Reflecting on the 2025-26 campaign, the global game witnessed monumental achievements across domestic and international stages. Arsenal ended a two-decade wait by capturing their first Premier League title in over twenty years, while Paris Saint-Germain solidified their status at the peak of European football by claiming a second consecutive UEFA Champions League trophy. On the international stage, Spain lifted their second-ever FIFA World Cup following a dramatic final victory over Argentina. These defining triumphs set the backdrop for the tenth annual FC 100 rankings, evaluated by a global panel of editors, journalists, commentators, and former players who cast individual votes based on performance, silverware, and tactical influence.
Paris Saint-Germain’s European dominance translated directly to the individual honors, leading all clubs with 13 players making the list—aided by France’s strong run to the World Cup semifinals. Arsenal’s historic league crown saw 10 of their stars recognized, including goalkeeper David Raya and forward Kai Havertz. Manchester City also maintained heavy representation through stalwarts like Rodri, Erling Haaland, and Marc Guehi. Over the decade-long history of this index, Real Madrid leads all clubs with 99 total appearances, followed by Manchester City with 85 and Barcelona with 83. Conversely, traditional powers such as Manchester United (32), Borussia Dortmund (22), and Milan (19) sit outside the top 10 following domestic and continental hiccups in recent seasons.
Sustained excellence over a ten-year span remains exceptionally rare, yet 15 elite players have secured places in at least eight of the 10 editions. Mainstays like Virgil van Dijk, Thibaut Courtois, Joshua Kimmich, Marc-André ter Stegen, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Antoine Griezmann, Alisson, Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappé, Jan Oblak, and Harry Kane have consistently defined their positions. However, only two icons stand as true ever-presents across every single edition: Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski. Their decade of unbroken inclusion highlights a standard of sustained output unmatched in the modern era.
Central defenders featured prominently among this year’s top performers, illustrating the tactical evolution of the position. PSG captain Marquinhos rose to sixth among center backs in his sixth overall appearance after leading his side to back-to-back European titles. The 32-year-old Brazilian set the benchmark for Ligue 1 players by winning 36 aerial duels in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s 6-foot-5 defender Jonathan Tah established himself as an indispensable anchor under manager Vincent Kompany. Tah logged nearly 3,800 minutes across all competitions, anchoring Bayern’s buildup with patient distribution while dominating opponents in the air.
