The renowned ex-Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has listed his top five favorite players currently active in global soccer for the year 2025, including remarkable talents from Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool.
Speaking in a TikTok video with @goalglobal , FIFA’s Head of Worldwide Football Development was requested to rank the five players who currently captivate him when watching games.
Wenger aimed to avoid bias and said he wouldn’t mention any Arsenal players by name, though we suspect Bukayo Saka would have been included had he done so.
These are the five players selected by Wenger.
5. Lamine Yamal
Recall the 2006 UEFA Champions League final where Barcelona defeated Arsenal under Wenger. Yamal would not be born for another year.
Actually, the prodigy from La Masia was just 10 years old when Wenger left Arsenal in 2018.
He’s already among the top attackers globally, excelling in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Yamal’s remarkable goal and assist against Benfica showcase his extraordinary ability.
4. Cole Palmer
Chelsea’s talisman might be enduring a bit of a dry spell when it comes to goals and assists right now, but there can be no questioning his quality after 18 exceptional months at Stamford Bridge.
Since leaving his childhood team Manchester City in pursuit of more consistent game time, this 22-year-old has established himself as one of the standout talents of his era.
Palmer has achieved an astounding record of 39 goals and 21 assists in only 78 matches for the Blues. Given such impressive stats, it’s easy to understand why he makes Wenger rise from his chair.
3. Vinicius Junior
Wenger mentioned the Brazilian player as one of those expected to vie for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Since falling short of winning football's top individual honor in October, Vinicius hasn't been at his peak performance; however, history suggests he could rise to the occasion during the upcoming later rounds of the Champions League.
In recent times, he has shown an ability to deliver outstanding performances when the stakes are highest in club soccer, as evidenced by his crucial goals in two separate UEFA Champions League finals.
2. Kylian Mbappe
Among Wenger's fellow countrymen from France, the sole inclusion is a strong and predictable choice.
You won't be surprised to learn that Wenger attempted (but did not succeed) to bring in Mbappe when he was still a young player.
"We can discuss Mbappe; I was at his house when he was unsure about renewing his contract with Monaco," Wenger said to beIN Sports.
He had the opportunity to join Arsenal at zero cost. I believe nearly every team has stories similar to this one.
If only…
READ: An impressive list of players that Arsene Wenger almost brought to Arsenal.
1. Mohamed Salah
Salah's tenure at Liverpool coincided with Wenger's lengthy period as Arsenal's manager for just one season. However, he holds significant admiration for the ex-Gunners boss and once benefited from valuable counsel provided by him.
“I agree with that,” Salah said, nodding to Steve McManaman’s point about what sets apart exceptional players from merely skilled ones during an interview on TNT Sport .
I believe I received that advice from Arsène Wenger before. I posed the same question to him, as he had exceptional players throughout his career.
He said to me, 'For exceptional athletes, their performance during the match doesn’t matter as much. They remain concentrated and wait for the right opportunity. They’re constantly engaged.' I took this advice to heart several years back.
The admiration is mutual. Salah was Arsenal boss Wenger’s top choice, and he has consistently praised Salah’s play this campaign.
"What I admire the most about his career is that he improved annually, becoming increasingly efficient," Wenger stated. BeIN Sports .
He produces less volume of work now, yet maintains high standards, demonstrating that he isn't just immensely talented but also highly strategic in his approach.
He has achieved a healthy equilibrium between his desire to score goals and distributing the ball effectively. There was a phase when he and [Sadio] Mane experienced some tension, as both players seemed focused solely on scoring rather than passing.
He realizes that to achieve true greatness, he must make significant contributions, and he has excelled at doing so.
READ NEXT: Where Are They Now? The 10 Youngest Arsenal Players Given Their UEFA Champions League Debut by Arsène Wenger
TRY A QUIZ:
Could you list all the players that Arsene Wenger brought to Arsenal during his tenure?