Best 30 men’s footballers in Britain right now

It is that time of the year where Telegraph Sport takes stock and runs the rule over Britain’s greatest current players

As 2023 draws towards a close, Telegraph Sport will be assessing the top 30 players in Britain across various sports across this week. On Monday it started with women’s football and now it is the turn of men’s football.
To make the top 30, players must be playing for a club in Britain right now and is based on their form this season alone.
Kamara is arguably the league’s most underrated player. Signed by Steven Gerrard on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, the French midfielder has been fundamental to Villa’s progress under Unai Emery. Strong, intelligent, technically assured – and still only 24-years-old.
Van de Ven has been one of the signings of the season and he would feature much higher on this list if he had not suffered a serious injury in November. The 22-year-old’s recovery pace allows Spurs to play a high defensive line.
Another player who would rank significantly higher on our list if he had remained fit. Neto assisted seven goals in his first 10 games of the campaign and appeared to be back to his best after consistent injury problems in recent years. A hamstring issue has set him back again.
Alisson remains the league’s standout goalkeeper and he continues to produce big saves at big moments for Liverpool. The Brazilian does make occasional mistakes but he more than makes up for those with his shot-stopping ability, presence and distribution.
Odegaard was near the top of this list last season but he suffered an uncharacteristic dip in form at the start of this campaign. In recent weeks, however, the Arsenal captain has regained his mojo. When he plays well, Arsenal play well.
There is a reason that City wanted to sign Paqueta. A showman who creates and scores goals, but also works for his team. The Brazilian is heading for the top of the game, with or without West Ham.
Solanke has already scored more league goals this season than he managed in any of his previous campaigns in the Premier League. Now 26, he is thriving in a team that plays with a more expansive and adventurous style. Does he have an outside chance of making it to the Euros with England?
Is any single player as important to their team as Palhinha is to Fulham? The Portugal midfielder has established himself as the division’s toughest tackler. Without him, Fulham would probably be relegation candidates. It is no surprise that Bayern Munich – and numerous Premier League clubs – are hoping to sign the 28-year-old.
“People have not understood yet the level of Pascal,” said Roberto De Zerbi, the Brighton head coach, earlier this month. “He is underestimated as a player.”
The arrival of De Zerbi has helped Gross to establish himself as one of the league’s most intelligent and versatile players. Now a full Germany international, he continues to go from strength to strength, even at the age of 32.
Eyebrows were raised when Newcastle spent £45 million on Gordon in January but he is now showing why Eddie Howe was so keen to bring him to the club. His standout qualities are his energy and willingness, but he is also learning to be decisive in the final third. Another player who might break into the England squad in time for the Euros.
Villa’s unexpected charge up the league title has been made possible by the strength and intelligence of their midfield. Luiz, more than anyone, provides the platform that allows the other Villa players to shine. Arsenal tried to sign him in the past but it would take a truly enormous fee to buy him now.
Hwang was far from prolific in his first few seasons at Wolves but this year, under the management of Gary O’Neil, he has been excellent in front of goal. The South Korea international was fully deserving of the new contract he signed earlier this month.
Brentford have been without Ivan Toney all season and no player has done more to fill the void than Mbeumo, who scored seven goals and registered three assists in 17 matches before suffering an ankle injury earlier this month. The 24-year-old is beginning to fulfil his huge potential.
The Villa captain provides relentless energy and plenty of technical quality to his team. McGinn is now playing a more advanced position and he is thriving there, carrying the ball forward and creating chances for his team-mates. He has already scored more goals this season than in any previous Premier League campaign.
Bowen has spent most of his career as a wide forward but he is now showing that he can also excel as a striker. A brilliant finisher who terrifies defenders with his pace and willingness to run in behind, he continues to impress under David Moyes.
A sudden dip in form in December should not detract from the excellent performances Trippier has been producing this season. He embodies much of what makes Newcastle such an exciting team, and very few players are as accurate and decisive in their deliveries from wide.
Foden was in and out of the team for most of last season but, this year, he has established himself as a genuinely key player once more. Now 23, Foden is no longer the academy kid with enormous potential. He is a senior player, showing his quality every week.
The best English centre-forward in the league, now that Harry Kane has left for Bayern Munich. Watkins is an all-round striker who continues to improve his game with each season. He can bring others into play, create goals, score them himself and is devastating when there is space behind an opposition defence.
A World Cup-winning forward who perhaps does not get the credit he deserves. Alvarez has solidified his place in the City team this season and has produced a consistent flow of goals and assists. At the age of 23, there is so much more to come.
After a much-discussed dip in form last year, Van Dijk appears to be returning to his imperious best this season. When fully fit, Van Dijk is a titan in the Liverpool defence and the man who sets the tone for Jurgen Klopp’s side. A leader, a winner and one of the Premier League’s finest ever defenders.
Even at £40 million, the deal taking Maddison from Leicester City to Spurs appears to be one of the shrewdest that any club has made in recent seasons. His impact has been enormous – he was instantly made vice-captain – and his technical ability in midfield has allowed Postecoglou to impose a new, progressive style at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It says plenty about Saliba’s importance to Arsenal that their fans would not swap him for any other defender in the division. Not even Van Dijk. With the Frenchman, Arsenal are good enough to challenge for the league title. Without him, they probably are not. Composed on the ball, strong in the air and quick across the ground: Saliba has it all.
Silva is fundamental to City, with and without the ball. He will never be a prolific goalscorer but the midfielder is a master of angles and movement, and his intelligence allows City to dominate matches. Off the ball, he is relentless. He is becoming one of the all-time Premier League greats, if he is not there already.
Alexander-Arnold’s redeployment as an inverted right-back appears to have unlocked new levels in his game. The Premier League’s best passer, and a player who is becoming more and more of a leader for his club. Alexander-Arnold is also developing a taste for producing decisive interventions at big moments in big matches.
Perhaps the one player that Guardiola cannot do without. City were missing Rodri for three matches in September and October, and they lost all three of them. It happened again when they travelled to Villa earlier this month. City’s reliance on Rodri speaks volumes of his understanding of the game, his defensive awareness and his technical quality.
Arsenal’s “starboy” is becoming more efficient and effective with each passing season. Saka’s decision-making in the final third is extraordinary for a player who is still only 22, and his durability has allowed him to gradually become the key figure in Arsenal’s attack.
The Premier League’s first £100 million bargain? Rice arrived at Arsenal with an enormous price tag on his head but there is little discussion of that fee now. He is justifying it every week with his personality and determination in midfield, and his ability to shape big games.
After playing through an injury for much of last season, Son is now pain-free and excelling in a new era for Spurs. Now the club captain, Son has been ruthless in front of goal and has set the tone for Postecoglou’s side with his intensity off the ball. Spurs will miss him badly when he leaves for the Asian Cup next month.
The Premier League’s deadliest player. Perhaps it is already fair to say he is the Premier League’s deadliest ever player. When Haaland plays, Haaland usually scores. A unique talent.
Salah sneaks ahead of Haaland – just about – because of his all-round game. The Liverpool forward creates almost as many goals as he scores. In an evolving Liverpool side, with so much change taking place around him, Salah’s brilliance in the final third remains constant.