Who is playing the best football on the planet right now?
It's not an easy question to answer, with the recent World Cup skewing many basic calculations and measurements thanks to many players having extended breaks and some having not even played since.
For example, had we answered this question exactly four weeks ago, our top 10 would have for sure included the great Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
But the Frenchman is yet to play a competitive game since losing in the final to his teammate, whereas Messi has made one sole appearance against Auxerre in which he failed to score or assist.
For that reason, we will be excluding World Cup form and basing our analysis purely on club football.
Naturally, that makes Marcus Rashford a huge contender to claim number one spot with the Englishman having rocketed in a stupendous 10 goals in his last 10 games for the Red Devils.
But let's not forget the likes of Martin Odegaard, who could well be on course to claim the PFA Player of the Year tag. Nor several other global superstars, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier all hold very worthy shouts, so without further ado, let's dive in and rank football's 10 most in-form stars.
Ranking football's 10 most in-form players
10. Martin Terrier (Rennes)
One name you well be slightly less familiar with than most on this list is this left-winger from the Ligue 1.
Terrier has been sensational this campaign for Rennes, contributing nine goals and four assists across 16 matches for the club.
Even more impressively, he only dipped a below 7.0 match rating on WhoScored three times throughout the season and was excelling throughout December and January before picking up a season-ending injury a couple of weeks ago.
We're unlikely to see him again until 2023/24 but his form certainly deserved a mention.
9. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern)
Another player that's been brilliant all year, Kimmich's season recently peaked when he rocketed in an absolute thunderbolt in the 90th minute to rescue his team a point.
MUNICH, GERMANY - JANUARY 24: Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena on January 24, 2023 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
READ MORE: Bayern Munich's Kimmich hits Rashford celebration after screamer vs Koln
That performance earnt him the Man of the Match award but overall he has probably been the German giant's best player to date.
8. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
We must reiterate, taking into account World Cup performances Bellingham would be right up there, but he has only played once since Qatar - although granted, he did score, assist and win Man of the Match...
The young star is playing so well right now that he's seemingly wanted by every European club worth their salt and he simply had to be included in our list of football's 10 most in-form players.
7. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Alright, we get it, he scored ANOTHER hat-trick when playing against Wolves recently.
But let's not forget that fans were beginning to jump on his back for his lack of contribution to games in other areas whilst he went on - dare we say it - a three game goal drought.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Etihad Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Across those three matches, Haaland's match ratings came in at 6.45, 5.91 and 6.22, therefore, we can't justify putting him any higher than seventh on this list until he regains his consistency.
6. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)
Trippier has been the star of a Newcastle defence which, statistically at least, has been the best in the world this season.
The Magpies have conceded fewer goals than any team in Europe's top five leagues to date and, since the turn of the year, have shipped just a single goal to Sheffield Wednesday.
Trippier is important to that stat, but he adds that element of creativity too. It's no surprise he's won three Man of the Match awards already since returning from Qatar.
5. Harry Kane (Tottenham)
Kane has flown under the radar this season. No doubt the outrageous goal return of Haaland is the reason for that, however, the Englishman needs credit for his 16 league goals so far.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Harry Kane celebrates with Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Since returning from the World Cup, he's added another five to his tally and is playing impressively even by his own lofty standards.
4. Casemiro (Manchester United)
Well, how good a signing has this man proved to be? Undoubtedly the best defensive-midfielder in the world, Casemiro has bossed it both at club and international level this season.
Across his last 10 matches, Casemiro has slipped below a 7.0 match rating just once and has arguably been Erik ten Hag's most important player alongside Rashford.
3. Solly March (Brighton)
My word has Brighton's March been on top form this January.
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Brighton player Solly March in action during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Middlesbrough and Brighton & Hove Albion at Riverside Stadium on January 07, 2023 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Apart from demolishing Liverpool single-handedly, scoring two goals and assisting one on route to a 3-0 victory, he's also registered a further four goal contributions and two extra Man of the Match awards to boot.
Get him in your fantasy football teams now.
2. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
As mentioned earlier, Odegaard could well be on route to claiming the PFA Player of the Year award should the Gunners skipper continue to spearhead the club's charge to victory.
He started the season well and has shown no sign of stopping, having consistently registered 8/10 most matchdays.
1. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
But there could only be one and who else could we have awarded this spot to besides Rashford?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United celebrate following their side's victory in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 14, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Devastating, electric and frightening we're pretty sure the English media are running out of ways to describe this hotshot.
Ten Hag has really let the cat out the hat now and seems to understand what makes Rashford tick after the Englishman struggled under previous managers.
If he maintains his current run of form, then god help the rest of the Premier League.