The 2020/21 football league season has come to an end, the season was an unusual season, no thanks to Covid-19. Unusual not just in terms of the absence of fans, gameplay, rules, etc but also the surprising champions of some leagues and competitions like Athletico Madrid (La Liga), Lille (Ligue 1), Inter Milan (Serie A), Sporting Lisbon (Portuguese Primera division), Leicester City (FA Cup), Villareal (Europa League) and Chelsea (UEFA Champions League)
There were brilliant performers during the season but in this article, TOP SOCCER BLOG looks at the top 10 players that impressed during the 2021/21 season.
1. RUBEN DIAS (MANCHESTER CITY)
Ruben Dias joined Manchester City for a club-record £65m fee from Benfica last summer and was saddled with the huge responsibility of filling the shoes of the legendary Vincent Kompany. Dias proved to be very equal to the task as he helped City win the League Cup, Premier League, and reached the Champions League final for the first time in their history, which was lost to Chelsea.
The 23-year-old made 48 appearances in all competitions scoring once and helped City keep the most clean sheets in the league.
He was rewarded for his fine performances with the Football Writers Award (FWA), becoming the first defender to win the award since Steve Nicol in 1989 and also the 3rd ever player to win the award in his first season in English football.
2. ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI (BAYERN MUNICH)
At 32 years of age, Lewandowski had another impressive season in 2020/21 with performances that belie his age. He helped Bayern to yet another Bundesliga title, setting a new record of most goals scored in a single league season in the process. The Polish forward scored 41 goals in just 29 league appearances! He won the European Gold Shoe for the first time this season.
Lewandowski ended the season with 48 goals and 9 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions.
3. ERLING BRAUT HAALAND (BORUSSIA DORTMUND)
Erling Haaland continued from where he stopped last season with some incredible performances in 2020/21, making himself one of the most sought-after youngsters in world football. The 20-year-old scored 41 goals in exactly 41 appearances in all competitions with another 12 assists. His goals helped Dortmund win the German DFB Pokal and also reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League. At his young age, Haaland is already one of the best strikers in the world.
Haaland finished as the Champions League top scorer with 10 goals and won the 2021 Bundesliga Best Player of the Year award, even ahead of Lewandowski.
4. IIKAY GUNDOGAN (MANCHESTER CITY)
Gundogan was one of the most impressive performers in Man City’s Premier League title win. The midfielder had his best season in front of goal with 17 goals and 5 assists in 45 games in all competitions. More importantly, his goals came in crucial matches during the season.
The German’s consistent performances helped City win the League Cup, Premier League, and reached the Champions League final for the first time ever.
5. LUIS SUAREZ (ATHLETICO MADRID)
34-year-old Luis Suarez was sold off by Barcelona in the summer with the club’s new manager, Ronald Koeman, writing him off. Athletico were the beneficiaries as Suarez proved Barcelona, Koeman, and all his doubters wrong by helping Diego Simeone’s side to a stunning La Liga title triumph.
The Uruguayan scored 21 league goals and led the team with his wealth of experience and fighting spirit.
6. ROMELU LUKAKU (INTER MILAN)
Former Manchester United striker, Romelu Lukaku, showed his old club what they are missing, as he helped Inter end Juventus’ dominance of the Inter Serie A as the Nerazzurri won their first title in 11 years. Lukaku’s work rate and amazing partnership with Lautaro Martinez was also one of the major factors for Inter’s title victory.
The Belgian scored 30 goals and provided 10 assists in 44 appearances in all competitions.
7. BRUNO FERNANDES (MANCHESTER UNITED)
Ever since his transfer to Old Trafford in January 2020, Bruno Fernandes has been unarguably the best player in team and has raised the team’s overall performances. His impressive displays guided Man United to 2nd place in the Premier League, FA Cup semi-final, and the Europa League final in 2020/21. In 58 appearances in all competitions, Fernandes scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists.
He ended the season as the 3rd highest goal scorer in the Premier League, behind Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah, impressive feat for a midfielder!
8. MASON MOUNT (CHELSEA)
Mason Mount has been one of the most outstanding performers in Chelsea’s crazy season. He was one of the regular performers under ex-manager Frank Lampard, and continue impressing under Thomas Tuchel, this owing to his flexibility and ability to play in different positions due to his smartness. The 22-year-old helped the Blues reached the FA Cup final, finish in the Premier League top four, and also remarkably win the UEFA Champions League. Mount is arguably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at the moment.
His crowning moment of the season was when he provided the assist for Kai Havertz to score the winning goal in the Champions League final.
Mount scored 9 goals and made 8 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions and will hope to impress in next month’s Euros for England.
9. KYLIAN MBAPPE (PSG)
Although PSG disappointedly lost the Ligue 1 title to Lille, Mbappe had a fantastic season from an individual perspective. He impressed in the Champions League as PSG reached the semi-final which they lost to runners-up, Manchester City.
He ended the season as the top scorer in Ligue 1 with 27 goals. In all competitions, he scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances.
All eyes will be on Mbappe during next month’s European Championship.
10. BURAK YILMAZ (LILLE)
One of the fairy tales of the 2020/21 season is Lille’s Ligue 1 triumph. The club dethroned PSG as the champions of France. One of the most important figures in Lille’s title victory is Burak Yilmaz. Not much was expected from the Turkish striker when he joined the club last summer at 35 years of age. But his leadership, experience, and work rate helped propel Lille to their first league title since 2012.
Yilmaz scored 16 league goals and provided 5 assists to help his club achieve one of the most shocking upsets of the season.
NOTABLE MENTIONS:
- Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
- Mohammed Salah (Liverpool)
- Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
- Christian Eriksen (Inter Milan)
- Frenkie De Jong (Barcelona)
- Marcus Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
- Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
- Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)
- Ronald Araujo (Barcelona
Feel free to add yours.
