Sports
Bellingham tops world’s best attacking midfielders as FIFA ranks youngest World Cup winners, Africa’s top stars
Three major football rankings released on Thursday celebrated some of the game’s brightest talents, with Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham emerging as the world’s best attacking midfielder, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr leading the list of Africa’s standout performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal entered the all-time list of the youngest players to win football’s biggest prize.
The rankings, published by Planet Football and FIFA, highlight the growing influence of young players in world football and the increasing impact of African stars on the global stage.
Bellingham named world’s best attacking midfielder
Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham was ranked the world’s best attacking midfielder by Planet Football, edging Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Argentina’s Nico Paz.
The ranking focused exclusively on attack-minded midfielders and traditional No. 10s, excluding deeper-lying and defensive midfielders.
Despite a campaign considered below the lofty standards he set during his first season in Spain, Bellingham retained the top spot after another series of influential performances, particularly at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Planet Football noted that many of his challenges stemmed from Real Madrid’s midfield transition following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić rather than any decline in his individual quality.
Fernandes finished second after another productive season for Manchester United. Although the club endured an inconsistent campaign, the Portugal international remained one of Europe’s most creative players, excelling in chance creation and attacking play.
Completing the top three was Argentine youngster Nico Paz, whose breakthrough season with Como established him as one of football’s fastest-rising talents.
Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki was placed fourth after an impressive debut campaign in England, while Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo occupied fifth place.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White ranked sixth ahead of Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer in seventh.
Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz came eighth, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard was ninth, while Barcelona youngster Fermín López completed the top 10.
Planet Football’s top 10 attacking midfielders
1. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)
2. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/Portugal)
3. Nico Paz (Como/Argentina)
4. Rayan Cherki (Manchester City/France)
5. Dani Olmo (Barcelona/Spain)
6. Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest/England)
7. Cole Palmer (Chelsea/England)
8. Florian Wirtz (Liverpool/Germany)
9. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal/Norway)
10. Fermín López (Barcelona/Spain)
Ismaila Sarr leads Africa’s World Cup stars
Africa’s expanded representation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup also produced several standout individual performances, with Senegal winger Ismaila Sarr emerging as the continent’s highest-ranked player.
Sarr scored four goals during the tournament, using his pace and attacking ability to spearhead Senegal’s campaign.
Second on the list was DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa, whose three goals—including a decisive brace—helped his country reach the knockout rounds for the first time in its history.
Teenage winger Yan Diomande of Côte d’Ivoire was ranked third after an impressive breakthrough tournament, while Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi placed fourth following another commanding World Cup display.
Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha earned fifth place after producing a series of outstanding performances, including an exceptional display against Spain.
Morocco’s Ismael Saibari finished sixth after becoming one of Africa’s leading scorers and finding the net in all three group-stage matches.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo ranked seventh, with Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye eighth.
Egypt’s Emam Ashour occupied ninth position, while Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza rounded off the top 10.
Africa’s top 10 performers at the 2026 World Cup
1. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
2. Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
3. Yan Diomande (Côte d’Ivoire)
4. Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco)
5. Vozinha (Cabo Verde)
6. Ismael Saibari (Morocco)
7. Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire)
8. Pape Gueye (Senegal)
9. Emam Ashour (Egypt)
10. Ibrahim Maza (Algeria)
FIFA unveils youngest World Cup winners
FIFA also published the list of the 20 youngest footballers to have won the FIFA World Cup, with Brazilian legend Pelé remaining the youngest champion in history.
Pelé won the 1958 World Cup at just 17 years and 249 days, a record that has stood for nearly seven decades.
Former Brazil striker Ronaldo ranks second after winning the 1994 World Cup aged 17 years and 298 days, although he did not feature during the tournament.
Italy defender Giuseppe Bergomi occupies third place after lifting the trophy in 1982 at 18 years and 174 days.
The latest addition to the elite list is Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who entered the rankings after helping Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the age of 19 years and six days.
Yamal shares fourth place with Brazil’s Coutinho, who won the World Cup at exactly the same age.
Other notable names include France’s Kylian Mbappé, Brazil’s Kaká, Germany’s Julian Draxler, France’s Thierry Henry and Argentina goalkeeper Luis Islas.
FIFA’s 20 youngest World Cup winners
1. Pelé (Brazil) – 17 years, 249 days
2. Ronaldo (Brazil) – 17 years, 298 days
3. Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy) – 18 years, 174 days
4. Coutinho (Brazil) – 19 years, 6 days
5. Lamine Yamal (Spain) – 19 years, 6 days
6. Marco Antonio (Brazil) – 19 years, 135 days
7. Pau Cubarsí (Spain) – 19 years, 178 days
8. Kylian Mbappé (France) – 19 years, 207 days
9. Mazzola (Brazil) – 19 years, 309 days
10. Rubén Morán (Uruguay) – 19 years, 344 days
11. Felice Borel (Italy) – 20 years, 66 days
12. Kaká (Brazil) – 20 years, 69 days
13. Matthias Ginter (Germany) – 20 years, 175 days
14. Luis Islas (Argentina) – 20 years, 189 days
15. Clodoaldo (Brazil) – 20 years, 268 days
16. David Trezeguet (France) – 20 years, 270 days
17. Julian Draxler (Germany) – 20 years, 296 days
18. Edu (Brazil) – 20 years, 319 days
19. Thierry Henry (France) – 20 years, 329 days
20. Uli Biesinger (West Germany) – 20 years, 332 days
The latest rankings underline the changing face of world football, with emerging talents increasingly dominating the sport while African players continue to make a stronger impact on football’s biggest stage.
