World Class means top 3 in your position in the World!
Bellingham has produced in huge moments for club and country and has done so at an unusually young age. Playing for Real Madrid naturally brings more attention and pressure, and performances in the UEFA Champions League and international tournaments carry enormous weight.
That along with he is easily in Top 3 in the number 10 role in world Football with Musiala.
James is not World Class. I think there are easily 3 names above him in his position who consistently play at the highest level and consistently play 50 games a season unlike James.
(Kounde, Hakimi & Dumfries)
Rice, now this is going to be controversial but i think he is overrated by English fans and Media. Since he scored those two freekicks against Madrid people all of a sudden start claming he is the best CM in the world and the most complete CM.
Dont get me wrong he is a very good player but he is not World Class! (there are levels)
If you watch Rice's game he has alot of pluses however they often overshadow his weakneses because people focus to much on the positives. Players run off the back of him a alot or he is out of position when defending. That along with he passes sideways far to often or passes the buck to his other CM to dictate play. This was apparant by him going missing in big games this season for Arsenal and getting hooked today for Morgan Rodgers. Meaning Tuchel thought Anderson was the better player in CM. (Unless there was an injury but so far nothing)
(Pedri, Vitinha, Rodri) they are the top 3 CM's in the world. If Rice was from another big european nation he would not get a start for the national team or the media attention or praise the English media and fans give him.
Saka, Now this guy has the potential and all the ability to be THE best RW in the game.
But again to much praise and to much media attention blinding everyone to his failure to reach his potential so far. Another one who is a very good player but is not at the World Class level.
(Olise, Salah, Yamal. You still have Rodrygo and Dembele ahead of Saka) still top 3 RWs in World football.
I hear you, but stats dont define everything....
He has been very unlucky with injuries that may have hampered his development and that is probaly a club fault more than his but his numbers when you do look at them do not scream World Class.
Since 2023 Saka has only got:
30 goals
22 assists
52 goal contributions
If we compare that to someone who is 100% World Class Salah.
Just in 2024/2025 season alone:
29 goals
18 assists
47 goal involvements.
Balon Do'r is often a good paramater to see who is World class. Players that finished above Saka in the last round who play a lot or most of their games RW for there club was Salah, Foden, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo Valverde who in the season 24/25 i beleive predominantly played RM.
We see it far to often. Players who are English and play in the Prem often get hyped well up above what they actually are. Soon as they do something good they get lauded as World Class.