Our annual list of the world's 100 best male football players is here! The Germany frontman is playing less selfishly while also finishing his chances more ruthlessly, amounting to 12 goals in his first 12 Bundesliga matches of 2019-20.
Pique, 32, was arguably Barcelona’s third-most important player in 2018-19, and his experience must now help his club to avoid repeats of the debacles against Roma and Liverpool.Few players are as overlooked and under-appreciated as Pjanic, who has quietly been reinventing himself as a deep-lying playmaker since leaving Roma in 2016. I think everyone would agree that 2017 was an incredibly successful year for England’s age-group football teams: England won both the Under 20 and Under 17 World Cups, the Under 19 European… Maybe, but he is far exceeding expectations for a 19-year-old. It was the second-best haul of his career, including three of Spurs’ four goals in the two-legged Champions League success against Manchester City. Somehow, Son is still underrated. Fortunately, things have looked much more promising this season.He may be 35 now, but Silva remains a rock at the heart of PSG’s defence. One year on from World Cup success, he narrowly lost out to Lionel Messi as Europe’s top overall goalscorer. Head impact exposure in youth football has not been well-documented, despite children under the age of 14 accounting for 70% of all football players in the United States. The Age of Innocence: Football in the 1970s is published by Taschen (£34.99). Alexander-Arnold’s 12 set a Premier League record for a defender; Robertson managed a mere 11, but by the end of November he had bumped his team-mate into second position, across the league, for assists in 2019.The double act were key to Liverpool’s extraordinary year, combining consistent quality with mind-boggling stamina. Real Madrid need him to do so.The Dortmund star is a veteran now, having celebrated his 30th birthday, and he is mainly used as a creative midfielder rather than a forward. Adding goals to his game could make 2020 his best year yet. He was rewarded with UEFA’s player of the year award, but missed out on the big golden football (and the Best FIFA Men’s Player award) because of a certain Argentine…Barcelona’s wizard continues to dazzle and delight, producing another calendar year of extraordinary consistency in front of goal and almost single-handedly carrying the Catalan club at times. 26. The best players deliver when it matters most; the truly elite do it consistently. Even if the 27-year-old is no longer at the peak of his powers, he is an admirable workaholic who helps others to thrive.
“I knew it would be difficult,” said Griezmann about his slow start at the Camp Nou following a €120m transfer to Barcelona. Mo has accomplished that ever since he moved to Liverpool in 2017, and now he has a Champions League crown to show for it. The Dutch prodigy has flourished whether deep or playing in an advanced role, dribbling, passing and working his way into Blaugrana hearts. He thought he'd achieved the best possible recognition when he was handed a record sixth Ballon d’Or earlier this month. He turns 31 in January, yet 2019 has arguably been his best-ever year: the midfielder was a constant as Lucien Favre’s team went close to glory last season.“Everyone’s work ethic is incredible, but Koke does so much running – I just don’t know how he does it.” So eulogised his new team-mate, Kieran Trippier, who has been liberated by the Rojiblancos’ captain. Strong, mobile and fearless, Skriniar boasts excellent pace and awareness, and he is unquestionably one of the best man-markers in Italian football. He was brilliant for Brazil to help them lift the Copa America: the 22-year-old put in goal-and-assist displays in the semi-final and final as his beloved Seleção triumphed on home soil.