Planet Rugby’s Top 50 men’s players of 2025: George Ford and Finn Russell feature as four Argentina stars make our 30-21 section
England fly-half George Ford and Argentina flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez feature in this list.
The official Planet Rugby Top 50 men’s players of 2025 continues. In the run-up to the new year, we reveal the players who have made it into our list. Here’s 30-21.
It has been another pulsating year of rugby union, which has seen the Springboks yet again show their dominance and the British & Irish Lions return to winning ways.
After revealing our 50-41 and 41-30 lists, let’s see who has made the latest section.
Planet Rugby’s Top 50 men’s players of 2025
30. Santiago Carreras (Argentina, full-back/fly-half)
2025 season: Carreras’ versatility and clutch kicking shone for Argentina throughout this year, and he was cool under pressure with Gloucester before his move to Prem rivals Bath.
Performance highlight: In the Rugby Championship, Carreras topped the points scoring chart with 72 points – and then there’s that amazing performance at Murrayfield in November.
29. Marcos Kremer (Argentina, flanker)
2025 season: Kremer’s tackling frenzy left opponents bruised in Argentina’s 2025 battles, a human hitting machine.
Performance highlight: In the Rugby Championship, Kremer topped the tournament with 97 tackles. Elsewhere, he made 25 hits in the historic win over the British and Irish Lions.
28. Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina, flanker)
2025 season: Gonzalez’s explosive rise added punch to Argentina’s 2025 Tests, scoring tries and tackling fiercely in some famous wins. He is just a wonderful back-row forward who has every quality a coach would want from a player. He backed that up with similarly outstanding showings for Saracens all year.
Performance highlight: Across the Rugby Championship, Gonzalez averaged eight lineout takes per game, complementing that skill with all-action efforts around the field.
27. François Cros (France, flanker)
2025 season: Cros’ tireless grinding at breakdowns was vital in France’s Six Nations title success and Toulouse’s domestic exploits, racking up monstrous tackle counts every time he set foot on to the pitch.
Performance highlight: Speaking of which, in the 42-27 Six Nations win against Ireland, Cros completed 17 tackles and in the Top 14 final he racked up a monstrous 28 efforts.
26. Finn Russell (Scotland, fly-half)
2025 season: Russell‘s flair and vision added magic to Scotland’s inconsistent year either side of a solid British and Irish Lions tour. On the club front, Russell orchestrated attacks for Bath in Europe and domestically too as he helped steer them to an impressive treble.
Performance highlight: In a season where Bath were showered with silverware and he led the Lions attack, Russell shone in every match he played.
25. Pablo Matera (Argentina, flanker)
2025 season: Matera’s warrior intensity drove Argentina’s gritty 2025 showings, smashing tackles and scoring in fierce encounters.
Performance highlight: In the Autumn Nations Series win over Scotland, Matera scored a try and led his team’s defensive efforts off the bench in a memorable personal outing.
24. Caelan Doris (Ireland, number eight)
2025 season: Doris captained Ireland with distinction through solid 2025 Tests, his carrying power impressing for Leinster in Europe and in their title-winning URC campaign. A relentless machine who may have been higher on this list had it not been for injury – such a shame he missed out on the Lions series.
Performance highlight: He was outstanding in Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to France, gaining over 50 metres from his carries.
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23. Damian Penaud (France, wing)
2025 season: Penaud’s tries propelled France to the Six Nations title and Bordeaux-Begles to their Investec Champions Cup success, breaking records with his finishing flair. He’s been a joy to watch for club and country, the 29-year-old is surely one of international rugby’s all-time great wings.
Performance highlight: Starred in the Champions Cup final win over Northampton Saints, grabbing two tries as he performed on the big stage once again.
22. George Ford (England, fly-half)
2025 season: Ford‘s control guided England to four Six Nations wins and Autumn Nations Series perfection that included a 33-19 victory over New Zealand. He was also exceptional as a leader during the mid-year Test series win in Argentina. With Sale, he excelled domestically as he looks in the best form of a brilliant career.
Performance highlight: Several performances stand out such as those July Tests and games against Argentina and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, so it’s probably fitting we go for him being crowned Autumn Nations Series Northern Hemisphere Player of the Series.
21. Thibaud Flament (France, lock)
2025 season: Flament’s athleticism and leaps underpinned France’s Six Nations title win and Toulouse’s run to the European semi-finals, soaring for lineouts and carrying strongly despite some dips in the autumn. The lock also helped his club lift the coveted Top 14 silverware.
Performance highlight: In France’s Six Nations campaign, Flament contributed 33 lineout takes and 48 tackles in solid defensive work.
