Concacaf's Elite: The Top 20 Men's Players Across North America
As Concacaf prepares to crown its latest Nations League champion, The Athletic's North American soccer panel has ranked the top 20 players in the region. With the USA, Panama, Canada, and Mexico competing at SoFi Stadium, this tournament provides an opportunity to assess the hierarchy of talent across North America.
While the Gold Cup remains Concacaf's primary championship, the Nations League offers a glimpse at the best available talent from each nation. This competition has become increasingly significant as the region's top teams—particularly the 2026 World Cup co-hosts—gain global attention.
The Athletic's panel of experts—Paul Tenorio, Felipe Cardenas, Jeff Rueter, Pablo Maurer, and Joshua Kloke—compiled their rankings based on current form, overall talent, and career achievements. The process, admittedly subjective, awarded 20 points for first place, 19 for second, and so on, with the combined totals determining the final list.
The top spot was narrowly claimed by Christian Pulisic, the American midfielder currently thriving at Milan. What gives Pulisic the edge over Canada's Alphonso Davies? His remarkable productivity since joining the Italian club has been undeniable. With 35 goal contributions in league play since the start of 2023-24—outpacing stars like Kai Havertz, Bruno Fernandes, and Lamine Yamal—Pulisic has established himself among the world's most prolific attacking players over the past 20 months.
Davies, the Bayern Munich left back, secured the second position. Described as "a marvel with few comparable peers in his role," Davies has been a regular starter with Bayern since 2019, despite not turning 25 until November. His explosive speed and technical ability make him a standout performer both for club and country.
Rounding out the top five are Canada's Jonathan David, Mexico's Santiago Giménez, and USA's Antonee Robinson. David has been "invaluable on three fronts," excelling for Lille while serving as a co-figurehead of Canada's resurgence. Giménez has made "a robust case" as Mexico's top player despite a difficult Copa América showing, while Robinson is described as "the best left back in the Premier League."
The consensus among voters was strongest for the top 10 players, with more variance appearing in the rankings from 11-20. The list includes a mix of established stars and emerging talents representing five nations across eight different European leagues.
In the debate over the toughest call—Pulisic or Davies for the top spot—The Athletic's Joshua Kloke argued for Davies: "He's the only player in the region that finds himself in the conversation for being the best player in his position worldwide. No player on this list requires more game-planning from opposition coaches." Felipe Cardenas, however, sided with Pulisic, noting that "the American star scores goals and many of them have been very important for his club and national team."
By nation, the USA dominates the list with 11 representatives, followed by Canada (4), Mexico (3), Jamaica (1), and Costa Rica (1). Positionally, forwards lead the way with seven selections, while attacking midfielders and wingers account for six spots. Serie A and the Premier League each contributed five players to the rankings, highlighting the growing presence of Concacaf talent in Europe's top competitions.
Notable omissions from the top 20 included several players competing in Europe's "Big Five" leagues, such as Michail Antonio, Cyle Larin, Michael Murillo, and Sheraldo Becker. As Cardenas explained, "Where somebody plays does not guarantee that they'll be on the top 20 list," with factors like current form and injuries influencing the final selections.
The list ultimately reflects the evolving landscape of North American soccer, with increasing representation across Europe's most prestigious leagues and a growing pool of talent that will be showcased at the 2026 World Cup.
