Players & legends
The best padel players right now
Professional padel ranks pairs, not individuals — which makes the top of the game a story about partnerships as much as talent.
The first thing to understand about professional padel is that the ranking belongs to the pair. Two players share a position, and a partnership change can reshape the top of the sport overnight. That is exactly what happened going into the 2026 season.
Men: Coello and Tapia, still number one
Arturo Coello (Spain) and Agustín Tapia (Argentina) have held the number one ranking for a third consecutive year. Coello brings extraordinary reach and a smash that ends points from anywhere; Tapia brings the most inventive hands in the sport and a knack for producing the shot nobody in the stadium expected.
What makes them hard to beat is not either quality on its own — it is that they cover for each other. Tapia takes the risks; Coello makes sure the court is never open when they do not come off.
The chasing pack
| Pair | What they bring |
|---|---|
| Alejandro Galán & Federico Chingotto | The most credible challengers. Galán's power alongside Chingotto's defence and reading of the game |
| Franco Stupaczuk & Mike Yanguas | Relentless aggression at the net from both sides — the hardest pair to overpower |
| Juan Lebrón & Leo Augsburger | A former world number one with a young finisher. Devastating when it clicks |
| Paquito Navarro & Fran Guerrero | Experience and shot-making, and the most entertaining points of any pair on tour |
Women: Triay and Brea
Gemma Triay (Spain) and Delfina Brea (Argentina) have dominated the women's game since forming their partnership, stacking up titles at a rate that recalls the great pairs of the sport's history. Triay's court craft and Brea's aggression from the left have proven a near-perfect fit.
What club players can actually steal from them
- They almost never go for a winner from a defensive position. Watch a whole point and count how long they are willing to stay neutral.
- They move as one unit. When one is pulled wide, the other is already covering the middle.
- They lob far more than amateurs do. It is not a defensive shot at the top level, it is a way to take the net.
- Their bandeja is the shot that keeps them at the net. More in padel technique basics.
Padel's professional era is young enough that today's number one pair will be part of its founding history. For the players who built the game before them, see the legends of padel.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the number one padel player in the world?
In the 2026 season the men's top ranking is held by the pair of Arturo Coello and Agustín Tapia, a third consecutive year at number one. In the women's game, Gemma Triay and Delfina Brea lead.
Why do two players share the number one ranking?
Professional padel ranks pairs rather than individuals, because it is played exclusively as doubles. Both members of the top pair hold the number one position.
How often do padel pairs change?
Far more often than in tennis doubles. Most seasons open with several new partnerships among the top ten, which is why the rankings reshuffle so dramatically.