There is the ESPN FC 100, best players in each position from 2020. There are a few Milan players in it, actually. Let's say world-class is being in this top 10 (not specifically, but let's say top 10 in your position is world-class) but in this range, and I think many of our players should be there.
From 10-1
GK: Navas, Emiliano Martinez, Ter Stegen, Mendy, Ederson, Alisson, Courtois, Neuer, Donna, Oblak.
RB: Pavard, Azpilicueta, Dumfries (LOL), Trippier, Jesus Navas, Kyle Walker, Reece James, Joao Cancelo, Trent, Hakimi
CB: VVD, Bonucci (lol), Thiago Silva, K2, David Alaba, Rudiger, Varane, Chiellini (lol), Marquinhos, Ruben Dias
LB: Shaw, Ferland Mendy, Gosens, Marcos Alonso, Raphael Guerreiro, Jordi Alba, Spinazzola, Theo fucking Hernandez, Davies (lol), Robertson
CM: Fenkie de Jong, Gundogan, Modric, Pedri (already?), Casemiro, Verratti, Barella, Jorginho, Kimmich, Kante
AM: Tomas Soucek (gtfo), Damsgaard (stop), Paqueta (Jesus Christ), Bernardo Silva, Mason Mount, Pogba, Foden, Muller, Bruno Fernandes, De Bruyne
Winger: Di Maria, Mahrez, Oyarzabal, Grealish, Insigne, Vinicius, Gnabry, Sterling (lol), Chiesa, Mane
Forward: Gerard Moreno (stop), Duas Tadic, Kai Havertz, Depay, Son, Neymar, Salah, Mbappe, CR7, Messi
ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Isak, Immobile, Lautaro, Luis Suarez, Kane, Lukaku, Benz, Haaland, Lewa
Looking at this list, how many of our players do you think should be in consideration? To me, the fact they broke it down between wingers, forwards, and strikers is odd because the difference between DM, CM, and AM is more stark.
GK: I think Maignan is better than Donna, Ter Stegen, and Emiliano Martinez. I also think plenty of those keepers are way better than Donna, including Navas, lol, but Maignan would not look out-of-place in that list.
RB: Calabria, as much as I love him, he's not at this level, I think with a little more experience, yes, to compensate for his lack of pace, but it does hurt him. I think he can be on this list, especially if Dumfries is on it, but I'd say he'd be just a step below this. I think James is overrated, but whatever. Kalulu has the talent to be on this list, his ceiling seems to be higher than Calabria's, but if Kalulu is a Kyle Walker-style RB then Calabria is more like Azpilicueta.
CB: Tomori is better than Bonucci, Varane, Chiellini, right now. I'd probably say he's better than Alaba, too. He's up there. Kjaer also wouldn't look out of place on this list. I think we have two truly top-class CBs.
LB: Theo should be higher than Davies, who is overrated as fuck--he did one move against Barca and everyone lost their minds. But yeah, we have one of the best players in the world at the position, amazing scouting and development.
CM: I wish this was broken down between DM and CM. Tonali, Bennacer, and Kessie have the ability to be on this list. They aren't there yet. Kessie played as a top 10 DM last year, but not this year. Bennacer and Tonali have the talent, but they're not there, not yet, but they can be. Pedri is a reach, to me. Tonali is truly an underrated jewel.
AM: Brahim is not there. If he reaches the potential that Man City and Real Madrid saw in him, that we saw in him, yes, he can get there, but he's not there, not yet. Soucek is overrated as hell, Damsgaard is too, he's not a top 10 player, and I don't want to mention Paqueta's name. Past those three, Brahim isn't close to the others on this list in production, he just isn't.
Winger/Forward: Alexis? No. Messias? No. Leao? He can be, he has the potential, but he's not there yet. Rebic? I'd say no, but he's a great player to have in your squad.
Striker: Ibra is there, and that tells you everything you need to know about the quality of world strikers today--or it just goes to show you how incredible Ibra is. Like the CB list, the striker list is sad. I think Osihmen and Vlahovic are both better than Isak, Immobile, and Lautaro. This is where we our scouting seems to be focused, this is where we need to find a long-term successor.
Our front four is the weakest part of our team. When they are all healthy, their intensity, wildly different styles, and unpredictability makes us very dangerous. However, the talent needs to be built up, investment needs to be made, and to be fair, it's started with Adli, Chaka Traore, but the striker position and the RW continue to be a place of concern.