Cole Palmer is top quality, but this is why he’s not alongside Lamine Yamal as one of the world’s ten best players

Cole Palmer has ended the season as one of the best players in the world, but in the top ten? Darren Bent isn’t so sure.

The England attacker was decisive in both the Conference League and Club World Cup finals, with the latter feat clearly the more impressive.

Palmer almost single-handedly took down European champions Paris Saint-Germain with two superb finishes in a 3-0 win stateside.

As such, he’s jumped up to third in the odds for the 2025 Ballon d’Or behind Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect his overall standing.

“I think it’s been very reactionary,” talkSPORT host Bent argued. “You’ve got to take into account his season that’s just gone.

“Yes his numbers were decent, but when you compare him to last season where he was scary…

“It’s going to sound ridiculous, but 16 goals in all competitions and 12 assists is still decent but his first season it was 25 goals and 15 assists.

“There’s levels there and I think before last night he had one goal in 14, so he wasn’t his most prolific.”

The Premier League 100 goal club member did caveat his critique, though, saying Palmer is on the cusp of his list.

“The quality is there for all to see,” he said. “He’s a big game player for them.

“He’s their most creative player and if Chelsea have got any aspirations of winning anything he’ll be the start of it.

“He always seems to pick the right option and never seems to be phased either.

“When he’s got the ball and there’s a lot of chaos around him he can slow everything down, he sees a pass and he’s finishing as good as they come.

“He is top top quality, but he’s not in my top ten.”

Well, who is? In no particular order, Bent began with the reigning world’s best footballer.

“Rodri is an incredible Ballon d’Or winner. For a number of years now has been incredible for Manchester City,” Bent explained.

“He plays a lot of games as well and not just for City but for Spain – remember how good he was in the Euros.”

Moving onto his next choice, Bent jetted off to Germany, stating: “I’ve got Harry Kane in there. He has to be in there.

“People are probably screaming on the radio ‘Kane?!’ but he’s the best number nine on my list. I don’t see how there’s any debate.

“The guy’s been at Bayern Munich for two years and scored 44 goals in his first season and 41 last year. In the Champions League he got 11 in 13, the season before eight in 12.”

Over to France now, and it’s two of the country’s very best.

“Ousmane Dembele, has to be in,” he continued. “I wasn’t sure before but this season I get it.

“Kylian Mbappe is in, he’s just won the European Golden Shoe, his resume – a hat-trick in a World Cup final.”

More forwards also make the cut, with Bent taking one from England and two from Spain.

“Mohamed Salah is in,” he added. “Vinicius Jr is, but I didn’t want to put him in because of his antics.

“The whole Rodri thing left a sour taste in my mouth, just be humble and accept you got beat. But throwing your toys out of the pram and your team not turning up to the event…

“Raphinha – he is unbelievable. He doesn’t get enough love. His rise has been incredible, sensational.”

Then we move over to two former Borussia Dortmund men, before Bent’s undisputed No.1.

“Jude Bellingham is in too,” he said. “Erling Haaland, I’d have Kane over him, but he scored 34 in all competitions last season, 52 in his first year.

“Number one – Lamine Yamal. He’s the best player in the world at the moment – playing with no fear, playing with freedom, doing what he wants at the age of 17.”

Agree or disagree – it’s a hell of a list that the notoriously unflappable Palmer would likely happily sit 11th on.