Ten years ago, ESPN published its first FC 100 ranking the world's best players in men's soccer. Now in 2026, the landscape has transformed dramatically. Manchester City had yet to begin their dominant Premier League run under Pep Guardiola, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were still going head-to-head in La Liga. Germany were the reigning World Cup champions after defeating Brazil in 2014.

Two icons have appeared in all 10 FC 100 lists: Messi and Robert Lewandowski. This 10th anniversary edition examines not just the current rankings but all lists from the past decade, analyzing which clubs, countries, and continents have dominated.

The 2026 list features nearly a third of newcomers, including dynamic talents like Nico Paz (No. 5 attacking midfielder) and 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi (No. 14 central midfielder). Veterans like Matvei Safonov and Jordan Pickford also made their debut appearances.

Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal top the club charts following their Champions League final appearance. Real Madrid's historical dominance is evident through consistent representation of players like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Sergio Ramos throughout the decade.

France leads in country representation despite losing the World Cup semifinals, while Brazil placed eight players despite early World Cup exit. Kylian Mbappé and Jan Oblak narrowly missed joining the 10-appearances club, finishing behind only Messi and Lewandowski in the all-time rankings.