Vinícius Júnior

Vinícius Júnior is the best player in the world at his best — a left-sided forward whose combination of explosive pace, improved finishing, and relentless confidence has made him the defining figure of Real Madrid's recent Champions League dominance. He arrived at the Bernabéu from Flamengo as a teenager and spent two seasons finding his feet before becoming genuinely unplayable, winning the Champions League and cementing his status as a Ballon d'Or contender. For Brazil, he is the focal point of the attack and the player opponents most fear. His relationship with referees and opponents has occasionally overshadowed his football, but the talent is beyond argument.