Best Hockey Players in the World

• Harmanpreet Singh
• Yibbi Jansen
• Joep de Mol
• Charlotte Englebert
• Thierry Brinkman
• Xan de Waard
• Hannes Müller
• Nike Lorenz
• Zachary Wallace
• Stephanie Vanden Borre

Field hockey is an ancient sport with roots going back hundreds of years. Still, it has evolved in the modern era into a fast-paced, highly strategic game that captivates millions across the world at major international events like the Olympic Games, World Hockey League, World Cup, and EuroHockey Championships.

Club tournaments like Hoofdklasse and Hockey India League, which have seen greater salaries and exposure to the sport’s best players.

In this guide for hockey fans and sports betters, we’ll rank the top men’s and women’s players in field hockey. This is a challenging task, as the sport has seen different eras and styles of play, even since the 21st century.

Additionally, the game has transformed in recent years from a slower, more technical game to a faster, more athletic style of play. Many players have straddled both ends of this transformation and offer one skillset or the other.

Finally, it is hard to compare players across positions, with defenders, midfielders, and forwards, each requiring unique skills. Specialists like drag flickers also contribute to their teams in different ways.

So, fundamentally, we’ve tried our best to balance these factors to create a fair and considered list of the best ten players, split equally between the best men’s players and women’s players, who have grown in prominence in recent years.

Current Top 10 Field Hockey Players

1. Harmanpreet Singh

Image Credit: FIH

Harmanpreet Singh is one of the most celebrated players of his generation and is regarded as one of the best drag flickers in the world.

As a defender and penalty corner specialist, his international career began at the junior level, where he showcased his goal-scoring ability at the 2014 Sultan of Johor Cup, earning the Player of the Tournament award.

In 2015, he was called up to the Indian national team, rising to prominence with stellar performances in major tournaments, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he played a pivotal role in securing a bronze medal for India, ending a 41-year medal drought in the games.

He backed this up two years later in the 2022 Asian Games, where he led Team India to a gold medal, and in the 2024 Paris Games, where he led his team to another bronze.

His remarkable goal-scoring ability, particularly from penalty corners, has made him the highest international goal-scorer for India in modern hockey. He has earned himself several FIH Player of the Year awards, securing his enduring influence on field hockey in India and beyond.

2. Yibbi Jansen

Image Credit: Pro Shots/Bart Scheulderman

Yibbi Jansen has emerged as one of the sport’s brightest stars in a short career. The 26-year-old is known for her exceptional skill and poise in the defensive midfielder position and her prowess from penalty corners.

A cornerstone of the Dutch national women’s team, she began her career at HC Den Bosch, debuting at the Hoofdklasse at just 15, winning the national title in her first season.

She moved to HC Oranje Rood for the 2016/17 season, honing her penalty corner skills under drag flick specialist Toon Siepman. Her excellent form earned her a position in the national team in 2018, where she won the Champions Trophy with the Oranje.

Her defining moment came in 2024 when she helped her nation secure a victory at the pinnacle of the sport, the Paris Olympic Games. In doing so, she fulfilled a dream inspired by her father, double Olympic champion Ronald Jansen. Jansen was rewarded for her unbelievable season in 2023/24 with a FIH Best Player of the Year Award.

3. Joep de Mol

Joep de Mol is a distinguished Dutch field hockey player whose career has been marked with numerous accolades and contributions to sports in his homeland. De Mol has been surrounded by hockey since his very early days when he began playing at the age of five in his hometown of Tilburg.

In 2014, he joined Oranje Zwart in Eindhoven, making a name for himself by winning the Hoofdklasse, the highest Dutch league, and Euro Hockey League in 2015 at the age of 20. His performances earned him a call-up to the Dutch national team that year, beginning his illustrious international career.

He has been instrumental in both national and international successes, including the European Championship title in 2017 and 2021, a bronze medal at the Champions Trophy in 2018, and a silver medal at the World Championships the same year.

His ability to read the game and make crucial interceptions has made him a cornerstone of the Dutch defense. One of the defining moments of his career came in 2024 when he helped the Netherlands secure the gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games.

De Mol’s style of play is characterized by his defensive prowess, tactical intelligence, and composure under pressure from his defensive position. He has also amassed 155 international caps.

4. Charlotte Englebert

Image Credit: Hockeymaj/Wikimedia Commons

Charlotte Englebert is a Belgian midfielder who plays for Royal Racing Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in the country. She forged her reputation at Royal Racing Club, the six-time winners of the Belgian Hockey League.

In 2018, she was part of the Belgian Under 18 team that secured a EuroHockey Youth Championship silver medal in Santander. She followed this up with an encouraging appearance at the 2019 Under 21 EuroHockey Championship, helping her country qualify for the 2021 FIH Junior World Cup.

Her final appearance with the Under 21 team in 2022 saw her earn a silver medal in the EuroHockey Junior Championship in Ghent.

Her career took an exciting turn during the 2024-2025 season when she was signed by the Soorma Hockey Club in the Hockey India League (HIL), the first season featuring men’s and women’s tournaments simultaneously.

Her performance was stellar, culminating in Soorma Hockey Club finishing second in the league, with Englebert being named the top scorer alongside Yibbi Jansen.

Englebert’s style of play is characterized by her agility, strategic vision, and exceptional ball control, making her a formidable midfielder. Her ability to read the game and execute precise passes has been instrumental in her team’s success.

5. Thierry Brinkman

Image Credit: TeamNL

Thierry Brinkman is one of the most celebrated Dutch field hockey players of his generation. Having played at forward and midfielder, Brinkman has showcased his adaptability and tactical intelligence, whether it be for his club side, Den Bosch, or his county.

Brinkman’s career began at SCHC, but he rose to prominence during his time with Bloemendaal, where he won multiple Euro Hockey League titles in 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and Dutch national championships in 2019, 2021, and 2022. His leadership and goal-scoring prowess have been instrumental in these successes.

On the international stage, Brinkman has been a key figure for the Netherlands since his senior debut in 2015. He has represented his country in major tournaments, including the 2018 World Cup, where he scored four goals, and the 2019 EuroHockey Championship, where he helped secure a bronze medal.

6. Xan de Waard

Image Credit: HockeyWorld

Xan de Waard is one of the most accomplished field hockey players of her generation. Excelling as a forward and midfielder, she has showcased her adaptability and tactical intelligence on the field.

Since her debut with the Dutch national team in 2013, she has been a key part of the squad, winning three World Cup titles in 2014, 2018, and 2022, three European Championship titles in 2018, 2019, and 2023, and an Olympic gold medal in 2020.

She was named captain of the Dutch team in 2023 under coach Paul van Ass. Her strength lies in her versatility, allowing her to transition seamlessly between attacking and defensive roles.

In December 2023, she was crowned the world’s best hockey player, a testament to her consistent excellence and her impact on the game of hockey.

Her legacy is defined by her relentless pursuit of success and her ability to perform on the biggest stages. De Waard is one of the giants of the women’s game, with unparalleled leadership qualities and a unique set of skills.

7. Hannes Müller

Image Credit: Hamburger Abendblatt

Hannes Müller is one of the rising stars of field hockey, playing for Uhlenhorster HC and the German national team. He began his career at Cöthener HC, where he honed his skills before moving to Uhlenhorster in 2016.

Even as a young player, Müller showcased his talent by winning the Spreepokal in 2013, a prestigious youth tournament in East Germany.

Müller’s international career began with a debut for the Under 16 national team in 2015 before graduating to the senior team in 2018 at the age of 18. He has since gone on to make over 70 appearances in international matches.

He further added to his burgeoning reputation at the 2023 World Cup in Bhubaneswar, where he played a pivotal role in Germany’s victory, converting a crucial penalty in the shootout final against Belgium.

Müller’s ability to perform in high-stakes situations was further demonstrated at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he helped Germany secure a silver medal, narrowly losing to the Netherlands in a dramatic shootout.

He comes from great field hockey stock – his father is former East German national team player Wilf Müller, currently at Tresenwalder HC. His brother remains at Cöthener in the 2nd Bundesliga.

8. Nike Lorenz

Image Credit: Maryland Athletics

Nike Lorenz is a German field hockey player who has dominated German and international hockey since her emergence on the scene in 2014. She has amassed 196 international caps, including eight indoor matches, and played a pivotal role in the 2016 bronze medal her native Germany won at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

For her efforts in the Rio Games, she earned a Silver Laurel Leaf, the highest sports award bestowed in Germany.

A central defender, she has excelled in the game thanks to her unparalleled tactical awareness, defensive prowess, and ability to command her team across the field.

She retired from international duty in December 2024 but continued to play at club level for her side, KTHC Stadion Rot-Weiss, in Cologne.

Off the field, Lorenz is an ambassador for the Sports4Trees campaign, advocating for climate and environmental protection, proving that her impact as a role model extends further than sport and into sustainability.

9. Zachary Wallace

Image Credit: Great British Hockey

Zachary Wallace is one of the most famous English field hockey players and a key element of the England and Great Britain national teams. In his club career, he plays for Dutch Hoofdklasse club Bloemendaal.

After starting in the Men’s England Hockey League Premier Division with Surbiton, he moved to the Dutch Hoofdklasse, first with HGC and then with Bloemendaal, where he continues to showcase his skill and adaptability.

He has also played for Hyderabad Toofans for the Hockey India League 2024-25 season, further underscoring his growing reputation in global hockey circles.

On the international stage, Wallace made his senior debut for Great Britain and England in 2018, quickly becoming a key player.

He was nominated for the FIH Rising Star of the Year Award in 2019 and further cemented his growing reputation in the game with his performances in the 2021 EuroHockey Championship for England and the 2024 Paris Olympics for Great Britain.

His agility, vision, and technical prowess in the midfield and forward positions have given him the ability to control games.

10. Stephanie Vanden Borre

Image Credit: De Morgan

Stephanie Vanden Borre is a Belgian hockey player and penalty corner specialist. Vanden Borre is known for her defensive acumen, her blistering penalty corner, and her impressive record of 193 international matches and 76 goals for Belgium.

Her remarkable consistency and skill on the field have seen her achieve several major achievements, including two silver medals and a bronze medal at the European Championships.

Her defining moments include her talismanic performances in the 2017 and 2023 European Championships, leading her team to historic victories against Germany.

She also played a crucial role in the Red Panthers’ historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, the country’s best performance in the tournament in four decades.

In that tournament, she scored six of the team’s 13 goals. Her ability to perform under pressure was shown in the 2024 Olympic Games, where she played in seven of eight matches.

The Best of the Best

The players listed above exemplify the evolution of field hockey in a game surrounded by technical brilliance, tactical intelligence, and unparalleled athleticism.

Field hockey has grown from an amateur game to a professional sport, with high-profile leagues in the Netherlands and India bringing the best players together at club level and high-intensity international matches at tournaments like the World League, World Cup, and Olympic Games.

Players like Harmanpreet Singh, Yibbi Jansen, and Stephanie Vanden Borre have excelled at the penalty corner, a key part of offensive play, and showcased precision and power to bring the game to new levels.

Duel-positional players, who have become more common in recent years, like Zachary Wallace, Xan de Waard, and Thierry Brinkman, have excelled by seamlessly transitioning between midfield and forward roles to dominate games.

Finally, Joep de Mol and Nike Lorenz have demonstrated how, even though scoring has been increasing, defensive steel remains a key element of the game.

Meanwhile, rising stars like Hannes Müller and Charlotte Englebert embody the sport’s future, blending youthful energy with exceptional skill. Together, these players have elevated hockey, making it faster, more strategic, and more inclusive while inspiring future generations to push the boundaries of excellence.

Title Image Credit: sportoakimirka/Shutterstock