How the Guardian ranked the 100 best male footballers in the world 2024
Share:
Bebeto, Leonardo Bonucci and Siem De Jong were all part of the 197-strong voting panel to determine our ranking on the best talent in the world. The year is drawing to a close and as always we have reached out to a wide array of former players, coaches and journalists around the world to rank the best male footballers of the year.
![[Marcus Christenson]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/11/10/Marcus_Christenson,_L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
It has been another momentous year. Argentina won the Copa América, Spain triumphed at the Euros while Botafogo, Real Madrid and Al Ahly calimed the biggest regional club competitions. This year we could call on football luminaries such as Leonardo Bonucci, Demetrio Albertini, Siem De Jong, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Hitzlsperger to take part in the voting. From South America Bebeto, Walter Casagrande, Lucas Leiva and Juninho Pernambucano among others who joined a selection of coaches, broadcasters, reporters, correspondents and editors from around the world to form a knowledgable and truly global jury. The 23 former professionals have won a combined 982 international caps.
![[Demetrio Albertini in action for Italy in 2000]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a548eaafd84fe0220657c44cb79cd00f564f3623/38_367_1645_986/master/1645.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The countdown begins at on Tuesday 17 December with numbers 100-71. On Wednesday we will reveal Nos 70-41, on Thursday 40-11 before the top 10 on Friday completes this year’s list. The top 100 rules are explained beneath the list of judges. The judges are listed in alphabetical order by category.
![[Thomas Hitzlsperger celebrates after scoring for Aston Villa in 2002]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/edfe577e7ecbe45a27f422a5a545e3756706f141/0_112_1700_1020/master/1700.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
