A tumultuous 2020 still managed to produce plenty of football despite the COVID-19 pandemic. It also featured some unpredictable results and surprising individual displays.
\nWe’ve picked 22 of the best performing players in Europe’s top five leagues over the course of the year and, with your help, narrow it down to the best XI.
\nUsing polls on our Instagram stories, we pit players in each position against each other and let you decide who deserves to make the cut.
\nFollow our\u00a0Instagram page\u00a0to get involved.
\nHere’s\u00a0what our\u00a0European Team of the Year\u00a0looks like:<\/p>\n
GK:\u00a0Manuel Neuer\u00a0(Bayern Munich)
\nHe seemed to be in decline during the previous couple of years and had his Germany spot come under threat from Marc-Andre ter Stegen but he’s now back to his best. His superb\u00a0Champions League\u00a0final heroics secured Bayern’s treble.
\nThe ?keeperChampions League ??World Cup ?Bundesliga ????????DFB Pokal ?????UEFA Super Cup ?Club World Cup ?Manuel Neuer has cemented his legacy ? pic.twitter.com\/qJpzwUOhC8— Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) August 24, 2020
\nRB:\u00a0Trent Alexander-Arnold\u00a0(Liverpool)
\nHe has revolutionised the way we think about a full-back’s role in the team. With excellent technique and vision he stands out. A genuine goal threat and playmaker even from right-back, he was key to Liverpool’s long-awaited league triumph.
\nCB:\u00a0Sergio Ramos\u00a0(Real Madrid)
\nEveryone looked at the attackers and wondered who would step into Cristiano Ronaldo’s shoes but it’s Sergio Ramos who’s emerged as Real Madrid’s talisman.\u00a0He leads by example with his uncompromising defending and eye for goal.
\n? ?????? ???????: "I think the best three central defenders in the world are Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk and Kalidou Koulibaly. "All three are very physical, but also very intelligent on the pitch."[Via: @vgnett] pic.twitter.com\/pHwQosvMn9— Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 29, 2020
\nCB: David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
\nAdapted seamlessly to reinvent himself as a centre-back after being renowned as one of the best left-backs in the game. His pace, elegance and composure on the ball facilitates Bayern’s build-up play and has helped them dominate in 2020.
\nLB: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
\nOne of the breakout stars of the year. He supplements an already stacked Bayern attack with his supreme attacking play. His exhilarating forward runs with pace and power are a sight to behold.
\n\u26bd\ufe0f League goals in 2020:? Cristiano Ronaldo 3\ufe0f\u20e33\ufe0f\u20e3? Robert Lewandowski 3\ufe0f\u20e32\ufe0f\u20e3The 35-year-old Ronaldo is an absolute freak of nature ? pic.twitter.com\/6fxCsqdY9n— Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 20, 2020
\nCM:\u00a0Kevin De Bruyne\u00a0(Manchester\u00a0City)
\nNo one creates more chances or provides more assists than Kevin De Bruyne. His overall play including his energy, eye for goal and defensive contributions make him the best midfielder in the world.
\nCAM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
\nBreathing down the Belgian’s neck though is Bruno Fernandes who has all the traits to be the ultimate playmaker. He’s had a massive impact at Manchester United with 33 goal involvements in 30 games, taking them from being a top six team to potential title challengers.
\nCould Bruno Fernandes win the Ballon d'Or one day? ?? ????????? ???????? (???????'? ???????? ????????): \u201cHe will never say it, but someone with his numbers can only dream of important goals like the Ballon d'Or."[Via: @CmdotCom_En] pic.twitter.com\/zCWQXtH1Wm— Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 31, 2020
\nCM:\u00a0Joshua Kimmich\u00a0(Bayern Munich)
\nFlawless in every role he adopts. Joshua Kimmich is exemplary whether played in midfield or at right-back. He pulls the strings for Bayern and sets the tempo but he’s more directly involved in creating chances as well. He created the most chances in 19\/20\u00a0Champions League campaign.
\nFW:\u00a0Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
\nThis has not been his year but without him, things could be so much worse for Barcelona. His genius and sheer numbers are undeniable even in a tumultuous year. An outstanding playmaker and game-changer.
\nFW:\u00a0Robert Lewandowski\u00a0(Bayern Munich)
\nHe won everything in 2020 and really should have a Ballon d’Or to go alongside his FIFA Best award. His 47 goals in 44 games this year for club and country speaks volumes. Simply the best player of 2020.
\nFW:\u00a0Cristiano Ronaldo\u00a0(Juventus)
\nDefying his age with remarkable efficiency, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to stagger having scored 33 Serie A goals this year. He’s a renowned goal-scoring machine but at Juventus, he’s become more, getting involved in the build-up play as well.
\n\u26bd\ufe0f League goals in 2020:? Cristiano Ronaldo 3\ufe0f\u20e33\ufe0f\u20e3? Robert Lewandowski 3\ufe0f\u20e32\ufe0f\u20e3The 35-year-old Ronaldo is an absolute freak of nature ? pic.twitter.com\/6fxCsqdY9n— Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 20, 2020 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A tumultuous 2020 still managed to produce plenty of football despite the COVID-19 pandemic. It also featured some unpredictable results and surprising individual displays.
\nWe\u2019ve picked 22 of the best performing players in Europe\u2019s top five leagues over the course of the year and, with your help, narrow it down to the best XI.
\nUsing polls on our Instagram stories, we pit players in each position against each other and let you decide who deserves to make the cut.
\nFollow our\u00a0Instagram page\u00a0to get involved.
\nHere\u2019s\u00a0what our\u00a0European Team of the Year\u00a0looks like:<\/p>\n
GK:\u00a0Manuel Neuer\u00a0(Bayern Munich)
\nHe seemed to be in decline during the previous couple of years and had his Germany spot come under threat from Marc-Andre ter Stegen but he\u2019s now back to his best. His superb\u00a0Champions League\u00a0final heroics secured Bayern\u2019s treble.
\nThe ?keeperChampions League ??World Cup ?Bundesliga ????????DFB Pokal ?????UEFA Super Cup ?Club World Cup ?Manuel Neuer has cemented his legacy ? pic.twitter.com\/qJpzwUOhC8\u2014 Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) August 24, 2020
\nRB:\u00a0Trent Alexander-Arnold\u00a0(Liverpool)
\nHe has revolutionised the way we think about a full-back\u2019s role in the team. With excellent technique and vision he stands out. A genuine goal threat and playmaker even from right-back, he was key to Liverpool\u2019s long-awaited league triumph.
\nCB:\u00a0Sergio Ramos\u00a0(Real Madrid)
\nEveryone looked at the attackers and wondered who would step into Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s shoes but it\u2019s Sergio Ramos who\u2019s emerged as Real Madrid\u2019s talisman.\u00a0He leads by example with his uncompromising defending and eye for goal.
\n? ?????? ???????: “I think the best three central defenders in the world are Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk and Kalidou Koulibaly. “All three are very physical, but also very intelligent on the pitch.”[Via: @vgnett] pic.twitter.com\/pHwQosvMn9\u2014 Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 29, 2020
\nCB: David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
\nAdapted seamlessly to reinvent himself as a centre-back after being renowned as one of the best left-backs in the game. His pace, elegance and composure on the ball facilitates Bayern\u2019s build-up play and has helped them dominate in 2020.
\nLB: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
\nOne of the breakout stars of the year. He supplements an already stacked Bayern attack with his supreme attacking play. His exhilarating forward runs with pace and power are a sight to behold.
\n\u26bd\ufe0f League goals in 2020:? Cristiano Ronaldo 3\ufe0f\u20e33\ufe0f\u20e3? Robert Lewandowski 3\ufe0f\u20e32\ufe0f\u20e3The 35-year-old Ronaldo is an absolute freak of nature ? pic.twitter.com\/6fxCsqdY9n\u2014 Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 20, 2020
\nCM:\u00a0Kevin De Bruyne\u00a0(Manchester\u00a0City)
\nNo one creates more chances or provides more assists than Kevin De Bruyne. His overall play including his energy, eye for goal and defensive contributions make him the best midfielder in the world.
\nCAM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
\nBreathing down the Belgian\u2019s neck though is Bruno Fernandes who has all the traits to be the ultimate playmaker. He\u2019s had a massive impact at Manchester United with 33 goal involvements in 30 games, taking them from being a top six team to potential title challengers.
\nCould Bruno Fernandes win the Ballon d'Or one day? ?? ????????? ???????? (???????'? ???????? ????????): \u201cHe will never say it, but someone with his numbers can only dream of important goals like the Ballon d'Or.”[Via: @CmdotCom_En] pic.twitter.com\/zCWQXtH1Wm\u2014 Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 31, 2020
\nCM:\u00a0Joshua Kimmich\u00a0(Bayern Munich)
\nFlawless in every role he adopts. Joshua Kimmich is exemplary whether played in midfield or at right-back. He pulls the strings for Bayern and sets the tempo but he\u2019s more directly involved in creating chances as well. He created the most chances in 19\/20\u00a0Champions League campaign.
\nFW:\u00a0Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
\nThis has not been his year but without him, things could be so much worse for Barcelona. His genius and sheer numbers are undeniable even in a tumultuous year. An outstanding playmaker and game-changer.
\nFW:\u00a0Robert Lewandowski\u00a0(Bayern Munich)
\nHe won everything in 2020 and really should have a Ballon d\u2019Or to go alongside his FIFA Best award. His 47 goals in 44 games this year for club and country speaks volumes. Simply the best player of 2020.
\nFW:\u00a0Cristiano Ronaldo\u00a0(Juventus)
\nDefying his age with remarkable efficiency, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to stagger having scored 33 Serie A goals this year. He\u2019s a renowned goal-scoring machine but at Juventus, he\u2019s become more, getting involved in the build-up play as well.
\n\u26bd\ufe0f League goals in 2020:? Cristiano Ronaldo 3\ufe0f\u20e33\ufe0f\u20e3? Robert Lewandowski 3\ufe0f\u20e32\ufe0f\u20e3The 35-year-old Ronaldo is an absolute freak of nature ? pic.twitter.com\/6fxCsqdY9n\u2014 Sport360\u00b0 (@Sport360) December 20, 2020<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16921"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16921"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16923,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16921\/revisions\/16923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}