2016 is close. Before we start thinking of how exciting could the new year be, Footballtarget.com decided to make a list of the top 10 football players in 2015. Our decision is made on a few factors: How much trophies have they won, how important were these players for their clubs on their way to raising the trophies, how much goals they’ve scored, assists, and how big impact they have had on their team.
1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – Argentinian magician has won except the Spanish Super Cup everything else. He also re-taken all from Cristiano Ronaldo’s success a year before. With his goals, assists, plays, he was the key man for Barcelona in 2015. La liga, Copa del Rey, Champions league, FIFA Club world Cup are just some of stuff which Messi has won. In 2014 Messi led Argentina to World Cup in Brazil final, while in 2015 he did the same in Copa America competition, where as well, he ended on the second place.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – The Portuguese icon didn’t have a luck to win any title in 2015, but he entered his name on Real Madrid’s eternal list by surpassing Los Blancos legend Raul’s goal tally of 323. But that was not all, Cristiano Ronaldo broke many other records this season, which for us puts him on the second.
3. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) – 2015 was Barcelona’s year. That’s clear to anyone. With Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and the Brazilian Neymar (below) were the key part of the Catalans team this season, netting almost in each game, breaking many records on their way to 5 trophies.
4. Neymar (Barcelona) – The same can be said here as above.
5. Paul Pogba (Juventus) – The France international was a hot transfer story in 2015. A reason for that was his superb form which led the Bianconerri to new Serie A title, the Coppa Italia and Champions league final after many years of absence.
6. Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors) – With Pogba and let’s add Morata, Tevez was a crucial player in Juventus’ team in 2015. Goals, assists, impact on his teammates was one of the main factors in Juve’s success in 2015.
7. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) – The Pole striker was one of the best players in Pep Guardiola’s team. A part of the team which has won another Bundesliga title, but lost another trophies. In Champions league Bayern was kicked out by the reigning Champion, Barcelona. With Poland he secured the upcoming Euro 2016 in France, and he way a key man for his national team. In 2015 he broke few records like Scoring record for a single UEFA European Championship qualifying, Highest number of scored goals in a game by a substitute: 5, Shortest elapsed timespan until a scored hat-trick: 4 minutes, Shortest elapsed timespan until five scored goals: 8 minutes 59 seconds, 100 German top flight goals quicker than any foreign player.
8. Zlatan Ibrahimović (PSG) – We don’t dare to Zlatan. A key man for PSG who won another Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, and was kicked off from the Champions league in quarter-final. Ligue 1 top goalscorer and a player who led his national team to the upcoming Euro 2016 in France.
9. Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) – A key man both for Arsenal and Chile. Copa America 2015 winner, FA Cup winner, Football Supporters’ Federation Player of the Year: 2015, Kid’s Choice Awards’ Favorite UK Footballer, Arsenal Player of the Season, PFA Team of the Year, Premierleague.com Team of the Season.
10. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – The Belgium star was one of the most important players in Mourinho’s Premier league 2014/15 campaign in which Chelsea has won Premier league title. Chelsea Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year, PFA Players’ Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season.
Sometimes it’s hard to put all in the top 10, so aside of this list let us mention some other players like Thomas Müller, Sergio Agüero, Manuel Neuer, Anders Iniesta, Claudio Bravo, Antoine Griezmann, Cavani, Higuain, Gareth Bale who had a great year as well.
Once again, Goodbye 2015 and Hello 2016.
Coming Up: Top 10 football moments in 2015.
Ozil Arsenal??