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.