Who is the best footballer in the world right now? It feels like the question has been stuck on the same two names for more than a decade. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo defined an era, and even in 2026, their shadows still loom over every conversation. But if you ask me, the answer has quietly shifted to Harry Kane. Have you seen what he has been doing at Bayern this season? His capacity to drop deep, turn in midfield, and release runners with a sweeping cross-field pass is utterly unique. Then, almost before the move has finished, he arrives in the box at exactly the right moment to finish. It is not an England or Spurs bias talking — it is simply the reality of watching a complete striker operate at his peak.
The problem? None of that necessarily translates to EA Sports FC 26. The meta belongs to a different breed. Kylian Mbappé’s explosive pace and ruthless finishing, or Ousmane Dembélé’s lightning-quick two-footed dribbling, are exactly what thrive in competitive play. France’s attacking pool is frightening, isn’t it? A front line that can rotate Mbappé, Dembélé, and a host of other world-class dribblers is enough to make any defender in the game nervous. Kane will win you real-world points; in FC 26, he may not.
So who do you think belongs on top? That is exactly what we set out to settle. With EA’s new World’s Game mode, you can play through a global international tournament of your choosing, full of soccer’s biggest stars. It arrives at the perfect time: the real World Cup is being played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026, and the mode is built to let you rewrite history with any nation you like. To celebrate that, we have created a face-off game featuring 40 of the best players available in FC 26 — all of whom are actually participating in the real tournament. That last point matters more than you might think. It means some outrageously entertaining stars are missing. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia springs to mind. Georgia failed to qualify, so one of the most ludicrously watchable dribblers on the planet is not in our voting pool. Could you imagine a World Cup without Kvaratskhelia pulling off something absurd? It’s a genuine loss, isn’t it?
The face-off format is simple: you are shown a series of head-to-head duels, and you pick the player you think is better. Your choices feed into a live ranking. Do you reward a striker like Kane for his all-round intelligence, or do you lean toward pure match-winners like Mbappé? There is no right answer, but the results reveal what the FC community truly prioritises. In early voting, the names near the top have been fascinating. Alexander Isak has made a strong push, which tells you how highly people rate his blend of height, pace, and finishing in the modern game. Martin Ødegaard has also appeared on the podium, which reflects how important close control and playmaking have become even in a game that often glorifies speed. Virgil van Dijk remains a defensive titan in the voting, a reminder that not every duel has to be about attackers.
| Player type | Example | Why they dominate |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-lying complete forward | Harry Kane | Vision, passing range, late box arrivals |
| Explosive winger | Kylian Mbappé | Acceleration, directness, lethal finishing |
| Two-footed dribbler | Ousmane Dembélé | Unpredictable direction, skill moves |
| Ball-winning centre-back | Virgil van Dijk | Strength, positioning, aerial dominance |
| Creative playmaker | Martin Ødegaard | Tight-space passing, tempo control |
The real World Cup in 2026 adds extra weight to every choice. This is not a hypothetical debate about club form; it is a tournament featuring the best players from nations across North America. The same players you vote for here will be trying to lift the actual trophy in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. I cannot help but wonder whether international football will change the conversation once again. Kane will be leading England, Mbappé will be trying to drag France to another final, and players like Isak and Ødegaard will be aiming to make Scandinavian football proud. If one of them produces a defining World Cup moment, the FC 26 meta might suddenly feel very different.
At the end of the day, the best player in the world remains a deliciously subjective question. My vote still goes to Harry Kane for his complete attacking profile, but I know many of you will disagree. That is the fun of it. So get voting, and we will let you know who comes out on top. Keep an eye on the results to see how your personal choices compare with the wider community. The beautiful game never stops arguing, does it?