Chelsea have made history in the 2051 GOAL50 awards, with an unprecedented 15 players named among the top 50 footballers in the world – a feat that underlines their stranglehold on the global game.
Paul Malcolm Leads the Pack
At the very summit sits Paul Malcolm, crowned the world’s best player at 32 years old. His consistency, leadership, and goalscoring have cemented his status as Chelsea’s talisman and a modern legend.
Close behind, Logan Granger (2nd) and Zain Whatmough (5th) joined Malcolm in the top five, giving Chelsea a remarkable three players in the elite tier. Zoubir Reibai (7th) and Joby Holwell (8th) also placed in the top ten, meaning half of the world’s ten best players currently wear blue.
Strength in Depth
The story doesn’t stop there. Chelsea’s influence stretches across every tier of the list:
– 11th–20th:Luther Banton (11th), Edon Chafer (13th), Facundo Quiroga (14th), McKauley Civzelis (16th), Fernando González (20th)
– 21st–30th:Scott Crichton (22nd), Pelé (23rd)
– 31st–40th: José Franco (31st), Kieran O’Sullivan (32nd)
– 41st–50th: Emanuele Sala (47th)
This spread reflects not only Chelsea’s strength in its starting XI but also its extraordinary squad depth, with players across multiple age groups and positions recognised as world-class.
Historic Comparison
No club has ever managed such dominance in the GOAL50. To have 15 players – effectively an entire matchday squad – listed among the best in the world is unprecedented. For context, the next best representation came from Bayern Munich and Manchester United, each with only a handful of stars scattered through the rankings.
Chelsea’s achievement is the culmination of decades of investment, youth development, and tactical innovation. It also poses a daunting question to their rivals: how can anyone realistically close the gap when Chelsea boast not just superstars, but depth players ranked higher than most clubs’ best?
The Future
With Paul Malcolm still performing at the peak of his powers, and younger talents like Pelé (23rd at just 22 years old) and José Franco (31st at 21) emerging, Chelsea look set to maintain their dominance for years to come.
2051’s GOAL50 will be remembered not for the individuals alone, but for Chelsea’s collective statement: **this is their era, and the world is playing catch-up.**