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Home , 2019 SheBelieves Cup, Alisson, Amel Majri, Andrew Robertson, Attacker, Bethany England

BEST PLAYERS 2020

FULL VOTES On P36 & P42

Football’s glitziest individual award has been scrapped this year – but it won’t stop FFT crowning our own king and queen of a mad 2020. With votes from 128 journalists in 102 countries, we discover who’s been robbed...

Words Mark White, Ed McCambridge, Joe Brewin, Jeff Kassouf BEST PLAYERS 2020 BEST PLAYERS 2020

AnGEL DI MARIA PSG | Argentina | 0 PTS Manchester United | Portugal | 10 PTS

Alas, the only man with zero votes – but his United’s 2019-20 had two parts: before and place on our 30-strong shortlist recognises after Bruno. Prior to his late-January arrival, a fine year for the ex-Manchester United flop. the Reds sat 14 points behind third-placed While and Kylian Mbappe hogged Leicester, chasing a lost cause. But then came the spotlights, Di Maria kept busy conducting the fightback: eight goals and seven assists the orchestra. The 32-year-old’s outstanding for their catalytic recruit, sealing an unlikely vision cut through defences as PSG reached 10 Champions League place. The 26-year-old is a first Champions League final, while his 14 already talismanic at , marrying assists last term were twice as many POINTS his stunning ability on the ball with a fierce as any other footballer in ’s top flight. desire to drag team-mates along with him. Liverpool | | 1 PT Real | France | 11 PTS

It’s easy to point out Henderson’s leadership Benzema, the narrative claimed, was nothing skills as the reason why he’s one of the first more than a magician’s assistant. But there names on Jurgen Klopp’s team-sheet. It does, was a reason why Real Madrid didn’t directly however, ignore what a supreme midfielder replace in 2018. Out of the he has grown into. Henderson rarely wastes showman’s shadow he has twice top-scored a ball, his long-range passing is excellent and for Real, and this term led them to his third his intensity off the ball exemplary. The FWA title with seven goals after lockdown. Footballer of the Year has come to symbolise The understated Frenchman isn’t dimming this Liverpool era – with his heart and head. TAKE OFF HIS 14 PEnALTIES AnD in his twilight years – instead, he’s proving his worth as a defining striker of this generation. IMMOBILE’S TALLY LAST Tottenham | England | 2 PTS TREnT ALEXAnDER-ARnOLD Liverpool | England | 13 PTS It seems unfair to defences that England’s WOULD STILL BE 4TH In best striker keeps improving. Kane seemingly The Reds’ local hero carved out 13 top-flight downloads new patches to boost his game, assists across 2019-20, after 12 the season and in 2020 he has developed further in an before. He only recently turned 22. Liverpool’s effective withdrawn role for Jose Mourinho’s by leading Scotland to Euro 2020, their first arch – from his so-called defensive side. But he’s still scoring: seven goals after major finals in 22 years, via nervy shootout role – is more than a pass-master, though: he Project Restart; 13 more before November’s victories over Israel and Serbia. Some going. typifies the champions’ style and guile with international break – not to mention beating ace delivery and attacking thrust. Talk of him his assist record for a season moving to midfield has hushed: he’s too busy by October 26. Still surprising, still brilliant. rewriting what it means to be a right-back. PSG | | 4 PTS

LEOn GORETZKA Formerly considered little more than Thiago Bayern | Germany | 3 PTS Silva’s hype man, Marquinhos has been at Inter | | 14 PTS the heart of PSG’s top 2020. After seamlessly Goretzka was called a “Bayern pig” when he adapting to a less familiar defensive midfield As the youngest overseas player to plunder traded Schalke for Bavaria in 2018, but there’s role under , the Brazilian also 100 Premier League goals, form like this was a good reason why they’re so alluring. In turn, contributed vital goals – in the quarter and always Lukaku’s destiny. Having fired Inter to the 25-year-old has blossomed into a Swiss semi-finals – as Les Parisiens marched to the within a point of a first Scudetto since 2010, army knife star: a goalscorer, preventer and Champions League showpiece. Those golden the Belgian took them agonisingly close to gut-busting worker. Take the 8-2 battering of moments were enough to demonstrate his the Europa League crown – netting in every Barcelona: Goretzka dominated the midfield leadership and, sure enough, he assumed the knockout match. This may have been a year with an iron fist, yet delivered a sumptuous captaincy from an outgoing Silva this season. of near misses for Lukaku, but not in front of assist for to bag Bayern’s third. . He showed his detractors the real Rom. “He’s currently the best box-to-box player in the world,” insisted the astute Ralf Rangnick. Liverpool | Brazil | 7 PTS Bayern Munich | Canada | 15 PTS In 2018-19, Alisson’s first season at Liverpool, Liverpool | Scotland | 3 PTS he kept as many clean sheets as he conceded Davies seems to do everything at breakneck goals – 36 – for both club and country. Those speed – but then, that’s not really surprising As a measure of his abilities, Robbo was the sky-high standards haven’t dropped, either: in for a player who made his professional debut only member of Liverpool’s title-winning side 2020 he added the Premier League trophy to at Vancouver aged 15. He began last season not to have a defined deputy waiting in the his haul, averaging a clean sheet every other shoehorned out of position at left-back, yet wings. The man Mourinho once said makes game. Never is his value highlighted greater became key to Bayern’s ruthless bullying of him tired just watching epitomises reliability; than in absentia, though. Adrian’s howler at the and Europe. With boundless a constant provider in the final third, hurtling home to Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the stamina, fearless and cheetah-like up and down the line to laser in his trademark Champions League cost Klopp’s men dearly pace, he tore Chelsea and Barça apart to seal crosses. Another stunning year was capped in March, shorn of their giant No.1’s presence. Champions League glory… and he’s only 20.

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Buffon’s European record of 176 caps. It was the striker hit seven goals in his opening three SOn HEUnG-MIn also the year in which he became joint-leader Bundesliga appearances, two more to sink Tottenham | South Korea | 18 PTS for Champions League red cards (four) along PSG in the Champions League, and hasn’t let with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and . up. Ludicrously, his year up to November 21 It’s no shock that Spurs’ worst patch in 2020 had produced 38 goals in 35 games for club came in the three matches an in-form Son and country, including four in a 5-2 victory at missed with a fractured arm. Tottenham took THOMAS MULLER Hertha . He turned 20 in July. Be afraid. one point from a possible nine, crippling their Bayern Munich | Germany | 36 PTS Champions League hopes. The electric Korean has grown in prominence this year, though, A little over 12 months ago, Muller’s glittering nEYMAR becoming the first Asian to reach 50 Premier career at Bayern was on life support: frozen PSG | Brazil | 48 PTS League goals and starting 2020-21 with nine out of the side by former boss Niko Kovac, his in as many games. He even did the dreaded role reduced to that of 30-something impact The scenes of an inconsolable Neymar in the military service in lockdown – winning a prize substitute. After Kovac’s November sacking, aftermath of PSG’s Champions League final for the top performance among 157 trainees. though, replacement immediately heartbreak may have surprised those who reinstated the ‘Raumdeuter’. Nine goals and worried about the Brazilian’s commitment to as many assists after the 2020 party poppers life in the French capital. Frequent histrionics CIR0 IMMOBILE – the latter, part of a 21-strong Bundesliga can sometimes mask his desire to win – but Lazio | | 21 PTS season record haul – helped Bayern win big. here was a reminder, if ever one was required. When Neymar is in the mood – as he was for Take away the record 14 penalties Immobile PSG’s European quest – he remains laughably scored for Lazio last term, and the Italian’s unplayable; a schemer of effortless brilliance, tally would still be Serie A’s fourth-highest of Liverpool | | 42 PTS ceaseless fun and devastating end product. 2019-20. Instead, his lethal haul was enough to bag him the while Move over, Mo – goal-getting alone isn’t going equalling Gino Rosetti and Gonzalo Higuain’s to earn votes any more. He’s still rather good joint-record for the most goals in an Italian at that, mind: the Egyptian netted 10 Premier Bayern Munich | Germany | 59 PTS top-flight campaign. More importantly, those League goals in the second half of last term 36 goals amounted to 45 per cent of Lazio’s to ensure Liverpool’s title march stayed fully Arguably the world’s finest footballer in two total and propelled them into the Champions on course, and started 2020-21 with eight positions, Kimmich was regularly switched League for the first time since 2008. in as many matches. While has between right-back and defensive midfield earned acclaim this year, Salah was the only for club and country again during 2020. His top-tier player to make the top five for both stellar performances in both roles were key THIAGO ALCAnTARA goals and assists. as Die Roten clinched their trophy hat-trick, Bayern/Liverpool | Spain | 23 PTS displaying admirable leadership for a player still only 25. His outstanding reliability and The hypnotic Spaniard started his year with determination have become as valuable as three goals in as many Bundesliga outings, Dortmund | | 43 PTS his pinpoint passes and spatial awareness. and ended his final campaign in Bavaria with Pleasingly, FFT’s voters agree. three winner’s medals. Thiago’s mesmerising The Leeds-born Norway international kicked passing at the base of midfield was crucial in off his 2020 by swapping Red Bull Salzburg delivering Bayern’s Treble, culminating in his for , amid interest from KYLIAn MBAPPE brilliant swansong: August’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United. It proved a wise choice: PSG | France | 64 PTS PSG to secure Europe’s biggest prize. Is it any wonder that Liverpool fans were so pleased Last season’s Ligue 1 campaign might have to land their man for £25m? been cut short in April, but leaders PSG still won the title and Mbappe his second straight Golden Boot. The 21-year-old’s importance SERGE GnABRY was best highlighted in Les Parisiens’ run to Bayern Munich | Germany | 23 PTS Lisbon’s European showpiece, though, when his late introduction against Atalanta in the Ex-Arsenal man Gnabry proved the attacking quarters helped to overturn an ominous 1-0 ace of Bayern’s European run-in. Five goals deficit. He possibly should have made more in the Champions League knockout stages – of his opportunities in August’s final – but the one in the 8-2 hammering of Barcelona and explosive Frenchman will get his shot again. a brace in the semi-final victory over – were backed up by another in the DFB-Pokal final, amounting to a remarkable Treble that had the continent rising to applause. Suffice Liverpool | | 67 PTS to say, those struggles at West Brom in 2015 haven’t held him back. The best defender in the world this year, so say our panel of experts, the 29-year-old has become the benchmark against which every other centre-back is measured. The towering Real Madrid | Spain | 27 PTS Dutchman didn’t miss a minute of Liverpool’s league-winning season, bossing opposition Madrid’s battle-weary leader remains as vital 42 strikers with his customary intelligence and as ever to club and country. The 34-year-old elegance. Having been ruled out until April enjoyed another trophy-winning year, lifting POINTS 2021 with a cruciate injury sustained during a La Liga and Copa del rey Double, reaching October’s , his true worth 100 career goals for Real, playing his 450th to the Reds may yet become apparent in the match for the club, and overtaking Gianluigi months to come.

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His game has become about more than goals SADIO MAnÉ – see the delightful outside-of-the-boot assist Liverpool | Senegal | 113 PTS for ’s hat-trick goal at Atalanta in November, when the Merseysiders ran amok. “I’ll say it again. Sadio Mané best player in the He’s come a long way. Jurgen Klopp & Co league.” So tweeted No.1 fan Cesc Fabregas took something of a punt to polish the £34m in September, after Liverpool’s ace frontman man, who arrived from Southampton in 2016 had bagged a quick-fire brace to sink Chelsea as a raw but explosive talent. “Maybe people at Stamford Bridge. Cesc wasn’t lying, either: thought, ‘I’m not sure he’s worth it’, but we he had given the same response when asked were 100 per cent sure about him,” noted the the question in January, having also named German in July. “Consistency was key… the the speedster among the planet’s top three level he performs at is unbelievable. He came Bayern Munich | Germany | 69 PTS players months earlier. as a young boy and grew up – he matured.” Now, the rest of the world is catching up in Klopp’s praise was later even more effusive. Google Bayern Munich’s colossal goalkeeper its appreciation of the 28-year-old. Mo Salah “From a talent to a settled, world-class player and the ‘people also ask’ box also throws up: may have edged him overall in every season is a big step, because you have to do it pretty “Is Manuel Neuer still good?” Well, here’s your since the Egyptian’s arrival in 2017, but Reds much week in and week out,” he explained. answer. It’s true that 2018 was something of supporters are just as enamoured with their “That’s what he’s able to do. It’s a massive an annus horribilis – a gruesome World Cup Senegalese star, who again dazzled en route development. I have no idea of a number [of defence after breaking his foot the previous to Liverpool’s first top-flight title since 1990. where he ranks] but for sure in the top, top, September – but at 34, his best days are back. Arguably the most consistent of their lethal top, top offensive wingers, strikers, whatever Champions League success in August was his , Mané has also blossomed into one you want to see in the world. I think everyone second at Bayern and the Bundesliga title his of the most complete: a bundle of trickery, would agree on that.” eighth, while October even delivered a Sepp imagination, pace and assassin-like finishing. Well, Jurgen: it appears they absolutely do. Maier-beating, club record 200th clean sheet in Bavaria. Oh, Manuel Neuer’s still good all right – just ask our voters. CRISTIAnO ROnALDO Juventus | Portugal | 98 PTS

Ronaldo netted his 100th international goal 113 for Portugal this year, paving the way to beat POINTS ’s record tally of 109 in 2021. While he suffered a second season of European failure at Juventus, CR7 still won his second Serie A crown and became one of only three players in Old Lady history to break the 30-goal mark – the first since in 1934. To most players, that would be a sensational year. To Ronaldo, 35 but still seemingly indestructible, it’s been relatively quiet. With next summer’s Euros approaching and Daei on the verge of being toppled, however, the Portuguese will be confident of ensuring his name is back in lights when the Ballon d’Or votes are cast in 2021. After all, there’s a bloke who beats his five orbs on the mantelpiece... Barcelona | Argentina | 101 PTS

…and he nudges ahead in our votes for 2020 as well. It says much about Messi’s mutant abilities that he can still finish this high after what has arguably been the worst year of his career. Simmering tensions with Barcelona’s board eventually boiled over in August with his botched and very public transfer request, leading to an almighty summer of discontent in Catalonia (see FFT 320). And yet, this was also the year when Messi converted his 700th career goal, smashed ’s assists record for a sole La Liga season (21) and won a seventh top-scorer Pichichi Trophy for netting 25 goals – the 12th consecutive campaign in which he has struck at least 20. Only had managed 20 goals and 20 assists in a season within Europe’s top five divisons this century. Yes: even the Flea’s ‘bad’ years are markedly better than most players’ special ones.

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Guardiola found that the playmaker did exactly what he asked, however he Manchester City | Belgium | 120 PTS tinkered with his starting XI. He wasn’t a revelation. He was a revolution. It was claimed that if was on Last term was a defining one for him Centre Court with the roof shut, it was game – not because he brought consistency over. You couldn’t beat the Swiss master for amid the chaos, but because no one is precision with no wind; no sun glare over his this good. He stands above everyone; sweatband. Without the elements, you were the David Bowie of the Premier League, battling the inevitable scythe of defeat. the flame-haired rock star who rendered It felt similar watching Kevin De Bruyne in Real Madrid mediocre inside the Bernabeu, desolate stadiums post-lockdown, chiselling bagged 20 league assists and picked apart away at Thierry Henry’s 20-assist record set Liverpool in a 4-0 thrashing – the same night in 2002-03. There’s comfort in consistency: as their guard of honour. 120 that should the world descend into darkness He is Guardiola’s general. Not the vocal POINTS and football become a television-only event, enforcer that some managers boast, you can set your watch by the remorseless but a high-functioning, high-octane swing of a Belgian’s right peg. metronome to set your watch by. That wasn’t always the case. A slouching Full house or empty, Inbetweener at Genk, the teenage De Bruyne KDB will tear drifted through games. Sometimes he would you apart. log on, launch a rocket and nearly burn the ball through the net – as if he was almost too modest to really let loose. Chelsea saw the potential. They signed him for £8m, loaned him to Werder Bremen and watched him dazzle like a street player. The starlet was developing physically, but with a sturdy double-pivot just behind him, he was given a free role to flicker. De Bruyne became a supreme dribbler. He got just 132 league minutes to prove himself when he returned to Stamford Bridge – but he was learning that when chances didn’t present themselves, he was capable of making them himself. So, in January 2014 – then 22 – he left for . In his first full season, De Bruyne played behind the frontman and immediately used his glorious repertoire of tricks to notch an all-time Bundesliga high of 20 assists (beaten by Thomas Muller’s 21 for Bayern Munich in 2019-20). was mesmerised, but after finalising personal terms, Die Roten failed to agree a price. So, De Bruyne joined Manchester City in 2015 for a club-record £55m, just six months before Guardiola was unveiled as their incoming new boss. Some midfield generals come to reflect their managers, but the maestro was never really a mirror to the dugout – instead, unshaped dough for the Catalan to mould. De Bruyne was a strawberry-blond Beckham under , an electric right-winger with an exquisite right boot and lung-busting work-rate to match. But Pep had HE STAnDS ABOVE EVERYOnE; other ideas: the schemer became a second striker under his tutelage, advancing beyond THE BOWIE OF THE PREMIER to score City’s opener in Guardiola’s debut . He was LEAGUE, THE FLAME-HAIRED played wide-left that season too, encouraged to interlink with . ROCK STAR WHO REnDERED But as City developed, De Bruyne receded deeper. In December 2016, Guardiola called REAL MEDIOCRE In MADRID the Belgian “our most important player”. On the right of a midfield trio, he saw space and found runners in the penalty box like a sniper. In 2017, Stoke fans lauded his otherworldly display against them during a 7-2 demolition, when De Bruyne played a part in five goals. BEST PLAYERS 2020

“He doesn’t try to do anything difficult,” Makaay tells FourFourTwo. “He doesn’t care about scoring beautiful goals, he just wants to score. He’ll take whatever shot, whatever “LEWAnDOWSKI DOESn’T chip or header he thinks is necessary in the moment. He’s a clinical striker. That’s what I like about him. “The most important thing for a striker at Bayern is not to feel the expectations on you. CARE ABOUT SCORInG You always place pressure on yourself to prove you belong at the biggest teams in the world, but he’s been playing at this level for so many years now. I don’t think he has any problems with pressure – you can see that in his performances. He’s used to it.” BEAUTIFUL GOALS – HE For Tobias Altschaffl, the chief reporter at German news outlet SportBild, Lewandowski’s all-round threat has been just as sensational as his scoring record in 2020. What’s more, he believes Bayern have old nemesis Jurgen JUST WAnTS TO SCORE” Klopp to thank for it. “Over the course of this year we’ve seen A runaway winner in 2020 – ranked top by 87 of our 101 voters – no one else the other side of Lewandowski’s game,” he tells FFT. “Not just his ability to score goals, even came close to FFT’s No.1 than Lewy after a stunning year in front of goal but also to bring out the best in team-mates. His early days at Borussia Dortmund, when he was regularly played as a No.10 by Klopp, gave his game that extra element. Words Ed McCambridge “He didn’t particularly like playing in that role, but it vastly improved his understanding of the game. It helped him to become the calendar year, in just 22 matches. Die Roten player we’re now seeing with Bayern. He was won everything with their unstoppable scorer, the complete footballer during their Treble Bayern Munich | Poland | 561 PTS culminating in August’s glorious Champions season. A great goalscorer, for sure, but also League final victory over Saint-Germain a great team-mate.” There is beauty in simplicity. Perhaps no – the only knockout game in which Lewy Last season’s eighth straight Bundesliga other footballer on the planet embodies didn’t find the net. was par for Germany’s serial champions, but that idea more than Robert Lewandowski. Before that, the Pole failed to notch in only Makaay believes Lewandowski’s desire to Bayern Munich’s trusty striker might not one of his eight post-lockdown Bundesliga win a first Champions League medal inspired be the most skilful player in the world, the matches and bagged twice in the DFB-Pokal him to hit new heights, after three semi-final most jaw-dropping, the fiercest nor the final against Bayer Leverkusen. Not getting failures since his 2014 arrival. quickest, but he has made a habit of doing on the scoresheet was more of a surprise. “From the day you first walk in at Bayern, the simple things better than anybody in Former Bayern Munich and Netherlands you feel the atmosphere of winning,” reveals 2020. And he is devastating at it. frontman , who plundered 103 the Dutchman. “It’s not just a thing to Across a 2019-20 campaign pulled apart goals for the club between 2003 and 2007, win titles there – you have to win titles. You by COVID-19, the Polish marksman scored believes Lewandowski’s greatest strength as get that mentality very fast. You saw in the 55 Bayern goals in all competitions – 25 this a striker is as clear as it is simple. Champions League last season how much it meant to him to win that trophy – he scored 15 goals in the competition. You could see after the final against PSG how happy he was to have finally won it.” Lewandowski turned 32 in August, the same age Makaay was when he left Bayern to end his career with . The Pole’s stellar physical condition, however, means there is little chance of him doing something similar in the near future. “He’s still in top shape,” explains Altschaffl. “Lewandowski is using all the science and data to help him maintain peak fitness. He’s even got a sleep researcher to assist with his rest and recovery, meaning he’s more like a player of 22 or 23 – 10 years younger than he actually is. He’ll still be playing for a very long time. He’s got a contract with Bayern until 2023, but he can play well beyond that.” Makaay agrees. “He’s a family man who is almost always fit,” he enthuses, adding that Lewandowski is one of few to benefit from the enforced mid-season lockdown. “He was injured going into the coronavirus break, then came out of it fit again. He has some years BEST PLAYERS 2020

left in him yet, and it looks like he’s getting better and better every year.” Lewandowski’s goals in 2020 powered him beyond legendary Bayern forward (and now CEO) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and up into second in the Bavarians’ scoring charts. It’s unlikely he’ll ever catch record Roten scorer Gerd Muller – about 300 clear at the time of writing – but the striker’s standing within the Bundesliga pantheon is hardly disputed. “He would be in the top five for sure,” says Makaay. “The best, and the number one, will always be Muller. The order behind him is for other people to decide.” “I never had the chance to watch Muller play live,” reflects Altschaffl. “He’s obviously considered the greatest striker in club history and holds the record for the most goals in the Bundesliga. But for me, Lewandowski is definitely the number two – or even number one and a half.” Despite the Pole’s enduring excellence and reliability, there will come a time when he too must hang up his shooting boots. In his last “IF GERD MULLER IS THE GREATEST BAYERn STRIKER, LEWAnDOWSKI IS nUMBER TWO – OR OnE AnD A HALF”

five seasons he hasn’t returned fewer than 40 goals in all competitions, but what Bayern do next is a question that “no one can, or will, answer at the moment” says Altschaffl. “No team could replace a player like Robert, nor could any player in the world replace him.” Makaay, meanwhile, has no concerns over what will happen to Bayern when the striker eventually calls time on a remarkable career. “I don’t think it will be a problem,” he says. “If you look at the history of all the forwards who have played for Bayern over the years – every one had to replace somebody great. Rummenigge, Giovane Elber, myself, Mario Gomez, , , Lewy. Each time it’s the same.” For now, Bayern fans can continue to enjoy the phenomenal displays of a No.9 who ages like Benjamin Button. Altschaffl is in no doubt 561 that the talisman was the best player in the world across 2020, and a more than worthy POINTS winner of FFT’s vote. “He fully deserves it,” he says. “The player who finishes top scorer in the league, the cup and in Europe – and who won everything in a calendar year with no Euros or World Cup – is the simple choice.” Simplicity, after all, is always key whenever Robert Lewandowski is concerned. BEST PLAYERS 2020

DR CONGO GERMANY Michel Tobo Jonathan Harding foot.cd DW Sports 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski HEnDO: HUGE In SOUTH KOREA 2. Kylian Mbappe 2. Joshua Kimmich 3. 3. Erling Haaland 4. Lionel Messi 4. 5. Serge Gnabry 5. Manuel Neuer They saw, they voted: 101 journalists from 101 nations on six continents EGYPT GHANA handed FFT their picks for 2020’s top players, and their winner was clear... Marwan Saeed Bernard Neequaye Freelance Daily Graphic 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Virgil van Dijk 3. Kylian Mbappe One of the highlights of every 1 Robert Lewandowski (561 points) 15= Serge Gnabry (23 points) 4. Mohamed Salah 4. Sadio Mané Ballon d’Or vote is poring over 2 Kevin De Bruyne (120 points) 17 Ciro Immobile (21 points) 5. Bruno Fernandes 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold the polls for puzzling choices. 3 Sadio Mané (113 points) 18 Son Heung-min (18 points) 4 Lionel Messi (101 points) 19 Alphonso Davies (15 points) EL SALVADOR GREECE First, however, an explainer: 5 Cristiano Ronaldo (98 points) 20 Romelu Lukaku (14 points) Claudio Martinez Vasilis Sambrakos FFT’s 30-strong shortlist was 6 Manuel Neuer (69 points) 21 Trent Alexander-Arnold (13 points) Pencho y Aida FM gazzetta.gr picked in-house, then passed 7 Virgil van Dijk (67 points) 22 Karim Benzema (11 points) 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski to our global army of experts. 8 Kylian Mbappe (64 points) 23 Bruno Fernandes (10 points) 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Joshua Kimmich 9 Joshua Kimmich (59 points) 24 Alisson (7 points) 3. Lionel Messi 3. Manuel Neuer Spare a thought for poor Angel 10 Neymar (48 points) 25 Marquinhos (4 points) 4. Ciro Immobile 4. Thomas Muller Di Maria – the only man to get 11 Erling Haaland (43 points) 26= Leon Goretzka (3 points) 5. Sergio Ramos 5. Kevin De Bruyne nil points. Curiously, four on the 12 Mohamed Salah (42 points) 26= Andrew Robertson (3 points) panel felt Robert Lewandowski 13 Thomas Muller (36 points) 28 Harry Kane (2 points) ENGLAND HUNGARY 14 Sergio Ramos (27 points) 29 Jordan Henderson (1 point) Chris Flanagan Gyorgy Szollosi deserved zilch. Tough crowd... 15= Thiago Alcantara (23 points) 30 Angel Di Maria (0 points) FourFourTwo FourFourTwo Hungary 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sadio Mané 2. Kylian Mbappe 1st = 6 points 2nd = 4 points 3rd = 3 points 4th = 2 points 5th = 1 point 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Joshua Kimmich 4. Neymar 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Erling Haaland 5. Manuel Neuer

ESTONIA ICELAND BANGLADESH BULGARIA COLOMBIA Angelo Palmeri Johann Maher Mezahi Mehedi Sujan Metodi Carl Worswick Freelance Sigurdsson Freelance New Age Shumanov Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Romelu Lukaku 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Lionel Messi 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Lionel Messi 3. Ciro Immobile 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Manuel Neuer 3. Mohamed Salah 2. Virgil van Dijk 3. Neymar 4. Erling Haaland 3. Lionel Messi 4. Sadio Mané 4. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Serge Gnabry 4. Sadio Mané 5. Mohamed Salah 4. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Neymar 5. Manuel Neuer 4. Sadio Mané 5. Erling Haaland 5. Virgil van Dijk 5. Romelu Lukaku ETHIOPIA ANGOLA BARBADOS COOK ISLANDS Haileegziabher INDIA Ivan Capuepue Renaldo Gilkes Rashneel Kumar Adhanom Mihir Vasavda Freelance Loop News Elvis Iradukunda Cook Islands News SuperSport Indian Express 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski BETV 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Ciro Immobile 2. Ciro Immobile 1. Manuel Neuer 2. Lionel Messi 2. Sadio Mané 2. Kylian Mbappe 3. Sadio Mané 3. Sergio Ramos 2. Robert Lewandowski 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Erling Haaland 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Sadio Mané 4. Thomas Muller 4. Lionel Messi 4. Sadio Mané 5. Son Heung-min 5. Romelu Lukaku 4. Kylian Mbappe 5. Karim Benzema 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Joshua Kimmich 5. Cristiano Ronaldo ARGENTINA BELGIUM COSTA RICA FAROE INDONESIA Martin Mazur Samindra Kunti CAMEROON Rodrigo Calvo ISLANDS Tio Prasetyo Freelance Freelance Njie Enow Buzon De Rodrigo Trondur Arge Box2Box 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski CRTV 1. Robert Lewandowski Sosialurin 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Thomas Muller 2. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Joshua Kimmich 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Bruno Fernandes 3. Virgil van Dijk 3. Joshua Kimmich 2. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Lionel Messi 2. Lionel Messi 3. Virgil van Dijk 4. Lionel Messi 4. Erling Haaland 3. Sadio Mané 4. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Alphonso Davies 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Romelu Lukaku 4. Virgil van Dijk 5. Marquinhos 4. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 5. Lionel Messi 5. Thomas Muller AUSTRALIA BOLIVIA IRAN James Dampney Paola Perez CANADA Ivan Tomic FINLAND Babak Golriz Finder Freelance Kiyan Sobhani Freelance Joonas Partanen Sport360 1. Virgil van Dijk 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski Iltalehti 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Neymar 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Neymar 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Lionel Messi 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Lionel Messi 2. Lionel Messi 3. Andrew Robertson 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Manuel Neuer 4. Manuel Neuer 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Manuel Neuer 3. Joshua Kimmich 4. Karim Benzema 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 5. Joshua Kimmich 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Sergio Ramos 4. Bruno Fernandes 5. Sadio Mané 5. Neymar 5. Erling Haaland AUSTRIA BOSNIA AND ISRAEL Thomas Middler HERZEGOVINA CHAD Karel Haring FRANCE Michael Yokhin The Other Bundesliga Sasa Ibrulj Nesta Yamgoto Freelance Fabien Fougeray Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance Tchadinfos 1. Robert Lewandowski CANAL+ 1. Thomas Muller 2. Erling Haaland 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Robert Lewandowski 3. Alisson 2. Sadio Mané 2. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Thiago Alcantara 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Serge Gnabry 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Erling Haaland 3. Son Heung-min 4. Joshua Kimmich 5. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Karim Benzema 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 4. Erling Haaland 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 5. Thiago Alcantara 5. Neymar 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold DENMARK ITALY Rasi BRAZIL CHINA Johan GAMBIA Emanuele Movsumzadeh Mauricio Savarese Jiang Mengxi Lyngholm-Bjerge Momodou Bah Giulianelli Freelance AP CGTN Freelance CAFOnline Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Neymar 2. Mohamed Salah 2. Virgil van Dijk 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Thomas Muller 3. Serge Gnabry 3. Trent Alexander-Arnold 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Sadio Mané 3. Kylian Mbappe 4. Sadio Mané 4. Serge Gnabry 4. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Lionel Messi 4. Bruno Fernandes 4. Mohamed Salah 5. Erling Haaland 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Joshua Kimmich 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Manuel Neuer 5. Cristiano Ronaldo BEST PLAYERS 2020

JAPAN MALAYSIA NORWAY RUSSIA SOUTH KOREA Koki Harada Vijhay Vick Thore Haugstad Artur Petrosyan Steve Han Andriy Kudyrko Tokyo Chunichi Johor Darul Ta’zim NRK Sport Freelance Goal ua-football.com 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Virgil van Dijk 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Virgil van Dijk 2. Sadio Mané 2. Joshua Kimmich 2. Sadio Mané 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Lionel Messi 3. Lionel Messi 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Son Heung-min 4. Lionel Messi 4. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Virgil van Dijk 4. Karim Benzema 4. Ciro Immobile 5. Ciro Immobile 5. Mohamed Salah 5. Thomas Muller 5. Son Heung-min 5. Jordan Henderson 5. Erling Haaland

JORDAN MEXICO OMAN RWANDA SPAIN UNITED ARAB Mohammed Jason Marquitz Ashok Purohit Peter Kamasa Jon Prada EMIRATES Awaad soccermexicana.com Muscat Daily The New Times John McAuley Alroeya 1. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski The National 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Neymar 2. Joshua Kimmich 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sadio Mané 3. Neymar 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Mohamed Salah 3. Sergio Ramos 2. Joshua Kimmich 3. Lionel Messi 4. Trent Alexander-Arnold 4. Mohamed Salah 4. Kylian Mbappe 4. Kylian Mbappe 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Kylian Mbappe 5. Serge Gnabry 5. Sergio Ramos 5. Thiago Alcantara 5. Lionel Messi 4. Lionel Messi 5. Romelu Lukaku 5. Sadio Mané MONTENEGRO PAKISTAN SAUDI ARABIA KENYA Danilo Mitrovic Umaid Wasim Atef Nahass Desney Romeo USA Charles Nyende ND Vijesti dawn.com Freelance ABC TV Martin Nation 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Harasimowicz 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Thomas Muller 2. Mohamed Salah 2. Manuel Neuer Freelance 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Neymar 3. Neymar 3. Sadio Mané 3. Kevin De Bruyne 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Serge Gnabry 4. Trent Alexander-Arnold 4. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Thiago Alcantara 4. Virgil van Dijk 2. Son Heung-min 4. Lionel Messi 5. Thomas Muller 5. Romelu Lukaku 5. Kylian Mbappe 5. Sergio Ramos 3. Mohamed Salah 5. Karim Benzema 4. Sadio Mané MOROCCO PERU SCOTLAND 5. Lionel Messi KOSOVO Mohamed Amine Victor Zaferson Kenny Millar Lee Roden Bajram Shala El Amri Le Matin Freelance Freelance Sveriges Radio VENEZUELA RTV 21 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Thomas Muller 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Virgil van Dijk Hugo Chavez 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Erling Haaland 2. Mohamed Salah 2. Lionel Messi Lider 2. Sergio Ramos 3. Romelu Lukaku 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Virgil van Dijk 3. Robert Lewandowski 1. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Sadio Mané 4. Sadio Mané 4. Thiago Alcantara 4. Erling Haaland 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Robert Lewandowski 4. Joshua Kimmich 5. Karim Benzema 5. Leon Goretzka 5. Alphonso Davies 5. Erling Haaland 3. Sadio Mané 5. Kylian Mbappe 4. Thomas Muller NAMIBIA PHILIPPINES SENEGAL SWITZERLAND 5. Neymar LEBANON Sheefeni Ryan Fenix Adama Ndione Eva Tedesco Mohamed Fawaz Nikodemus GMA News Online RTS 20 Minuten VIETNAM Almustaqbal The Namibian 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Joshua Kimmich Tran Duc Truong 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Sadio Mané 2. Robert Lewandowski zing.vn 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Son Heung-min 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Thomas Muller 3. Sergio Ramos 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Marquinhos 4. Lionel Messi 4. Karim Benzema 4. Romelu Lukaku 2. Manuel Neuer 4. Lionel Messi 4. Ciro Immobile 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Sadio Mané 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Mohamed Salah 5. Sadio Mané 4. Lionel Messi POLAND SERBIA TANZANIA 5. Neymar LIBERIA NETHERLANDS Zbigniew Vladimir Novak Salim Masoud Said Anthony Kokoi Guus Hetterscheid Muchag Freelance SandalsForGoalposts WALES KMTV Freelance Pilka Nozna 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Huw Davies 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Virgil van Dijk 2. Kylian Mbappe Freelance 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Sadio Mané 2. Manuel Neuer 3. Neymar 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 1. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Lionel Messi 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Joshua Kimmich 4. Manuel Neuer 4. Lionel Messi 2. Robert Lewandowski 4. Sergio Ramos 4. Lionel Messi 4. Sergio Ramos 5. Joshua Kimmich 5. Sergio Ramos 3. Son Heung-min 5. Kylian Mbappe 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Sadio Mané 4. Harry Kane SIERRA LEONE TRINIDAD & 5. Alphonso Davies LIBYA NEW ZEALAND PORTUGAL Alusine Rehme TOBAGO Morad Dkeel Gordon Watson Valter Marques Wilson Lasana Liburd ZIMBABWE WTV-Libya OFC TV Record Northern Times wired868.com Grace Chingoma 1. Joshua Kimmich 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Alphonso Davies 1. Robert Lewandowski The Herald 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Sadio Mané 2. Kevin De Bruyne 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Virgil van Dijk 3. Mohamed Salah 3. Sadio Mané 2. Erling Haaland 4. Erling Haaland 4. Lionel Messi 4. Thiago Alcantara 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Neymar 3. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Thiago Alcantara 5. Virgil van Dijk 5. Kylian Mbappe 5. Kylian Mbappe 5. Lionel Messi 4. Sadio Mané 5. Alphonso Davies MACAU NICARAGUA QATAR SINGAPORE TUNISIA Pedro Santos Gunther Kuse Mitch Freeley Jeremy Lim Abdesslam Ponto Final Freelance beIN SPORTS Freelance Dhaifallah 1. Cristiano Ronaldo 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Radio Mosaique FM 2. Mohamed Salah 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Sadio Mané 2. Mohamed Salah 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Manuel Neuer 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Virgil van Dijk 3. Serge Gnabry 2. Manuel Neuer 4. Lionel Messi 4. Joshua Kimmich 4. Kylian Mbappe 4. Virgil van Dijk 3. Kylian Mbappe 5. Bruno Fernandes 5. Virgil van Dijk 5. Sergio Ramos 5. Sadio Mané 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Mohamed Salah MADAGASCAR NIGERIA REPUBLIC OF SLOVAKIA Haja Lucas Tolu Olasoji IRELAND Martin Rendek TURKEY Rakotondrazaka Freelance David Sneyd Hospodarske noviny Simge Yazici GET InVOLVED L’Express de Madagascar 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski FourFourTwo Turkey 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Kevin De Bruyne 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Thiago Alcantara 3. Neymar 2. Thiago Alcantara 3. Kylian Mbappe 2. Alisson So, you’ve seen who 3. Lionel Messi 4. Serge Gnabry 3. Serge Gnabry 4. Lionel Messi 3. Neymar our global panel of 4. Neymar 5. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Sadio Mané 5. Joshua Kimmich 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Manuel Neuer 5. Erling Haaland 5. Erling Haaland experts plumped for, NORTHERN SOUTH but who would make MALAWI IRELAND AFRICA UGANDA your A-list? Compile Peter Kanjere Keith Bailie Emanuel Rosu Juandre Joubert Ismael Kiyonga your top five players Freelance County Down Spectator Freelance FourFourTwo SA Kawawo Sports 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Virgil van Dijk 1. Robert Lewandowski for 2020, then head 2. Lionel Messi 2. Lionel Messi 2. Lionel Messi 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sergio Ramos to and let us 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Alphonso Davies 3. Manuel Neuer 3. Sadio Mané 3. Erling Haaland know #FFT2020Best 4. Manuel Neuer 4. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Thiago Alcantara 4. Erling Haaland 4. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Erling Haaland 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Alphonso Davies

FourFourTwo January 2021 37 BEST PLAYERS 2020

JI SO-YUn MARIE-AnTOInETTE KATOTO Chelsea | South Korea | 0 PTS PSG | France | 2 PTS

Throughout Ji’s time at Chelsea, which now France have long underwhelmed at major stretches eight seasons, Blues coach Emma tournaments despite a of Hayes has hailed her 29-year-old as talent, but Les Bleues will rely on Katoto for one of the world’s best players; one with the goalscoring in crucial moments if they are to potential to reach its summit, even. Chelsea improve going forward. Having just turned have acquired plenty of talent over the past 22, she’s the future for both France and PSG. year as they try to conquer Europe, yet their Katoto is a multi-faceted threat with the ball success is as dependent on her as any of the at her feet and in the air, and led the Division other stars. Sadly, while she was included in 1 Feminine with 16 goals in 15 games of its FFT’s 20-woman shortlist, voters weren’t sold. shortened 2019-20 campaign. In November, she hit the winner as PSG toppled the mighty Lyon in their first head-to-head of this season 2 – the latter’s first league defeat in four years. Lyon | France | 0 PTS Katoto is going places, averaging 1.46 goal POINTS contributions (including assists) per league Bouhaddi has taken her share of criticism for appearance, which isn’t far off Hegerberg’s some, ahem, adventurous play in goal, but blistering rate thus far. she remains the No.1 for world-beaters Lyon and nabbed UEFA’s goalkeeper of the season prize. A recent quarrel at international level ALEXAnDRA POPP leaves her future with France uncertain, but Wolfsburg | Germany | 3 PTS the 34-year-old still has plenty of road ahead. One thing is for certain, at least: watching Striker Popp is an intimidating presence who Bouhaddi will never be dull. KATOTO HIT THE WInnER AS PSG commands attention on the pitch whether she’s in front of goal or dropping deeper. The 29-year-old has become a leader for both EWA PAJOR BEAT MIGHTY LYOn In nOVEMBER Wolfsburg and Germany, while consecutive Wolfsburg | Poland | 0 PTS double-digit goal tallies have also made her a more consistent threat at the sharp end. Completing our trio of pointless shortlisters – SHE’S THE FUTURE OF FRAnCE She’s a big reason why Wolfsburg reached is striker Pajor, who earned major approval the Champions League final in 2020, and her as the Frauen-Bundesliga’s top goal-getter importance was laid bare this season when in 2018-19. The Pole followed up with a fine injury forced her to miss the German giants’ 16-goal campaign as Die Wolfinnen clinched 4-1 hammering at key rivals Bayern Munich. another title in 2020, before a knee injury in SARA BJORK GUnnARSDOTTIR Now that must have hurt. September unfortunately finished her year Wolfsburg/Lyon | Iceland | 1 PT early. Nevertheless, the forward, 24, remains among Europe’s brightest talents. Iceland hardly pop off the tongue as a world power, but Gunnarsdottir has made herself Lyon | France | 4 PTS a fixture at two of Europe’s top teams. She DEnISE O’SULLIVAn netted in the 2020 Champions League Final Majri has long defined the modern, attacking North Carolina/Brighton | Ireland | 1 PT to help Lyon defeat Wolfsburg again, having full-back as someone capable of not only only switched from the German side in July. creating but finishing in the final third. And Don’t allow the Ireland international’s slight Gunnarsdottir’s space-finding talents and that’s why she’s no longer solely a full-back. frame to fool you: she’s one of the toughest movement in midfield are outstanding, while The 27-year-old’s innate technical ability – midfielders in the women’s game. O’Sullivan her ability to command the ball in crowded particularly, a gifted left foot – have pushed is also one of the best. Her team-mates at areas speaks to the 30-year-old’s composure. her higher upfield for Lyon, not just on the North Carolina – who include multiple World Iceland’s 2018 Sportsperson of the Year is wings but sometimes centrally, depending Cup winners – consistently praise her as the a classy operator. on the opponent. Majri’s skillset is such that lynchpin to their success, making Brighton’s she’s now a vital component of the world’s loan swoop for her in September something best club team in multiple, distinct positions. of a coup. The 26-year-old does a lot of her team’s dirty work and hasn’t always got the Chelsea | Norway | 2 PTS credit for it. Thankfully, that’s now changing. ALEXIA PUTELLAS The noise around Norway at the 2019 World Barcelona | Spain | 5 PTS Cup was about who wasn’t with their team, in disgruntled star striker , but March 2020 feels so long ago, but Putellas’ on the pitch, Reiten showed the world why performance at the SheBelieves Cup marked she’s one of the most promising midfielders. the rise of both player and country as Spain She was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the continue to challenge the incumbent world Year award in her first, pandemic-shortened powers. Putellas plays with the confidence year at Chelsea in 2019-20, when the Blues’ you might expect from a traditional Spanish 26-year-old exhibited all the swagger and playmaker, combining her technical talents confidence that makes her so special. Reiten with a dominant physical presence. Still only has fought for playing time at Kingsmeadow 26, she remains a focal point of Barcelona’s this season, but a recent contract extension surge to prominence in the women’s game, through to 2023 indicates how valuable she and should be a huge part of Spain’s push to is to Hayes & Co in west London. contend for 2022 Euros honours in England. BEST PLAYERS 2020

BETHAnY EnGLAnD DZSEnIFER MAROZSAn Chelsea | England | 7 PTS Lyon | Germany | 33 PTS Lyon | France | 63 PTS

Landing the WSL title was just reward for We just don’t talk about Marozsan enough. A Lyon veteran of 15 seasons, having arrived England’s terrific campaign at Chelsea, which Perhaps injuries play a role in that – a broken from Martinique in 2006, Renard could have she closed out by scoring in each of their last toe severely limited her impact at the 2019 easily laid claim to top spot in 2020 after nine games. That was enough to bag her the World Cup, for example. Perhaps Lyon have another excellent year in which she nudged league’s player of the season honour as well, become so dominant too, though, that we’ve ahead of Bronze in UEFA’s elite line-up and then ink a new four-year contract to finish off grown bored of their never-ending success. captained Lyon to customary dominance. her magnificent year. Not bad for a forward But Marozsan is 28, in the prime of her career The 30-year-old may be a centre-back – the who “didn’t fit in” at the London outfit once – and absolutely brilliant. The stylish German world’s best at the moment – but Renard is upon a time, according to former club-mate has a rare ability to make the sublime seem also an astonishing goalscorer thanks to her Eni Aluko. No more. “She’s the best English effortless as a playmaker or while netting prowess at set-pieces: sensationally, she has No.9 in the country,” glowed manager Hayes. from distance, and is still women’s football’s managed double-digit goal tallies for four standard-bearer in her No.10 role. seasons and counting. A leader by example. North Carolina | Brazil | 8 PTS Lyon/Manchester City | England | 59 PTS Arsenal | Netherlands | 76 PTS The torch has officially been passed in Brazil. There may never again be a talent like Marta, Bronze returned home to Manchester City in When Miedema struck her 60th goal for the but Debinha is the attacking midfielder Pia the summer after three seasons away – and Netherlands in June 2019, she became the Sundhage will build a team around. She has eight major trophies at Lyon to show for her Oranje’s record goalscorer. She was 22 years hugely improved her consistency to become travails abroad. The Northumberland native old. In 2020, Arsenal’s hotshot laid claim to a wily playmaker in possession, and a deadly was the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in another milestone when her treble against finisher from any distance. Her sumptuous 2019, third this time out, and by now there Spurs made her the WSL’s all-time top scorer nutmeg-to-top-corner strike against Houston is little doubt of her standing as the world’s – in 60 fewer games than the former record in September was a small sample of why she best right-back (or, if you ask Lionesses boss holder, . Having led the league is the leading player in the NWSL right now. , “the best player in the world”). for goals in 2019-20 – for the second season Nineteen of FFT’s 27 panelists for the female running – it took her just five games of this vote had Bronze in the points – four of them term to reach 10 strikes. You get the idea: EUGEnIE LE SOMMER in top spot – indicating just how highly rated now 24, Miedema is just about as lethal as Lyon | France | 11 PTS England’s star is beyond Europe. they come – and scarily, still getting better.

Becoming Les Bleues’ highest goalscorer of all time in September capped another joyous year for Le Sommer, who has been around for 10 of Lyon’s 12 consecutive title wins. She helped to make it a fifth straight Champions League triumph too, cracking open the final against Wolfsburg with the kind of dogged finishing that has made her such a force up top for a decade. PSG | | 18 PTS

Chile’s No.1 was given an endorsement from during the 2019 World Cup, and for good reason: the athletic shot-stopper is capable of replicating Solo’s trademark brand of stunning saves. Endler denies efforts that most players wouldn’t expect to be repelled, showing off agility and range which has set the bar for goalkeeping in women’s football.

DELPHInE CASCARInO Lyon | France | 18 PTS

Consistency was always up for discussion with the 23-year-old, but 2020 was the year she began trying to silence it for good. Lyon’s academy poster girl was player of the match in the Champions League final, contributing 59 heavily to their opening two goals in a superb right-wing display. Having started the 2019 POINTS and 2018 editions on the bench, Cascarino is now influencing Lyon’s biggest matches from the start with her fearless repertoire of tricks.