GOAL's World-Class Club 2024: Lionel Messi's membership is revoked but Jude Bellingham earns his first invite to football's most exclusive fraternity

GOAL
Mark Doyle

OpinionChampions LeagueFEATURESEuropean ChampionshipCopa AmericaLionel MessiJude BellinghamKevin De BruyneVinicius JuniorMohamed SalahKylian MbappeErling HaalandHarry KaneLaLigaPremier LeagueSerie ABundesliga

Each summer, GOAL will release its exclusive compilation of the 25 players who have consistently displayed exceptional skills and top-notch performances, solidifying their status as true elites.

Being world-class is an intangible yet crucial distinction, one that distinguishes excellence from mediocrity. However, its meaning varies from person to person, making it a subjective concept. This discrepancy gives rise to never-ending and highly engaging discussions among football enthusiasts in stadiums, locker rooms, coffee shops, bars, and clubs worldwide.

So, last summer, GOAL decided to get in on the fun by compiling a very exclusive list of the 25 players that we felt represented the game's elite, the best of the best, the guys that had been producing stellar performances over a sustained period of time.

To prevent the usual tendency of solely recognizing attackers in individual awards and accolades, we established a requirement for at least three players from each position group (goalkeeper, defense, midfield, and attack), but limited the maximum number to nine from each group.

It is now time to determine who will remain in the prestigious World-Class Club and who will be kindly requested to leave. So, who has made it to this year’s list of 25 individuals? Discover the names below and feel free to share your support or indignation in the comments section.

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