With CONCACAF arguably the deepest it's ever been in terms of talent, GOAL takes a look at the North American stars ruling the region
Who is the best player in CONCACAF? The debate rages on — and rightfully so. With fewer than 500 days until the 2026 World Cup, all eyes are on the region, especially as the U.S., Canada, and Mexico prepare to host. This month's CONCACAF Nations League will offer another stage for the region’s top players to prove themselves, but the discussions won’t end there.
Determining the best isn’t easy. CONCACAF is arguably deeper than ever. For years, the U.S. and Mexico dominated, but that’s no longer the case. The rise of teams like Canada, Jamaica, and Panama has made this debate more intriguing, thanks to their own standout players. Both Canada and Panama will compete in the Nations League finals against Mexico and the U.S., respectively—results that would have been unthinkable not long ago.
When evaluating the best, several factors come into play, but none more than form—at both club and international level. The truly great players deliver no matter the jersey. That’s what sets them apart.
So who are the best players in CONCACAF right now? And more importantly, who is No. 1? GOAL takes a look.
Getty Images Sport7Josh Sargent – USMNT 🌟
This was Ricardo Pepi's spot, but his injury has bumped him off the list. For a while there, few players in the world were scoring quite at the rate of Pepi. There is one now, though, and he also represents the USMNT.
Sargent has been on fire in the Championship and, while the quality of opponents does mean something, goals do, too. Sargent now has 11 on the season in just 21 games, with seven of those 11 coming since Jan. 25. The USMNT striker has been on fire and, given the injury issues in that position, that's a huge lift to the U.S ahead of the Nations League.
Sargent looks set to start and that's where the real test will come. Right now, he's in form and has every reason to be confident.
AdvertisementGetty Images6Santi Gimenez – Mexico 🌟
Another new striker on the list as another falls out. Raul Jimenez previously occupied this spot, but now it belongs to Santi Gimenez, whose big move to Milan has boosted his stock.
Back at Fulham, Jimenez was scoring plenty a few months back, going on a run that saw him score four goals in three games to kickstart the New Year. In the weeks since, though, the goals have dried up. He's netted just once since Jan. 9, although it was a big one in a 2-1 win over Newcastle.
Gimenez, meanwhile, has joined AC Milan since the last iteration of this list, and he hasn't missed a step since making that move. He assisted Joao Felix in his debut, scored his first goal just a few days later, and then netted in the Champions League defeat to his former club Feyenoord. In total, he has three goals in his first eight games in all competitions.
Gimenez leapfrogged Jimenez on this list, can he do it on Mexico's depth chart next?
Getty Images5Alphonso Davies – Canada ⬇️
He's got a new contract in hand, one that will keep him tied to Bayern Munich for the foreseeable future. Bayern will be thrilled by that idea, as they've locked down arguably the most dynamic left-back in the world.
He's still just 24, but Davies has been showing that for years, establishing himself as Canada's best-ever player without a shadow of a doubt. His numbers this season are right about on part with his of years past, as he has two goals and three assists so far this campaign in all competitions. They aren't numbers that catch your eye, but anyone who watches Davies play knows that he tends to do just that.
Even so, given the numbers the players above him on this list are putting up, he takes a slight step back this time, even if Bayern are cruising to a Bundesliga title at the moment.
Getty Images4Weston McKennie – USMNT ⬆️
Last summer, Juventus insisted they were moving on from McKennie. Now, have no idea what they'd do without him.
It's been tough for Juventus, admittedly, as they, like Milan, crashed out of the Champions League early. McKennie, though, has been one of few bright spots. He's captained the club on multiple occasions and played just about every position on the field for Thiago Motta. McKennie does everything Juventus ask of him and, this season, they've asked a lot.
With the USMNT, he's a central midfielder, of course. McKennie, at his core, is a player who can impact a game all over the field, which is why he's continuing to thrive for club and country.