From Romário to Your Screen: How a Global Panel Picks Football's Top 100

Selecting the world's 100 best male footballers requires a global perspective. This year, The Guardian assembled a 219-member voting panel of football experts to decide. The panel includes legendary former players. Among them are Brazil's 1994 World Cup winners Romário and Dunga, and former Germany midfielder Didi Hamann. For one editor, working with Romário was an unexpected twist. In 1994, they were in Sweden, watching that World Cup. They saw Romário and Brazil's star-studded team, which also featured Bebeto and Dunga, defeat Sweden in the semi-finals. Brazil would go on to win the tournament. The final list of the top 100 footballers of 2025 is the direct result of this extensive, expert voting process.