Why can't the Premier League attract the world's best players?

Had Vinicius Jr joined Arsenal , he would have been a rarity as a genuine global superstar moving to the Premier League at the height of his powers.

The Gunners were prepared to make the Brazil forward their primary target should he decide to leave Real Madrid, and the 26-year-old was open to the possibility.

But he has now signed a new contract at the Bernabeu until 2032 .

Premier League clubs have unrivalled collective spending power and England's top flight is widely regarded as the strongest domestic competition in world football, but attracting established Ballon d'Or contenders has proved difficult.

They have little problem attracting and retaining elite centre-backs and goalkeepers but the scarcity is more obvious further forward, where the most coveted attackers and attacking midfielders still often choose elsewhere.

Since the Premier League began in 1992, only three players have won the men's Ballon d'Or while representing an English top-flight club: Liverpool 's Michael Owen in 2001, Manchester United 's Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 and Manchester City 's Rodri in 2024.

What England has been exceptionally good at is providing the environment in which elite talents become global stars.

Dennis Bergkamp arrived at Arsenal after a difficult spell at Inter Milan and became one of the Premier League's most influential players. Eric Cantona had already shown flashes of his talent in France and at Leeds before becoming the emblem of Manchester United 's first great Premier League side.