We all have our favourites, that goes without saying, but in terms of players that are known and loved all around the world – there are a select few that stand above the rest. As you’ve probably guessed, this means we shall be taking a much closer look at the world's most famous soccer players of our time.
Some have been around entertaining us for a number of years, and some are fresh on the scene. But either way, these guys are undoubtedly at the top of the list for fame, popularity, and their skill on the soccer pitch too.
So, are you ready to get things rolling? Let’s get started.
Who are the most famous soccer players of 2024?
You are no doubt chomping at the bit to learn about who these players are, so rather than prolonging things any further, let’s jump in with our first soccer player:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Sure, the debate is raging as to whether it’s Ronaldo or Messi who deserves the title of the GOAT, but in terms of overall marketability and popularity – it’s Ronaldo who wins every day of the week.
Not only is the man incredible with the ball at his feet, but he is also an unbelievable leader of the game, and he is one of the best goalscorers we have ever seen. No matter which club he has played at, whether it’s Manchester United, Real Madrid, or Juventus, Ronaldo shirts have always flown off the shelves.
It also helps that he has a movie-star appearance along with the confidence to match, which makes him popular with many soccer fans around the globe.
Memorable moment: Ronaldo doubles down on Old Lady
There's just too many to pick, but his brace against Juventus in the 2017 Champions League final for Real Madrid takes some beating. The second of his goals just summarised what Real Madrid was about in those days, with Luka Modric using his incredible sense of vision to cross for CR7 to seal Real's 12th European crown:
Lionel Messi
Messi is a god of the game, there is absolutely no denying that. Alongside Ronaldo, it’s undeniable that Messi is one of the most famous soccer players of our time. In fact, he’s probably one of the most famous players to have ever lived. Many soccer fans believe that Messi is one of the most talented players to have ever played the game, mainly due to his skill, creativity, vision with passes, and unbelievable finishing abilities in front of goal.
What more can be said? He’s a legend in Spain for Barcelona, a legend in Argentina, a fan favorite for Inter Miami and a true ambassador for the sport.
Memorable moment: Messi tidies up in Losail
The 2022 World Cup was widely seen as Messi's last realistic chance to lift the World Cup and become Diego Maradona's undisputed equal. In the final, he mustered every ounce of stamina he could, netting twice to ensure that Argentina could at least take the game the distance. While his defence would let him down by giving up a two-goal lead, Messi was not unnerved.
And like a true champion, he led by example and scored the first of four Argentine penalties in the shootout to seal immortality, along with an eighth Ballon d'Or title the following year:
Neymar Jr.
Moving away from the two greats of the game now, we have another incredibly talented player in the form of Neymar Jr. Although he has spent a number of months injured on the sidelines, unable to justify his mega wage with Al-Hilal, he remains a huge draw for the Saudi Pro League's profile. And even when cutting a somewhat inconsistent character at PSG, his skills and abilities on the pitch still made him stand out from the crowd.
When he has the ball at his feet, he can make anything happen, and he is quite similar to Ronaldo in the respect that he is a very marketable character. Particularly in South America, Neymar has boomed to become one of the most famous soccer players in this region. He is pretty much on a par with Messi in this part of the world in terms of popularity.
Memorable moment: Injury time heroics silence Ney-sayers
Barcelona were always favourites to win the Champions League final in 2015, but Juventus had given them a serious game at the Olympiastadion. After Ivan Rakitic's fourth-minute opener, Alvaro Morata equalised early in the second half, only for Luis Suarez to restore Barcelona's lead. There were still nerves aplenty, but Neymar settled it once and for all with a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe hasn’t been around quite as long as the other guys on this list, but boy has he managed to shoot to stardom. Mbappe started to develop quite the reputation for himself when he first put on a shirt for PSG, and he has gone from strength to strength since. Mbappe managed to win the World Cup with his home nation of France in the 2018 competition, and his skills upfront were influential in this victory.
He's yet to follow up with another major international trophy, but there's still plenty of time for the Parisian to build up a head of steam for the 2026 World Cup in North America. In the summer of 2024, he joined Real Madrid after several years of dominance with PSG in Ligue 1, giving him the best possible chance of a maiden Champions League title.
Memorable moment: Teen sensation caps off Moscow mayhem
Winning the World Cup before your 20th birthday is a sure sign of impending immortality. And scoring in the final itself only underlines that with greater significance, especially when the goals are flying in. A breathless first half in the 2018 showdown saw France take a lead through Mario Mandzukic's own goal, which was then cancelled out by Ivan Perisic before an Antoine Griezmann penalty restored Les Bleus' lead. Paul Pogba then made it 3-1 just before the hour mark, before Mbappe delivered the coup de grace.
He's more or less sustained that momentum since, especially at club level, where he bowed out of his time with PSG by winning the latest Player of the Year award:
Jude Bellingham
With Brazilian duo Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo set to play either side of him at the Bernabeu next season, Mbappe certainly has no excuses when it comes to scooping up club-level trophies over the next few years. And when Mbappe is creating magic for Los Blancos, there's also a better than average chance that the tireless central midfielder Jude Bellingham will have something to do with it.
From humble roots in Birmingham, England, Bellingham was one of the standout performers in the 2023/24 European season. In his maiden season at Real Madrid, he netted 19 goals despite only being a midfielder, while also chipping in with nine goal contributions (four goals, five assists) in Real's successful charge to a 15th UCL title back in June 2024.
Memorable moment: Bellingham rediscovers Three Lions' roar
Assisting the killer second goal for the impeccable Real Madrid against Dortmund in that UCL final is a treasured moment, but working wonders for a lethargic England side on the verge of Euro 2024 elimination to a rank outsider takes a different type of magic.
Just four weeks after lifting the UCL trophy with Real, England trailed 1-0 to Slovakia in their Euro 2024 Round of 16 tie. The clock ticked into the fifth minute of six added on, and the Three Lions needed a hero. Bellingham rose to the fore, executing an audacious overhead kick straight from the Hollywood studios, sending the tie to extra time.
England were saved, and would eventually reach their second successive Euro final, albeit one that would again end in heartbreak, elongating that ever-lengthening wait for the Three Lions to end generations of trophyless hurt.
