Ousmane Dembele tops ESPN world player rankings

Ousmane Dembele has been named the world’s best player in ESPN’s latest global ranking, finishing ahead of Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

Paris Saint-Germain teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia completed the top three in the list, which was reported by Mega PSG.

The recognition follows an exceptional period for Dembele at club level. The French forward helped PSG win back-to-back Champions League titles, becoming a central figure in the team’s sustained success on the European stage.

His outstanding 2024-25 campaign culminated in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, awarded on September 22, 2025 by France Football and UEFA. Dembele edged Yamal for football’s biggest individual prize after voters recognised his decisive influence during PSG’s treble-winning season.

Yamal placed second in ESPN’s ranking, while Kvaratskhelia’s third-place finish highlighted PSG’s strong representation at the top of the game. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane ranked fourth, ahead of teammate Michael Olise in fifth.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland took sixth spot, followed by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe. Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, Vinicius Junior and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice rounded out the top 10.

Dembele’s position at the summit reflects both his individual quality and PSG’s recent dominance across major competitions.