Top 10 Best German Football Players in the World (Ranked)

When you explore the football game, you see players from different nations come with unique skill sets. Brazilian footballers have flair and creativity, Italian defenders are tactically astute, and Spanish players can’t lose the ball with their incredible control and passing ability. As for the best German football players, they can do a bit of everything. Be it the technical ability of Florian Wirtz, the dribbling skills of Jamal Musiala, or the defensive abilities of Antonio Rüdiger, Germany’s football team screams quality.

In this list, we rank the best German footballers from descending to ascending order, exploring who the best German player is. Be it some midfielders, strikers, or defenders, Germany produces world-class talent from the revolver belts of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and even the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim academy, churning out potential world-beaters. There are various factors like performance stats, consistency, playing position, impact in key matches, and trophies/achievements with which the list is curated. There are multiple players on the list, with Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, and Antonio Rüdiger being a few.

List of Best German Footballers Currently

Germany has players spread out worldwide. Although most of the top players have come from Bayern Munich in recent years, this is not the case anymore. The quality of the Bundesliga continues to grow at a pace and is respected by other leagues worldwide. Likewise, in this transfer window, Florian Wirtz went to Liverpool for a whopping £116 million from Bayer Leverkusen. It’s his time to shine right now, as Wirtz’s technical ability could help Liverpool manager Arne Slot fill the void in the attacking positions.

Apart from Wirtz, there are some of the German best football players in the market, as we rank the top 10 best German footballers in the world after the glorious 2024-25 season.

Rank	Player	Position	Club
10.	Leroy Sané	Forward	Galatasaray
9.	Manuel Neuer	Goalkeeper	Bayern Munich
8.	Nico Schlotterbeck	Defender	Borussia Dortmund
7.	Angelo Stiller	Midfielder	VfB Stuttgart
6.	Antonio Rüdiger	Defender	Real Madrid
5.	Kai Havertz	Forward	Arsenal
4.	Jamal Musiala	Midfielder	Bayern Munich
3.	Nick Woltemade	Forward	VfB Stuttgart
2.	Joshua Kimmich	Defender	Bayern Munich
1.	Florian Wirtz	Midfielder	Liverpool

How We Ranked the Best German Football Players?

Ranking these players is based on various factors, and their performances during the 2024-25 season are scrutinized. Five factors determine the players’ success on the field and the performances they showcase on the pitch. These are performance stats, consistency, playing position, impact in key matches, and trophies/achievements. Let’s go into detail regarding the factors that helped in ranking players. The players’ stats tables focus on their respective league performances for metrics like xG and progressive passes, apart from the appearances column, goals, and assists, which give out the total appearances during the season.

• Performance Stats: Like in all rankings, the player’s performance on the pitch remains the go-to factor. Their goals, assists, tackles, or even saves determine the players’ positions on the list. The 2024-25 season stats clearly show the players’ performances.
• Consistency: For every footballer, consistency remains crucial to raising their ratings. Multiple players go hot and cold in games, but consistency throughout the season merits their places in the Top 10.
• Playing position: The debate regarding which position remains the most crucial continues in football discussions. Is it a goalkeeper who keeps his team alive when attackers come in motivated to take the lead? Or is it a striker who scores goals and helps the team win matches? Each position remains crucial as we rank players according to the influence they showcase in their positions.
• Impact in key matches: Some players go all guns blazing in the regular season, but when it comes to the big games, they go missing. Chelsea legend Didier Drogba scored 12 goals in 17 finals and won 11 trophies. Just like that, this list determines players who impact a major cup final for their club.
• Trophies/Achievements: One of the most crucial factors for ranking players remains the trophies won by the player with the club. According to their importance, points favor players with major European trophies rather than the Community Shield or the Carabao Cup.

Who is the Best German Football Player Right Now?

With everything said and done, the best German football player remains a recognition that is not taken lightly. The German best football players dominate the football world with their unparalleled skill set and charm. Starting from rank 10, the Top 10 best German footballers are listed below.

10. Leroy Sane (Galatasaray)

Leaving Bayern Munich as one of their icon for the last five seasons, Leroy Sané entertained the masses at the Allianz Arena. Becoming a mainstay winger for the team during the 2024-25 season, Sané made 48 appearances, scoring 13 goals and creating five assists. Since the tricky winger came from Manchester City, Vincent Kompany knew what he had to offer after playing with him at City. Therefore, he started Sané in most matches, providing the difference with a total xG of 10.23. Although the pace tends to dry up as age catches up, his dribbling success drastically reduces to 41.5% from the previous +50% dribble success.

When Sané left Bayern Munich for Galatasaray, he left an everlasting legacy to remember. In a stunning trophy-laden career, he won four Bundesliga titles, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, two DFB-Pokal titles, one FIFA Club World Cup, and three Super Cups. One of the best German football players, Sané’s technical dribbling style, followed by his ability to shift angles with rapid turns, made a difference for Bayern Munich last season. The only conundrum was when he didn’t perform well in major games, especially the Champions League. This makes him drop down to 10th position in this list.

Apperances	Expected Goals (xG) per 90	Goals	Assists
48	0.56	13	5

09. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Manuel Neuer received a red card for the first time in his career when he brought down Jeremie Frimpong, who played for Bayer Leverkusen last season. Yet, it was just one match, and all the other matches had him shining like a diamond. Despite being 39 and extending his contract to 2026, the influence of the goalkeeping position separates him from the rest. He conceded 0.68 goals per 90 in the Bundesliga, helping Bayern Munich to lift their 34th Bundesliga trophy, while Neuer lifted his 12th.

After bowing out in Euro 2024, Neuer retired from international football, having played 124 times for his nation. For Munich, Neuer became as influential as ever. He still boasted a pass accuracy of 85.0%, which showcases why he’s still one of the best sweeper-keepers in the world. He often made errors in the past few seasons but didn’t make one in the Bundesliga, remaining calm under pressure. Thus, Neuer’s performances rank him 9th as the best German football player.

Appearances	Total Clean Sheets	Total Saves	Shots Save% (per 90)
40	17	32	68.1%

08. Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund)

With his defensive prowess, Nico Schlotterbeck enters the list at number 8 on the long list of successful center-backs. The Borussia Dortmund center-back is the pillar at the back and remains one of Europe’s best ball-playing center-backs. With a pass accuracy of 89.6% in the Bundesliga last season, Schlotterbeck launches perfect long balls to the flanks or the target man to get them free behind the defense. Standing at 6’3″, it won’t be long before he moves to the elites of Europe, as he is one of the German best football players out there.

Due to his passing ability, he contributed five assists in all competitions, which indicates his ability as a defender. The defender’s physical attributes, which include his pace, strength, and aerial ability, make it hard for him to get past opposition players. He has a Meniscus injury right now, which will keep him out until October. Borussia Dortmund didn’t win any trophies this time, and they hope to change their fortunes for next season, with Schlotterbeck becoming a crucial player on the pitch every passing season.

Appearances	Aeriel Duels Won (per 90)	Blocks (per 90)	Interceptions (per 90)
37	2.40	0.23	1.00

07. Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart)

Toni Kroos left Real Madrid with a massive void, and they would need a superstar in the making to replace them. VfB Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller fits the bill perfectly. A player with a left foot like a wand, Stiller runs the show for his German side, who won the DFB-Pokal last year. He can dictate the game’s tempo to his tunes, take multiple touches to string passes together, keep moving, and get into open positions. All these attributes make him a solid, deep-lying playmaker.

Stiller’s influence on the club cannot be underestimated, and Madrid could knock on Stuttgart’s doors to get his signature. Stiller had a passing accuracy of 89.9% in the Bundesliga and a long ball accuracy of 58.3%. From the center, he pings through balls to the forwards, creating 1.94 chances per 90. With solid performances, he merits the number 7 ranking for the best German footballers.

Appearances	Goals + Asissts	Progressive Passes (per 90)	Progressive Carries (Per 90)
47	15	9.93	1.44

Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

Eyebrows were raised when Real Madrid signed Antonio Rüdiger from Chelsea in 2022. Although he did a great job with the Blues, fans never thought he would take his game to the next level with Real Madrid. The player has become undroppable now and remains crucial to the team’s defensive side of the game. Often taking to the pitch to enter combat, he is defensively resilient and technically sound for a defender.

Hardly any ball-playing center-back accurately puts the ball on their teammates’ feet like Rudiger. With a searing pace, he hounded down attackers and nicked the ball from their feet. His 92.2% pass accuracy last year signifies his importance to the Real Madrid lineup. In defense, Rudiger never backs down from a challenge, having 4.01 recoveries per 90. But he faltered immensely against Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals, which became a downfall in his rankings.

Appearances	Aeriel Duels Won (per 90)	Blocks (per 90)	Interceptions (per 90)
54	58.1%	0.24	0.35

ALSO READ: Top 10 Best Premier League Strikers (Currently Ranked)

05. Kai Havertz (Arsenal)

If there is one German player who is polarizing to his club and national team fans, it’s Kai Havertz. Some people love him, while some don’t want him near the team. But you can’t deny he scores goals and creates chances for his teammates. With his languid style, he often flatters to deceive, but most managers keep him as their center forward because of his defensive work rate, too. For a striker, he wins 3.12 aerial duels per 90 and remains a threat in the air.

Likewise, with Viktor Gyökeres looking like he will arrive at Arsenal, Havertz’s position as a striker might be under threat. With just nine goals in the Premier League last season and a 0.46 xG on-target rate, Havertz must step up to get up the ladder. Although he’s a talented player, he goes missing during specific situations. Yet, due to his work ethic and intelligent pressing from the front, he remains Mikel Arteta and Julian Nagelsmann’s preference upfront for Arsenal and Germany and remains one of the best German football players.

Appearances	Expected Goals (xG) per 90	Goals	Assists
36	0.46	15	4

04. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)

It’s unfortunate what happened to Jamal Musiala at the Club World Cup 2025. He suffered a fractured fibula as a result of a broken and dislocated ankle, which will probably keep him out for a long time next season. But during the 2024-25 campaign, he showed the world why he’s the next enormous talent. The center-attacking midfielder weaves past defenders with minute precision and is arguably one of the best dribblers in the world right now. He’s one of the best German football players in the market.

With 3.59 successful dribbles per game, he gets past two opponents to create space for others and delivers the perfect ball in the final third. He often makes 9.38 touches inside the opposition box, pushing for a goal or an assist during most plays. He won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and became instrumental in their success throughout the season.

Appearances	Goals + Assists	Progressive Passes (per 90)	Progressive Carries (Per 90)
44	26	5.48	4.02

03. Nick Woltemade (VfB Stuttgart)

For years, Germany depended on attacking midfielders to fill the void in the striker position. Kai Havertz has done a fine job so far but lacks the killer instincts to put the ball in the back of the net. It looks like VfB Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade will take the German national team striker role like a duck to water. Standing at 6’6″, Woltemade will be the critical difference for the team. He scored 17 goals in all competitions and created 2.06 chances per 90 for his teammates.

Despite being tall and a target man, he can dribble the ball well with 1.72 progressive carries, which is rare for a 6’6″ footballer. But he is one of the best German football players of the season, and his Euro U21 display deserve a mention. He scored six goals and created three assists to entertain the German fans. With 1.96 aerial duals won, Woltemade uses his long frame to generate power in his headers. With a stunning breakout season, Woltemade earns his way to the top of the German best football players in the world.

Appearances	Expected Goals	Goals	Assists
33	0.58	17	3

02. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Is there any season Joshua Kimmich underperforms for Bayern Munich? As versatile as they come, Kimmich is the second-best German football player on this list. Often playing regularly in the central midfield, he shifted back to his right-back position, and Vincent Kompany usually gives him the freedom to get into the midfield. The inverted full-back sprays passes at a PA% of 92.9%, and his long ball accuracy stands at a staggering 79.0%.

Completing more than 100 passes and over 120 touches, Kimmich’s playing style is the ultimate blueprint for opposition teams to stop the Bavarians. Even on the defensive side of his game, Kimmich produces 6.01 recoveries and has 25 interceptions in the Bundesliga. He was also instrumental in Germany’s Euro campaign, but sadly, he couldn’t get them over the line. Turning 30 and having a tactical acumen for the game, Kimmich can still perform well in the coming seasons.

Appearances	Aeriel Duels Won (per 90)	Blocks (per 90)	Interceptions (per 90)
55	0.38	0.41	0.79

01. Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

The conveyor belt of German attacking midfielders keeps growing after each passing season. There was Oliver Bierhoff, who mesmerized everyone during the 2002 World Cup. Then Mesut Özil came into display visionary passing like second to none. And now, Florian Wirtz completed a £116 million move to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen, the latest star from Germany. The talented attacking midfielder helped his former club win the Bundesliga and looks to carry the same form with Liverpool.

His technical dribbling, intricate one-two plays, and ambidextrous feet make him a top talent. He often twists an opposition defender’s brains when he goes right and left and scores sensational goals. At just 22, Wirtz has an xA of 0.36. His ability to read the game and play through balls, which often doesn’t defy physics, makes him an extraordinary player. Seeing him link up with Mohamed Salah at Liverpool will be sensational, as fans can’t wait for the season to start. He is one of the best German football players and can be a game-changer.

Appearances	Goals + Assists	Progressive Passes (per 90)	Progressive Carries (Per 90)
45	30	6.63	4.60

ALSO READ: Top 10 Best Football Kits – 2025/26 Season (Ranked)