Top 24 in 2024. The best footballers in Europe according to Dailysports
Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
European football captivates fans from all over the world. The year 2024 delivered plenty of emotions and remarkable events. As the year comes to an end, it's customary to review its highlights, and our team decided to uphold this tradition.
We have prepared a series of articles about the best football players from different parts of the world in 2024, titled Top 24 in 2024. This time, we focus on players from Europe.
24. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli, Georgia)
Last season wasn’t as bright for Napoli as the previous one. Despite this, Khvicha continues to play a key role in the Neapolitan attack. He featured in 45 matches, scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists. Furthermore, Kvaratskhelia had an incredible UEFA European Championship 2024. For the first time in history, his national team participated in the tournament and advanced to the playoffs. In the qualifiers, Khvicha scored four goals, adding another during the tournament itself.
23. Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting, Portugal)
A phenomenal revelation of 2024. Last season, the Swedish striker played 50 matches for his club, scoring 43 goals and delivering 15 assists. In the current campaign, he continues to shine, with 27 goals in 26 matches across all competitions, plus five assists. In a UEFA Champions League match against Manchester City, he scored a hat-trick. Gyökeres has become an extraordinary asset for Sporting, and it's only a matter of time before the club capitalizes on his value.
22. Artem Dovbyk (Girona, Roma, Ukraine)
The Ukrainian forward moved to Spain, where he quickly became a key player for his team. Last season, he scored 24 goals in 36 matches, earning the title of La Liga’s best striker. Dovbyk played a crucial role in Girona’s historic campaign, where they won bronze medals and secured UEFA Champions League qualification. However, Artem did not make his debut in the prestigious competition, as he now plays for Roma. His current form is inconsistent, with nine goals in 22 matches across all competitions. Similarly, Roma has struggled this season, already changing coaches three times.
21. Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter, Turkey)
A consistently pivotal midfielder for both club and country. Last season, he played 40 matches for Inter, scoring 15 goals and winning the Serie A title. With Turkey, he also delivered strong performances, scoring once in four matches and reaching the quarterfinals of the European Championship, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to the Netherlands. This season, Çalhanoğlu remains a central figure for Inter, appearing in 18 matches, scoring five goals, and providing two assists.
20. William Saliba (Arsenal, France)
A key central defender for both Arsenal and the French national team. Saliba played 50 matches for Arsenal last season, featuring in all 38 Premier League games and 10 Champions League fixtures. He also played all six matches at Euro 2024. A reliable and consistent presence at the back, Saliba ensures defensive stability. This season, he has already made 25 appearances and scored two goals. Arsenal excels in set-pieces, and the 192 cm tall center-back plays a crucial role in aerial duels.
19. Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen, Switzerland)
In the summer of 2023, Xhaka moved from Arsenal to Bayer Leverkusen. At 31, many believed his best years were behind him, but he proved the opposite. Xhaka became a pivotal figure in Xabi Alonso's midfield, solidifying Bayer's core and helping the team achieve a domestic double.
Last season, he played 50 matches across all competitions. At Euro 2024, Xhaka played five games for Switzerland, reaching the quarterfinals and narrowly losing to England. This season, he remains vital for Leverkusen, having already made 25 appearances.
18. Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao, Spain)
The Spanish winger had a stellar last season, playing a crucial role for both his club and national team. Williams featured in 37 matches for Bilbao, scoring eight goals and providing 19 assists. He also helped Athletic win the Copa del Rey, contributing three goals and five assists in the tournament. Williams capped off his club success with an outstanding Euro 2024 performance, scoring two goals and assisting one in six matches, as Spain won the European Championship. However, his current season has been less impressive, with two goals and five assists in 23 appearances. Due to his inconsistent form, Nico ranks 18th.
17. Nicolò Barella (Inter, Italy)
Barella enjoyed a fantastic season with Inter, winning the Serie A title. He played 37 league matches, scoring twice and providing six assists. At Euro 2024, Italy underperformed, exiting in the Round of 16, but Barella delivered solid performances, scoring once in the tournament. This season, he continues to be a consistent force, appearing in 19 matches, scoring three goals, and delivering four assists. Barella remains a key player for Inter, as they compete for the Serie A title.
16. Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
A long-time leader of Bayer Leverkusen’s defense, Tah had an exceptional season last year. He played a crucial role in Bayer’s Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs, remaining unbeaten in domestic competitions. Over the 2023/24 campaign, he appeared in 48 matches across all competitions. Additionally, he was a key player for Germany at Euro 2024. This season, Tah continues to be a vital figure for Bayer, already featuring in 25 matches and scoring two goals.
15. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal, Norway)
An incredibly important player for both his club and national team. Last season, Ødegaard played 48 matches in all competitions, including 35 in the Premier League. He contributed 11 goals and 11 assists during Arsenal’s 2023/24 campaign, narrowly missing out on the league title, finishing second. This season, he remains Arsenal’s leader but has been hindered by injuries, missing nearly two months and returning only in early November. When he plays, Arsenal performs with greater maturity and is once again among the title favorites. In 15 matches this season, he has scored once and provided five assists.
14. Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid, Germany)
Rüdiger has been a consistent performer in defense over the past few years, and last season was no exception. He played 49 matches across all competitions, helping Real Madrid win La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2024. This season, he remains a key player in Real Madrid’s central defense, holding the backline together despite numerous injuries within the squad. Real Madrid is still competing for all major trophies.
13. Phil Foden (Manchester City, England)
Named England’s best player last season, Foden played 53 matches for Manchester City in the 2023/24 campaign. During this time, he scored 27 goals and provided 12 assists, playing a pivotal role in City’s Premier League title win. At Euro 2024, Foden featured in all seven matches, earning a silver medal, although he did not score or assist during the tournament. This season, injuries have sidelined him for over a month. Foden has played 20 matches so far, but this campaign has been less spectacular for him and City as a whole. As a result, Foden falls outside the top 10 in this ranking.
12. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Last season was disappointing for Bayern Munich, as they finished third in the league. Despite this, Musiala had an excellent campaign. Even after missing a few weeks due to injury, he played 38 matches across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists. Musiala also shone at Euro 2024, where he scored three goals in five matches, establishing himself as one of the tournament's top forwards, even though Germany didn’t win the title. This season, he continues to be a standout performer for Bayern, scoring 14 goals and delivering six assists in 22 matches.
11. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
For several seasons, Van Dijk has been regarded as one of the world’s best central defenders, and the past campaign was no exception. He played 48 matches across all competitions last season, scoring four goals and assisting twice. Van Dijk helped Liverpool win the EFL Cup in 2024. As the captain of the Netherlands, he was instrumental at Euro 2024, where the team reached the semifinals before losing to England. This season, Van Dijk has already made 23 appearances for Liverpool, who have started their campaign brilliantly. Liverpool currently lead both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League standings, making them favorites for both titles.
10. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal, England)
Like Martin Ødegaard, Saka is an indispensable player for Arsenal. Last season, he played 47 matches, scoring 20 goals and providing 14 assists, making him a driving force in Arsenal’s title challenge, which lasted until the final day. At Euro 2024, Saka was also a key player for England, appearing in all seven matches, scoring once, and assisting another goal. Both with Arsenal and England, he finished as a runner-up in their respective tournaments.
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In the 2024/25 season, Saka has continued his strong form, scoring nine goals and recording 13 assists in 24 matches. Unfortunately, he recently sustained an injury that could sideline him for up to two months, according to Mikel Arteta. Arsenal remains a title contender, but their chances will undoubtedly be tested without Saka.
9. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
One of the breakout stars of the first half of the year, Wirtz had an incredible season for both Bayer Leverkusen and the German national team. He played 49 matches for Bayer across all competitions, scoring 18 goals and providing 20 assists. Wirtz was instrumental in Leverkusen’s domestic double triumph. At Euro 2024, he became a key player for Germany, forming a formidable attacking partnership with Jamal Musiala. Wirtz played five matches in the tournament, scoring twice. This season, he remains a vital figure in Bayer’s attack. With 12 goals and eight assists in 25 matches, Wirtz is on track to surpass his previous year’s numbers.
8. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
Despite being only 17 years old, Yamal has become indispensable in the attack for both Barcelona and Spain. Last season, he played 50 matches for the Blaugrana, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists. At Euro 2024, Yamal delivered an outstanding performance, appearing in all seven matches, scoring once, and assisting four times, becoming the tournament’s top assist provider. This season, Yamal continues to be a critical contributor for Barcelona, with six goals and 12 assists in 21 matches across all competitions. Despite missing a few matches due to injuries, he has maintained his high level of play. Unfortunately, Yamal is currently sidelined with another injury and is expected to return in mid-January 2025.
7. Kylian Mbappé (PSG, Real Madrid, France)
Last season was highly productive for the French forward at PSG. Mbappé played 49 matches across all competitions, scoring 45 goals and providing 11 assists. He won Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France and reached the UEFA Champions League semifinals, where PSG lost a closely contested battle to Borussia Dortmund. He also shared the top scorer title in the Champions League and led Ligue 1 in goals. However, at Euro 2024, Mbappé’s performances were underwhelming, partly due to an early injury where he broke his nose. Despite recovering quickly and playing five matches, he managed only one goal and two assists, with more criticism directed at Didier Deschamps’ tactical approach than at Mbappé himself.
In the summer, Mbappé transferred to Real Madrid. While his form has been inconsistent, he has scored 13 goals in 23 matches, though his finishing could improve. He helped Real win two trophies: the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring in both finals.
6. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
Last season was a disappointing one for Bayern Munich, as the club finished third in the Bundesliga and failed to win any trophies. Despite this, Kane was a standout performer. He played 45 matches for Bayern, scoring 44 goals and assisting 12. Kane was the top scorer in both the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League, carrying his team through tough moments.
Kane also excelled at Euro 2024, scoring three goals in seven matches, although he fell short of claiming the title. Nevertheless, he was among the tournament’s top scorers. Unfortunately, Kane’s career continues to lack a major team trophy.
This season, Kane has been in exceptional form, scoring 20 goals in 20 matches for Bayern. The team is currently at the top of the Bundesliga table, and with their strong performances, this could be the season when Kane finally ends his title drought.
5. Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
When it comes to players who single-handedly carried their teams, Cole Palmer must be mentioned. The midfielder played 45 matches for Chelsea last season, scoring 25 goals and providing 15 assists. With his goal contributions, Palmer became the Premier League’s best player in terms of combined goals and assists. He was also named England’s Young Player of the Year.
At Euro 2024, Palmer didn’t receive significant playing time but still managed a goal and an assist in five matches. This season, he continues to impress, registering 12 goals and six assists in 20 matches. Palmer also set a Chelsea record for the most goals scored in a calendar year with 26 strikes. Without Palmer, Chelsea likely wouldn’t have finished in a European qualification spot last year or be in the Premier League’s top four this season.
4. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Haaland remains an essential figure in Manchester City’s attack, where much depends on his performances. Last season, he played 45 matches, scoring 38 goals and contributing five assists. Haaland was the Premier League’s top striker and second-best player overall in terms of combined goals and assists. His goalscoring prowess helped City claim their fourth consecutive Premier League title.
This season, Haaland started in typical form, scoring prolifically. However, he endured a significant goal drought before finding the net again near the end of the year. In total, he has scored 19 goals in 26 matches this season.
3. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
The English midfielder joined Real Madrid and enjoyed a fantastic season. Bellingham often secured victories for Los Blancos with crucial goals, including in El Clásico. Overall, he played 43 matches, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists.
At Euro 2024, Bellingham was pivotal in England’s midfield, playing all seven matches, scoring twice, and adding an assist. This season, his role has shifted, and while his output has decreased slightly with seven goals and six assists in 21 matches, his contributions remain invaluable.
Bellingham’s 2024 was also filled with trophies: he won La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, while also earning a silver medal at Euro 2024.
2. Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
The Spanish defensive midfielder is a cornerstone for both Manchester City and the Spanish national team. Last season, Rodri played 50 matches across all competitions for City, scoring nine goals and providing 14 assists. His influence in midfield was equally vital for Spain, guiding the team to the Euro 2024 final. Unfortunately, he sustained an injury during the final and was unable to finish the match, which ended in victory for La Furia Roja.
Rodri recovered from that injury but managed only three matches this season before suffering another severe injury that has ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. His absence has been deeply felt, with City dropping points and currently sitting fifth in the Premier League table. Despite this setback, Rodri’s contributions last season helped City secure the Premier League title, and his role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph cemented his status as one of the world’s best midfielders.
1. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain)
A veteran of Real Madrid, Carvajal has consistently delivered exceptional and reliable performances over the years. Despite numerous injuries within the squad, Dani had a nearly complete season in 2023/24, leading as captain and showcasing his leadership qualities. He played 41 matches for Los Blancos across all competitions, scoring six goals, including a decisive one in the UEFA Champions League final. He also provided five assists throughout the season.
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At Euro 2024, Carvajal played five matches and scored once, contributing to Spain’s triumph. He began the current season as a starter and captain for Real Madrid but, like Rodri, suffered a severe knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the campaign. Before his injury, Carvajal played 11 matches, scoring once and assisting once.
In 2024, Carvajal added a remarkable collection of trophies to his career: the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Euro 2024, and the UEFA Super Cup. His leadership and consistent performances have solidified his legacy as one of football’s greats.
