In this article, we will be taking a look at the best of the best in 2020. Soccer has persevered through the challenges of this crazy year and has given us some brilliant individual seasons to talk about.
Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid - Goalkeeper
Courtois played a monumental role in the Merengues’ march to their 34th La Liga Santander title this past year. Standing at 6’ 6,” Courtois’ towering presence has stifled attackers week in and week out, positioning him to earn the Golden Glove with 18 clean sheets. Belgium’s No. 1 also led his fellow peers between the sticks in save % (0.79) and GA/90 (0.59). Courtois has always been one of the best shot stoppers in soccer, but his title-defining performance in the 2019-2020 season seals him a spot on my Team Of The Year.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool - Right Back
You’ve heard of the flying Scotsman, but have you heard of the flying Englishman? Alexander-Arnold has solidified himself as the best right-back in the world after his high flying performance in Liverpool’s road to the Premier League title. England’s full back finished the season with 13 assists (2nd), 274 progressive passes (1st), and 183 crosses (1st). Alexander-Arnold’s attacking creativity was on full display last season, but he didn’t slack on the defensive end either, finishing 4th in % of dribblers tackled with 70.0. Liverpool’s young, dynamic full backs in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson have completely revolutionized how full backs are used in the game, altering how managers approach the game.
Sergio Ramos
Real Madrid - Centre Back
Mr. Captain Cool. Sergio Ramos epitomizes the qualities of leadership and consistency, repeatedly exceeding expectations while keeping Los Blancos solid at the back. He’s been banging in the goals this season too, finishing 10th (11) in goals scored as a center back. On the other end of the pitch, he is a talismanic presence snuffing out chances and setting the tempo with his 91.6% pass completion rate (5th).
Virgil Van Dijk
Liverpool - Center-Back
After a stellar 2018-19 season, few doubted Van Dijk’s brilliance. Once again in 2019-20, he reminded us that he was the best centre back in world football. Van Dijk was a steadfast presence at the back, playing the most minutes in the Premier League (3420) while holding a pass completion rate of 90.5 (8th) and winning 81.0% of his aerial duels (2nd) in England’s top flight. The Dutchman’s dominating presence at the back led Liverpool to a long awaited Premier League title after an agonizingly long 30-year drought.
Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich - Left Back
From Canadian refugee to global superstar, Alphonso Davies’ meteoric rise to success has come through his scintillating breakthrough season at double-winners Bayern Munich. Davies’ has played an integral role in the Bavarian outfit’s incredible form this season, providing 3 goals and setting up 5 more. Davies’ prolific performances are highlighted by his 0.36 G + A/90 as compared to his expected G + A ratio of 0.23, far exceeding expectations. Add this to a 36.51km/h top speed, and you have a recipe for possibly the best full back of this generation. And just to top it off, Davies smoked Barcelona and PSG to help Bayern Munich to their second ever treble.
Joshua Kimmich
Bayern Munich - Defensive Midfielder
Kimmich is a German magician at work. His controlled, energetic play is reminiscent of some of the greats: Zidane, Iniesta, Lahm. Kimmich has turned the Bavarian outfit from a team that only dominated domestically to a European giant. When Kimmich gets going and starts to set the tempo, Bayern look near unstoppable. Last season Kimmich finished second in key passes (81), passes into the final third (252), and passes into the penalty area (64). Kimmich’s defensive ability often goes unnoticed but he has shown repeatedly that he is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball with the 8th most successful pressure % in the Bundesliga (43.9).
Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United - Central Midfielder
Seemingly the only bright spark at Manchester United, Fernandes has lit up the Premier League after arriving from Sporting in the January transfer window. The fact that he is on this list after a half a season at Manchester United should tell you something about his greatness. The Portugese man has 9 more G+A than Kevin DeBruyne since he has arrived in the Premier League. Even though he left Sporting halfway through the year, he still managed to finish second in assists with 13 and continued his impressive play by finishing fourth in Goal Creating Actions (0.91) in the Premier League. Fernandes seems to be single handedly holding up this struggling Manchester United squad and for that he earns his place in my TOTY.
Kevin DeBruyne
Manchester City - Central Midfielder
What can this man not do? The best midfielder in the world by a considerable margin, DeBruyne just makes everything look a bit too easy. City’s main man scorched the Premier League last season, tying the record for the most assists in a season with 20 and finishing with the highest G+A in the Premier League with 33. DeBruyne also led the league in key passes (131), passes into the penalty area (121), through balls (32), and Shot Creating Actions (197). DeBruyne’s goal scoring ability coupled with his unearthly skill to pick out teammates made him the most prolific player in the Premier League last season, securing his spot in my TOTY.
Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund - Striker
Man or machine? Haaland seems to be programmed to sleep, eat, score, and score some more! The Norweigein Nightmare has an outrageous G + A ratio of 1.27, a feat even Cristiano Ronaldo did not reach this season. He did this by scoring 29 Goals and providing 6 assists in 29 games for RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund. Playing less than half the season in the Bundesliga, Haland managed to finish 6th among the all scorers and 2nd in goals/90 minutes, while winning the 2019 Austrian Footballer of the Year. He has racked so many insane statistics that I could not possibly list them all here, but check out one of his games, and you will see exactly why I’ve put him on this list over even Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich - Striker
The Polish No.9 has been the best player in the world this year without a shadow of doubt. LewanGOALski was not only the top scorer in the Bundesliga with 34, he was also 2nd in Europe. Leading Bayern Munich to a treble behind his flurry of goals and his direct approach to goal, Lewandowski dribbled past 70 players this season, good for ninth. Lewandowski would have earned the Balon D’Or this year for his stellar season with Bayern Munich but the way he has started this next season, he might be an early-pick for the award next year.
Kylian Mbappe
PSG - Left Winger
The young Frenchman has taken Ligue 1 by storm ever since his breakthrough season at Monaco. Mbappe has only gotten better every year he has played, finishing 1st with 18 goals in Ligue 1 and 8th in assists with 5. Mbappe was also extremely well-rounded, finishing top 10 in every attacking category in Ligue 1. With that kind of statistical performance, it is only fair to put him in my TOTY over his teammate Neymar. Mbappe also led the French champions to a domestic treble winning the League cup, League Title and French cup.
Sources:
https://www.fifplay.com/fifa-21-toty/
Glossary: https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/popups/Glossary.asp?s=soccer