often been left in the shadows by his Real Madrid teammates. Whether it’s Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior or Jude Bellingham, the Brazilian hasn’t always claimed the plaudits he deserves. However, he remains an exceptional dribbler and scorer of big goals for Los Blancos, regularly popping up in the latter stages of the Champions League with crucial strikes. While criticism still comes in domestically, those on the continent are ready to anoint the right back as one of the best players in the world for his astonishing array of passing and attacking prowess. The relative mystique of foreign leagues can often inflate a player’s reputation as we are fed their many highlights and rarely see their 4/10s, the days they’d rather not remember, their misses, their failures.

Joshua Kimmich Midfield/Fullback, Bayern Munich

Mahomes persevered through a trying season that was well documented with the struggles of his wide receiving corps and saw him toss a career-high 14 interceptions, which tended to signify his frustrations. Mahomes course-corrected in the playoffs, however, guiding the Chiefs to a third Lombardi Trophy and winning his third Super Bowl MVP within a five-year span. Perhaps Mahomes’ latest campaign was more impressive under the right context. The 28-year-old wizard is already considered one of the best QBs the game has ever seen, and there’s no telling where he will rank when it’s all said and done in sports history, let alone the NFL. His play might be overshadowed by Barcelona’s incredible consistency of being inconsistent, but the Brazil international just wrapped up his third straight season (two at Barca) with double-digit goals.

College Football picks Week 6: Bet Penn State, Navy, Minnesota to cover

Making it this high on our list, considering his lack of minutes, speaks volumes about his quality. The towering former Chelsea man has been Real Madrid’s No. 1 goalkeeper since 2018, creating numerous iconic moments, with this latest achievement part of a long list of honors. In the last two UCL finals and one UEFA Super Cup, he has not conceded a single goal. After being omitted from the Belgium squad at Euro 2024, he should be well rested come next season when the expectations will be to repeat as  UCL winners, especially after adding Kylian Mbappe. He ranked fourth in the Premier League for passes played and completed an impressive 91.5% of them, but his comfort with the ball on his feet is just one of his many attributes. His physical presence was crucial as Liverpool earned 10 clean sheets in the league, while his potentially unrivaled excellence on set pieces meant he added another five goals to his account this season.

READ THE LATEST NEWS FROM 90MIN’S TALKING TRANSFERS TEAM

Inter are known for their stubborn defence under Simone Inzaghi and key to that rigidity is Alessandro Bastoni. Capable of playing in a centre-back partnership or as part of a trio, the lanky Italian isn’t blessed with pace but has the intelligence to find himself in the right spot at the right moment. An underappreciated elite central defender, few strikers get the better of Bastoni in Italy, on the continent or on the international stage. If it wasn’t obvious enough that he’s the best player for the best team in the world, the stats back it up, with all four of City’s defeats this season coming without their key man, while their win rate drops from 75 per cent with him, to 33 per cent without him.

⚽ Kylian Mbappe (France)

Despite becoming Tottenham’s record goalscorer, Kane was unable to win a trophy at his boyhood club and so departed for Germany in 2023. Here is the list of the highest paid football players on the planet in 2023. The 18-year-old centre-back has been pulling up trees in France this season already and is one of the key components https://st-bet.net/ behind Lille’s hugely impressive form and defensive record. Yoro has featured in pretty much every Ligue 1 game this season, exhibiting incredible maturity and composure for a teenager. The dynamic midfielder has taken the move to Arsenal, and a world of much greater pressure and expectation, comfortably in his stride.

Crucial start/sit decisions for Week 5

Lionel Messi has been the undisputed king of the football world for the past decade, but his time at the top has drawn to a close. The 25-year-old is one of the fastest footballers we’ve ever seen grace the field, with shooting technique like no other. He can strike the ball on the run or with immense power from a dead standing start, he can finesse shots low into the corners or drill the ball high and rising into the roof of the net. Some might say it’s a season too soon to include him on this list of behemoths, but Bellingham has already shown enough to convince the world of his obscene talent at Dortmund, Real Madrid and on the international stage. Get your single bets paid out if the team you back goes 2 goals ahead – for multiple bets the selection will be marked as a winner with bet365. Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best football players in the world in 2024.

RODRYGO, Real Madrid/Brazil

“I hate playing as a number nine,” has been Rodrygo’s constant plea to Carlo Ancelotti, his manager, and the media, but on the pitch you can hardly tell. Unexpectedly helping Aston Villa to a Champions League push, manager Unai Emery’s high-risk high-reward tactics have left Martinez as a key last line of defence, and his one-on-one mastery is among the best in the world. Previously projected to be a future Ballon d’Or winner at Manchester City, Sane appeared to have run out of tricks, but manager Thomas Tuchel has revitalised him. Bayern Munich finally did exactly that last season in response to Manuel Neuer’s skiing accident, and while things didn’t quite work out for a shambolic Bayern side, Inter are now reaping the benefits. Considered the best of the rest for much of his career, many goalkeeping experts were continually baffled that no one tried to poach Sommer from Borussia Monchengladbach earlier.

Luis Díaz — Left Wing, Liverpool

The forward has been mightily impressive in South America, consistently producing goals for Palmeiras at youth and senior level. The tricky left-footed Belgian has already produced over ten goal contributions in Eredivisie this season, adding to the ten he managed last term. The 20-year-old has been linked with a move to Liverpool, eyed as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah. Bakayoko almost made the switch to the Premier League last summer, but rejected a £34m offer from Brentford. Instead, the winger has stuck around at PSV Eindhoven, sparkling in the Champions League this season with impressive outings against Arsenal in particular. With 2023 finally at an end, it’s time to look ahead to what’s in store for next year in the world of football.

Soccer

On that occasion, Jhon Duran added yet another top quality strike to his list, and the Colombian is surely giving Emery food for thought with regards to being handed a starting spot. As the 2024 Washington high school football season continues, SBLive WA is zeroing in on the state’s must-see quarterbacks throughout all classifications. Meyer gets a boost with Davante Adams out this week but has an extremely tough matchup against Patrick Surtain and the Broncos.

Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City

The Premier League, in all its hyper-exposed, tribal glory, is often not a place where rival fans can appreciate world class talent when they see it. When Kane moved to Germany and made such a mockery of the Bundesliga, everyone finally saw the plain truth. Mohamed Salah’s consistency remains remarkable with 31, 31, 30 goals in his last three seasons respectively across all competitions. He is rarely injured, rarely suspended and usually always available, proven by his 51 appearances in each of the last three campaigns. He has lost fractions of his blistering pace but his intelligence and manipulation of the football means his control over the result of games remains as strong as ever. He is not an all-action terrier, he won’t pitch in with the dirty work, but to count that against him is to miss the point entirely.

Meet the ball boy starring with Harry Kane, who could be a Euro wildcard and upset Alonso

Able to comfortably look like one of the best in the world at both centre back and right back, the Uruguayan is attracting interest from quite literally every big club in the world due to an expiring contract. Primed to take that mantle are Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, who have long been pencilled in as football’s new attacking rivalry, though Harry Kane may have something to say about that. And our ranking of the world’s best players is based on who’s the best right now. The award, for the best player in the world in 2023, saw many of the voters take Messi’s 2022 World Cup heroics into account. His physicality is unrivalled, his finishing ability – including improvised, instinctive finishing by any means necessary – is staggering and he boasts a turn of pace that few in the Premier League could match. The next few years should be explosive and, if he proves his consistency over several years, he will sit No.1 in this list without rival.

Joao Cancelo — Fullback, Barcelona

Analyze the potential impact of a trade before making a decision and negotiate with other teams to find a mutually beneficial agreement. While college football has been his focus, he also enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an “occasional” wager on such events. Chris recently won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational and finished in the Top 10 of the Golden Nugget Football Contest.

Lionel Messi — Forward, Inter Miami

When considering a possible drop in touches while also facing a team that is one of the top run defenses, the stars are not aligning for Moss. After starring in Ligue 1 with Lyon, Ferland Mendy departed for Real Madrid in 2019 and made an immediate impact. But he’s stepped up when it has mattered most and his well-rounded skill set means he’s one of the most complete left-backs in the world. Wendell was a late bloomer on the international scene, only making his Brazil debut in 2024. It did, however, come just in time to play as his country’s first choice left-back at that year’s Copa America.He has garnered attention for his role in Porto’s recent dominance in Portugal and could add to his trophy cabinet during the twilight of his career. Be prepared for bye weeksPlan ahead for bye weeks by having backup players ready to fill in for your starters.

FC 100: Mbappé, Ronaldo among best men’s soccer players

Madrid legend Toni Kroos is a romantic contender after retiring from football. Superstars such as Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal are expected to compete for The Best Men’s Player award in 2024. The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 saw Lionel Messi win yet again, but attention has now turned to the 2024 edition of the ceremony. Few can match the sheer explosiveness and dynamism of Milan winger Rafael Leao. The skilful Portuguese is often seen tormenting Serie A full-backs with his speed and quick feet, and yet still has room for improvement. Milan’s recent form hasn’t always given Leao the platform to shine but there is no stopping the fleet-footed attacker when he hits his stride.

• He is a tough, dependable receiver who fights for extra yardage and is a capable blocker.
• Winning the Golden Boot en route to the 2024 Copa America title has only boosted his reputation.
• Despite being just 20 years old, Luca Netz is already making waves thanks to his impressive performances for Borussia Monchengladbach.Big things are expected of the youngster over in Germany.
• He has since collected new individual records in his comeback year, chief among them breaking Iker Casillas’ record for most clean sheets in the Champions League.
• Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe were seen by many as undisputed pretenders to the throne prior to the emergence of Jude Bellingham and the continued growth of several established names.
• The award celebrates the best 11 players in the world each year, and gives players who don’t have a realistic shot at winning the overall award, primarily defensive players, recognition for their work on the pitch.
• The two-time All-Pro running back was the fireball within Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense, and opposing defenders had a tough time stopping McCaffrey, who led the NFL in yards after contact (949), according to Next Gen Stats.

Bellingham amazes every single week, adding a long-range thunderbolt to his repertoire against Barca in LaLiga, the 20-year-old is now adding headers and poachers finishes like a seasoned number nine. So good has Alexander Arnold been since Easter 2023 that there’s no longer conversations about his defensive ability. So good that even Sky Sports analyst and Manchester United legend Gary Neville is calling him the best in the world. Alisson stood out in an average Liverpool team last season, and is still standing out in a very good one this term. Key in their run to the Champions League final last season, Martinez looks hell-bent on bringing the Scudetto back to Milan, and may well cause another surprise in Europe.

The global players’ union FifPro, which had supported Diarra’s case, said the ruling “will change the landscape of professional football”. In a judgement issued in relation to a long-running lawsuit brought in Belgium by former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) said that some of Fifa’s regulations on player transfers contravened EU law. They had a double overtime win at Northwestern, a five-point win against UConn and a 20-point comeback against North Carolina.

Right-back was never the most glamorous position, but the game’s many evolutions have seen it become a thrilling and unpredictable spot on the pitch. The best in the game will marry a strong positional awareness with blinding speed, as well as the daring to surge forward and support their teams in attack. This year’s ballot had over 50 entries from all over the globe and from all areas of ESPN FC; from writers to reporters, from editors to producers, from behind-the-scenes staff to on-air talent. Gab Marcotti, Julien Laurens, Mark Ogden and Alejandro Moreno were just some of the key voters. Our rankings are divided into four lists and give readers the closest thing to a position-by-position “depth chart” across world soccer.

• Despite frequently stating his desire to play for Real Madrid, Mbappe opted against joining the Spanish giants and instead committed his future to Paris in a deal that apparently gives him control over coaching appointments and player recruitment.
• No one does that better than Alisson, who has brought old school goalkeeping orthodoxies to a position in continual flux.
• He is currently playing at Inter Miami, where he has made impressive results in the MLS.
• It’s no surprise that the forward got a little bored and decided to jet off to Atletico Madrid in search of more regular first-team football, where he will be hoping to add to his honours list up against city rivals Real Madrid and Catalan giants Barcelona.
• It resulted in Jackson, 27, winning his second Most Valuable Player award, which makes him the second-youngest player to accomplish the feat.
• It took Anthony Gordon a while to get going after his acrimonious departure from Everton for £40 million last January.

He ended up leading all quarterbacks in fantasy points and now is at QB7 on the year. The main reason he had that kind of fantasy upside is that the Colts were able to get a big lead, which pushed Fields to do more offensively than he has needed to this season. Despite being just 20 years old, Luca Netz is already making waves thanks to his impressive performances for Borussia Monchengladbach.Big things are expected of the youngster over in Germany. But their work has brought about a new breed of left-back and we’re now blessed with a myriad of stars in that position.

• He posted a 92.3% passing accuracy in the attacking third, taking five shots and creating one chance in the process.
• Analyze matchupsAnalyze the upcoming matchups for your players and opponents to determine which players to start in your lineup each week.
• I can’t fade Nico Collins, as he is just too good, but this Bills pass defense is not one you want to mess with.
• Currently, he’s at Bayern Munich, where he transferred at the summer transfer window.
• That sheer undefeatability was one of the reasons that this particular writer had him No.1 on his ballot but there is more to Rodri than just limiting the threat of defeat.
• Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best football players in the world in 2024.
• Before transferring to Real Madrid, he had made quite an impact at the German Borussia Dortmund.
• Outrageously talented young ballers from Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and others are all battling it out to be crowned the 2024 Golden Boy.

And now that we are four weeks in, the data is getting better in helping us make start/sit decisions. Week 4 was the best week so far for this column, which is how it should work. While the Buffs haven’t signed a lot of high school players (there are 11 true freshmen on scholarship this season), they’ve found some gems from the prep ranks.

When he started to show all promise at Valencia a decade ago (how is he already 30 years old?), he looked destined for superstardom. Another Portuguese prodigy ripped from Benfica for big money, only to then play for Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona in a six-year span. He’s as fast as they make them, he can dominate you with his technical skill, and even though he’s a fullback, he’s an attack-minded player with all the potential in the world.

Really makes us wish we’d tried harder in PE and done a few more sit-ups instead of seeing how many chicken dippers we could scran without dying. Vote on the footballers based on how much they dominated the pitch this year.

Besides the Norwegian striker, you’ll find Argentinian, French and English footballers on this list. They have all had an incredible 2023 season that manifested their placement at the top of this list. One of them is obviously the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi, and the 3rd place and French captain, Kylian Mbappe. McCaffrey flourished during his first full season in San Francisco, becoming the NFL’s rushing champion (1,459 yards) while leading the league in yards from scrimmage (2,023) and touchdowns (21) in 16 games played. The two-time All-Pro running back was the fireball within Kyle Shanahan’s potent offense, and opposing defenders had a tough time stopping McCaffrey, who led the NFL in yards after contact (949), according to Next Gen Stats. McCaffrey, whose breakaway speed makes him the prototypical backfield weapon, became the first 49ers player since Jerry Rice (1993) to win Offensive Player of the Year and his image will grace the cover of Madden NFL 25 following his best season to date.

Parker Brailsford, C, AlabamaI was unsure what to expect from Brailsford after he opted out of spring football, but he looks fantastic early on for the Crimson Tide. Brailsford is a bit undersized but shows elite quickness, technique, and the ability to pull and add gaps in the running game. He has a bright future and will face a tough decision about whether to stay for another season or leave early. Kyle Kennard, Edge, South CarolinaThe former Yellow Jacket is excelling for the Gamecocks, with 5.5 sacks, 17 total pressures, and 8.5 TFLs on a defense that is dominating early. Kennard has a nice toolbox of moves, including a great get-off, speed to power, and a quick inside move. He had an impressive game against future first-rounder Will Campbell of LSU a few weeks ago.

While Frimpong tends to hold his width and hover on the peripheries of attacks, Grimaldo has more freedom to glide around and get involved in the build up while still getting a sizeable number of penalty box touches. He may not always command the fanfare that others do, but few players are as universally respected and incredibly liked as Son Heung-Min, arguably Tottenham Hotspur’s greatest signing (if excluding academy products) in the last several decades. Another Chelsea export to Saudi Arabia, Kante signed for Al-Ittihad, also in the summer of ’23. The 33-year-old proved that he’s still one of the very best in the game during Euro 2024 and, like Koulibaly, is making a cool half a million quid per week over in Saudi. At the end of that season, Al-Hilal (more on them later) paid the Blues £20m for his services, and whacked a contract in front of him worth half a million a week.

This site contains commercial content and CBS Sports may be compensated for the links provided on this site. Borussia Dortmund’s Cinderella run to the 2024 UEFA Champions League final was built on the back of a strong defense, and at the heart of their resolve in the back was veteran Mats Hummels. For some of our panel these questions will have proven to be more persuasive. All of those mentioned above — and a great many others who will sit in the top have delivered moments of transcendent brilliance in this past season and beyond.

Most sports journeys, though, are not linear but a lengthy road to landing in the right place at the right time can be a triumphant one. Look no further than their UEFA Champions League campaign, when they made a surprise run to the quarterfinals despite drawing Serie A champions Inter in the round of 16. Oblak was one of the best goalkeepers in Europe last season, making 38 saves — the fourth-most in the competition — and posting a 74.5% save percentage, behind only Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel. It was not just his stability that helped Atleti reach the last eight, either. He was arguably one of the heroes of their round of 16 triumph, making two stops in a penalty shootout as the Spanish side overcame a 2-0 aggregate disadvantage to force spot kicks.

The Gunners had to adapt their build-up play to accommodate Declan Rice but he’s contributed so much out of possession to make them a more balanced team. Chipping in with vital goals against Manchester United, Chelsea and Luton Town has helped his cause too. No player has featured in more matches for Pep Guardiola than Bernardo Silva. There can be no higher compliment to his talent, work rate and tactical awareness than perhaps the greatest manager of all time relying on him so much. The 29-year-old’s versatility has seen him fill multiple roles at Manchester City and he’s been at his fluent best this season. The Norwegian goal machine showed no signs of slowing down until fracturing a bone in his foot against Aston Villa in early December.

Your votes will help recognize the exceptional talent and contributions of these remarkable athletes, celebrating those who are at the pinnacle of the soccer world today. Wingers have become a little antiquated in the modern game, but there’s still plenty of benefit to having fast, forward-thinking players in wide positions. Blessed with pace and persistence to beat their markers and make it to the byline for a cut-back cross, they can be truly dangerous. These are your showboats, your goal scorers, your free-roaming forces of nature. These days, shot-stoppers are expected to start the attacking moves often by playing out from the back as well as shutting them down.