2016 was wild. Everyone died, the UK separated itself from the EU and Donald Trump has already got the wheels in motion on the nuclear holocaust. At least we have football, good sweet football.
But not even football was spared 2016's weird glaze. Leicester, Iceland, Wales, Eder getting a winner in a European Championship, the Daryl Murphy touch against France, Dundalk; it's been bizarre, it's been strange, but it's also been immensely enjoyable. So, for the SEVENTH year in a row, I am here to count down the 50 greatest players of the year. Remember, as always, this list only takes into account football played in 2016, sorry Joe Gomez. So sit back, enjoy, and debate away afterwards. Merry Christmas.
Let's jump in shall we...
50: Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan and Argentina) (Down 16)
Icardi has made the headlines on and off the field in 2016. The striker got on the bad side of the Inter Milan ultras after some comments in his recent autobiography led to a highly public fallout and security guards being placed at the Argentine's house. On the field however, Icardi has continued the stellar form that helped him emerge as one of Serie A's finest last season. He currently leads the Serie A scoring chart for 16/17 with a highly impressive 14 goals. If Inter fans no longer want him, there'll be no shortage of suitors.49: David Alaba (Bayern Munich and Austria) (Down 26)
A disappointing international year for Alaba has harmed what was otherwise a typically fantastic club season. The ever versatile Austrian was the high profile casualty of a disastrous Euro 2016 for his country which saw him misused as a number 10. Alaba can comfortably carry the role of being the focal point of a team, but his performances for Bayern as a left back and central midfielder show how wasteful Austria were in how they positioned him in France.48: Koke (Atletico Madrid and Spain) (Down 11)
Koke was once again an instrumental cog in an Atletico Madrid that came agonisingly close to winning the Champions League only to be foiled by their cross city neighbours. Koke's unique blend of industry and creativity could hardly suit him to a team more perfectly than Diego Simeone's finely drilled outfit. His emergence as a regular in the Spanish first team under new boss Julen Lopetegui feels long overdue, and has capped off another fine year.47: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany) (Down 23)
The lofty standards which Manuel Neuer has set for himself has seen every mistake put under increased scrutiny. The man is only human after all, and while it's easy to nitpick at Neuer's, extremely rare, mistakes, it's easy to see just how vital he is as a ball player to his team. When you look at the Premier League's mixed results with goalkeepers expected to play a lot with their feet, ahem, Claudio Bravo, then you really gain an appreciation for how Neuer has performed the role so expertly for so long.46: Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund and Portugal) (New Entry)
A breakout star of Euro 2016 with the ultimately victorious Portugeuse side. Guerreiro's rampaging displays on the left saw him courted by a host of top European sides, with Dortmund being his chosen destination. There, under Thomas Tuchel, Guerreiro has already morphed into a key player. The Dortmund boss is reluctant to pigeon hole Guerreiro as a left-back, such is his wealth of creative talents. The Bundesliga has a second versatile left-back sensation on its hands.
45: Paul Pogba (Manchester United and France) (Down 28)
The new most expensive player in world football has hardly left the headlines in 2016. The much publicized record breaking transfer to Old Trafford brought with it a predictably immense weight of expectation, and when put in the context of the fee, it's still rather difficult to assess Pogba's time in Manchester. The early days were a slight concern, drifting too often through big games, as he did in France's failed bid to win the European Championship on home soil. The recent turn in fortunes for Mourinho's side however has seen Pogba perform more to a level in line with the Juventus displays that earned him the marquee move. Even a player as ludicrously talented as Pogba needs a bedding-in period, it appears as though that time has passed and the true Pogba is about to emerge.44: Roberto Firmino (Liverpool and Brazil) (New Entry)
When Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool are at their free flowing best, producing a whirl of attacking football, it is often Roberto Firmino who is the heart and soul of their play. The Brazilian took his time to find his true form after his arrival from Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015, but almost immediately after the turn of the year he exploded into one of the league's best attacking players. Klopp has not hid his admiration of Firmino, and rightfully so. The way he starts Liverpool's ferocious pressing from the front line makes him the perfect fit for the German's style of play. 15 goals and 13 assists since his arrival in England highlight just how valuable he is to this side.43: Mesut Ozil (Arsenal and Germany) (Down 35)
Frustratingly, after a mesmeric 2015, Ozil appears to have drifted back to his old self. Prone to drifting through the big games and unable to show the extreme quality he possesses when his team need him the most. Although he was rightfully slammed for his recent disappearance against Manchester City, Ozil has enjoyed an impressive year as a whole. Much like the Arsenal side however, in-spite of some moments of joyous football, he was unable to end the year with any meaningful success.42: Jamie Vardy (Leicester and England) (New Entry)
The surreal world of 2016 saw the culmination of former non-league player Jamie Vardy's rise to Premier League winner and goalscorer for England at a major international tournament. It's not quite been the euphoric joyride of those early summer months for the whole year for Vardy, Leicester's defence of their title has amounted to little more than a awkward footnote on an awful league campaign. However Vardy's recent hat-trick against Manchester City suggests he, and Leicester, can once again find the mojo that pulled off the most extraordinary title win of the modern age.41: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid and Slovenia) (New Entry)
Atletico Madrid's shot-stopper has blossomed into one of the world's very best. Oblak produced a string of stirring saves when his side were holding off Barcelona and Bayern Munich with their backs to the wall on the way to another ill-fated Champions League final clash with Real Madrid. Attributing Atletico's record setting low of 15 goals conceded for the 15/16 season as entirely down to the back four does Oblak a great disservice. At 23, there is only room for improvement for a goalkeeper with such a rounded skill-set as his.40: Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich and Germany) (Down 8)
Still as dependable as any footballer on the planet, Lahm remains Bayern Munich's linchpin, even as he moves back into his regular right-back role under Carlo Ancelotti. A domestic double was added to his ever burgeoning trophy collection. One can only speculate if an available Lahm would have made the difference for Germany, in their failed bid to add the European Championship to 2014's World Cup success, As it was, Lahm's focus was solely on Bayern, and he put together a typically sound campaign.39: Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain) (Down 18)
Pique is no longer simply a 'ball playing centre-back' but rather one of the finest defenders on the planet. Part of a defensive duo with Javier Mascherano that can no longer be pointed to as an area of vulnerability for Barcelona, Pique continues to grow as a pure defender under Luis Enrique. The erratic blips have all but been eradicated without nullifying the footballing ability that makes him so important to Barca's playing style. At his marauding peak, Pique is a treasure.38: David De Gea (Manchester United and Spain) (Down 19)
Much like Neuer the increased glare and expectation has seen eyebrows raised when De Gea proves he actually is a human being. If he guarded his near post against Croatia would Spain have avoided a run-in with a highly charged Italy side? Nonetheless, it would be egregious to suggest De Gea has had anything other than a wonderful year, further strengthening his claims to be called the world's very best shot-stopper. His stunning stop to deny Philippe Coutinho at the recent Anfield clash stands above all the highlight reel saves.37: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham and Denmark) (New Entry)
We will get to the man at the top end for Spurs in just a moment, Christian Eriksen is due almost an equal share of praise. Much like Roberto Firmino at Liverpool, Eriksen is the engine that purrs when Mauricio Pochettino's side are the their best. Capable of driving the team forward in possession, spreading the play with his wide range of passing, possessed with a beautiful strike and more than happy to put in the work his manager demands, Eriksen is perhaps the key jenga piece in the Tottenham side - without him, the tower falls down.36: Harry Kane (Tottenham and England) (Up 8)
Let's all collectively forget about that bizarre Euro 2016 where Kane was used as England's set-piece maestro. The Spurs front-man has continued to build on a breakout 2015, emerging as an outright goal-scoring juggernaut in the Premier League. Finishing Tottenham's failed title bid in 2015/16 as the league's top scorer was scant consolation for the year's bitter end, but showed just how far Harry Kane has come. Far from a poacher, Kane's display in a crucial North London Derby in March saw him showcase his leadership by scoring one of the goals of the season in a huge spot.35: Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool and Brazil) (New Entry)
Plagued by inconsistency in years past, labelled as nothing more than a YouTube player who will crack the occasional screamer into the top corner, Coutinho has shrugged off these criticisms emphatically in 2016. The drop off in Liverpool's form since he suffered his ankle injury has been startling. His goal against Borussia Dortmund, picking the ball up, initiating the 1-2 to create space and curling a beautiful strike in to bring his side back to life showcased all of his talents: a player that truly is a leader and performs when his team need him and one blessed with tremendous skill.34: Luka Modric (Real Madrid and Croatia) (Down 7)
What a joy it was to have the chance to watch Barcelona and Real Madrid rivals Modric and Ivan Rakitic perform together in Croatia's midfield at Euro 2016. Modric is the most supremely gifted midfielder, and a huge factor in Real Madrid's phenomenal success in 2016. In a time graced by some of the best midfielders of all time, Modric can easily be overlooked. His consistency and talent however put him in a class with almost anyone.33: Henrik Mkhitaryan (Manchester United and Armenia) (New Entry)
The initial transition to Manchester was not smooth for Mkhitaryan. Simply put, he looked out of his depth in the Manchester derby defeat to City. After biding his time he is now an important cog in a rejuvenated United team, but it is not that form that has him ranked here. His Dortmund displays were of a level that would probably warrant inclusion in this list even if he never recovered from that horrid Old Trafford showing in September. The Bundesliga player of the year is a special talent, and Manchester United's patience with him looks set to payoff in style.32: Dimitri Payet (West Ham and France) (New Entry)
There was a time when it seemed Dimitri Payet was going to carry his nation through their anxiety to the promised land of European Championship glory. In the opening game, with the scores level against Romania, Payet produced a moment of divine magic, rasping an unstoppable drive into the top corner and sparking an outpouring of celebration and relief. Ultimately, while he did continue to dazzle at times, this was not to be Payet's tournament. However the West Ham ace has brought back that form, showing it all in one staggering goal against Crystal Palace. Unfortunately for Hammers, it seems unlikely Payet will be in Stratford for very long.
Barcelona did not sweep all before them in 2016 after all, but Ivan Rakitic performed at a level worthy of succeeding his mesmeric 2015. The Croat has established himself as the successor to Xavi in Catalonia. A heavy load to bare for most players, but Rakitic has stepped into the role with ease.
30: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid and Uruguay) (Up 5)
The rock of Atletico so nearly tasted the long awaited Champion's League glory. For the third year in a row their bid was thwarted by their most bitter rivals. In getting to Milan, Godin was the same colossus he was in 2014, albeit without the goal-scoring touch. It's easy to make a case that Godin is the finest centre-back on the planet. This year though, as well as he performed, a few others shined that little bit brighter.
29: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona and Spain) (Down 7)
Yet again, Busquets performed the quiet role in Barca's carousel of attacking wonder. The man who slows down or quickens up the pace of play as the situation calls for it, the metronome in their side was pinpoint again in 2016. How history remembers Busquets will be interesting, in arguably the greatest attacking side of all time, the un-glamorous midfielder deserves to be held alongside the finest players of his generation.28: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona and Argentina) (No change)
As is evident by his standing, Mascherano has maintained his high standards throughout 2016. The Argentine plays like a hound at times, tenacious and relentless in his defending. He is the glue that holds Barcelona's defence together. The way in which Mascherano, who at Liverpool was one of the world's finest defensive midfielders, has reinvented himself into a true centre-back, has been nothing short of remarkable.
27: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City and Argentina) (Down 2)
A strange year for Aguero that's seen him fall foul of disciplinary rules on more than one occasion. Yet still, the Argentine hitman is as good a goalscorer as just about anyone in the world when at his peak. The early days of Pep Guardiola's reign saw City sweep all before them with Aguero the primary beneficiary of the blue half of Manchester's renewed confidence. Since then it hasn't been plain sailing for Aguero or City, but such are the high standards we hold him in that a player having a year as clinical as this can be viewed as somewhat underwhelming. If he keeps his cool, 2017 feels like a year where Aguero can re-assert himself as one of the world's elite stars.26: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich and Germany) (Down 8)
Germany and Bayern Munich both came up short in their quests for European glory in 2016, but not for the want of Thomas Muller. The German star was once again his reliable self, closing out the 15/16 Bundesliga season with 26 goals and notching 10 so far this campaign as well as four in the Champions League. Muller is a rare blend of a poacher with a terrific work ethic. His knack of finding space where there seems none allows him to hit such impressive goal tallies so consistently.25: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester and Algeria) (New Entry)
The man who dazzled more than any in the Premier League last season on the way to Leicester improbable title win. Mahrez is one of the most purely talented players England currently boasts, when in full flight he can be a terror for the opposition and a joy for those watching. His touch is that of silk, and allows him to produce moments of improvisational genius. See how he controlled the ball for the 3rd goal in Leicester's recent demolition of Manchester City or the staggering nutmeg assist against Stoke towards the end of last season. Mahrez has been a revelation for the Foxes and there's nothing to suggest he can't play at this level for a long time.24: Eden Hazard (Chelsea and Belgium) (New Entry)
Hazard dropped off the list completely last year, and it with good reason. Yet sometime in the Spring it all clicked again for the Belgian. The monkey of not having scored a Premier League goal all season was off his back and he looked like his old self again He took half of the Liverpool team for a walk before scoring a remarkable goal in a late season fixture at Anfield and then under Antonio Conte turned his performances up a further notch. Hazard's 2015 drop off was one of the most mystifying things to happen that year, under Antonio Conte it is evident that that incarnation of Hazard is gone for good.23: Paulo Dybala (Juventus and Argentina) (Up 26)
Dybala is a sensation. Still only 23 and already having made a high profile move to Italy's top club, the attacker has handled all that has been put before him in some fashion. Fully cemented as one of Europe's brightest talents, Dybala helped himself to a stunning 29 goals for Juventus in Serie A last season and has already bagged 13 in all competitions in this campaign. The sky is the limit for a player of his ability.22: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United and Sweden) (Down 11)
It was foolish of anyone to doubt that one of the great serial winners in the history of the game would fail to replicate his goalscoring feats when he moved to Manchester United. Now firmly in the tail end of his career, the great Swede continues to enjoy the warmest of Indian summers, finding the net an impressive 11 times in his first season in the Premier League. A poor Euro 2016, where Zlatan did little more in the whole tournament than trick Ciarán Clark into scoring an own goal, aside, this is another year that will help write Ibrahimovic down as one of the most memorable players of all time.21: Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus and Italy) (Up 15)
The centre piece of two of Europe's finest defensive sides, Chiellini enjoyed another terrific year in 2016. Lifting the Serie A title with Juve once again in May and going on to be one of the top performers in France for his country, Chiellini solidified himself as one of the game's great defensive players. Very much moulded in the style of a traditional Italian centre-half, Chiellini has become an icon for the old lady, and his value can't be understated.A-ha! Top 20 time, don't scrunch up that 'Nick Powell top 10' bet slip just yet dear reader...
20: Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain) (Down 13)
The great decline still feels a long way away for one of the greatest ever. Iniesta rolled back the clock to 2010 when Spain played Turkey, destroying a competent side with breathtaking precision. On that day it was the Iniesta that belonged in the same conversation as Messi and Ronaldo as the greatest players on the planet. Throughout the year diminutive Spaniard has, naturally, been unable to maintain such a ridiculous performance level. But he remains very much one of Barcelona's very best players, and one that should be treasured for being able to sustain such greatness for so long.19: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich and Germany) (Up 10)
Far and away the best defender the Bundesliga has to offer, Boateng was outstanding in 2016. His outrageous goal-line clearance against Ukaine at Euro 2016 was the highlight reel play in a year of absolute consistency. He showed the full footballing ability he possesses with a wonderful strike against Slovakia in the knockout rounds and picked teams apart with his diagonal passing. Named German footballer of the year for 2016, Boateng is as vital a cog to both club and country as any of the star attackers18: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland) (Down 13)
Lewandowski will be disappointed. With the Euro 2016 draw having totally opened up for them, Poland faced a Portuguese side that were eminently beatable. In the end, Poland were defeated on penalties and Portugal ran out Euro 2016 winners. How different it could have been for one of Europe's marksmen. The international disappointment aside, Lewandowski was fantastic again in 2016. He's fired 12 goals already this season as Bayern moved into the top spot for the winter break. Still as good a personal year as it has been, it could have yielded so much more.17: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy) (New Entry)
The old master. Perhaps the greatest goalkeeper of all time was certainly the best in 2016. Buffon smashed a Serie A record by going an astonishing 973 minutes without conceding a goal. Toppling clean sheet records by going 10 games without being beaten, Buffon marched into France with Antonio Conte and Italy and were a penalty shoot-out away from knocking off Germany in the quarter-final. All year Gigi has been peerless between the sticks. It's stunning that a 38-year-old goalkeeper can continue to play this well, but Buffon has been nothing other than stunning his entire career.16: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid and Germany) (New Entry)
After dropping out of the list entirely last year, Kroos has had a tremendous bounce-back 2016. Arguably the best midfielder at the whole tournament in France, Kroos controlled Germany with the confidence and supreme ability we've seen from Spain's great midfield maestros throughout recent years. At Madrid, Kroos has been a vital part of Zidane's side's galling unbeaten record. It's good to see one of Europe's top midfielders return to form so spectacularly.15: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon) (Down 2)
Aubameyang continues to blitz Bundesliga defenders with his pace and finishing prowess. Already the clear leader in the scoring charts for this season with 16, Aubameyang just continues to grow into a superstar. The Gabonese front-man will get the chance to taste international glory when the African Cup of Nations rolls around next month, and has Dortmund in the thick of it in Europe. Although they're likely to miss out on the league title again, it is in no fault of Aubameyang who is sure to be one of the most sought after players in the world come next summer.14: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium) (Down 4)
Where would Manchester City have finished in the Premier League last season if De Bruyne was available for the whole thing? Arguably the most talented player in the league, De Bruyne has slotted into Pep Guardiola's system seamlessly, while others have taken time to adjust. The Belgian is a magician, blessed with supreme vision that allows him to shine in the rotating attacking wonder of Guardiola's City at their peak. His commanding display against PSG in the Champions League quarter-final felt like a career moment for a player who has finally stepped onto the big stage in style.13: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus and Italy) (New Entry)
Italy's star, Bonucci is both a sturdy defender and an incredible playmaker. Even more effective than the aforementioned Boateng at picking opposition teams apart from deep, Bonucci has effectively taken over the vacated Andrea Pirlo role for club and country. Antonio Conte and Max Allegri have developed him into weapon who can neutralize the opposition's best attacking players and then carve them apart without ever leaving his side vulnerable. No wonder English sides were desperate to pry him from Turin in the summer, Bonucci is a golden asset for any team he features in.12: Diego Costa (Chelsea and Spain) (New Entry)
Costa for times last season looked like he would rather be anywhere other than the Premier League. Now, with a new manager at the helm, he resembles 2014's Luis Suarez; a man possessed leading his side on an unexpected title charge. Costa has been the difference maker on countless occasions for Conte, he's a top class finisher but there is also so much more to his game than that. Watch how he bullied the Manchester City defence and turned a 1-0 deficit into an huge 3-1 win. The way he holds the ball up brings Hazard and Chelsea's other supporting players into the game constantly and yet it always feels like Costa is there to finish the move off. If he continues to play at this level, Chelsea will be champions.11: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal and Chile) (Down 5)
Another summer of international glory for Sanchez as Chile once again defeated Argentina to lift the Copa America. Arsenal fell apart in the title race once again but Sanchez showed himself to be a standard barer for the league. A relentless goal-scoring threat, Sanchez has dragged this Arsenal team through some poor performances to victory on more than one occasion with his work rate and skill. Arsenal are understandably desperate to hold on to him, without Sanchez this team would be unrecognisable, such is the talent of the Chilean.The top 10, the bit 90% of you have skipped to. Welcome.
10: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain) (Up 20)
The definition of what US sports like to call 'clutch'. Whenever Madrid need someone to step up and grab a late goal, Sergio Ramos emerges like a blur to crash a header past the opposition goalkeeper. Ramos was there to put Real into the lead in the Champions League final, Ramos was there to snatch a point, and more importantly two away from Barcelona in the Nou Camp Classico, and his 92nd minute winner against Deportivo kept them firmly in control of the La Liga title race. A wonderful defender, and the embodiment of this Madrid team.9: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea and France) (New Entry)
Sometimes it feels like there are two or maybe even three Kante's on the pitch at any given time. His ability to cover ground is scarcely believable. He is the ultimate thorn in the side of opposition attackers, nicking in to turnover possession. He was the jenga piece for Leicester and has transitioned perfectly into the Chelsea set up, replicating the results with ease. It's remarkable how he has come from a complete unknown to one of the most dominating midfield players in the world. It feels like Chelsea have got a bargain by picking him up.8: Neymar (Barcelona and Brazil) (Down 6)
In one of the most startling passages of football played all season, Barcelona ripped apart Celta Vigo like a video game player who desperately needed to increase the difficulty. In that spellbinding run, Neymar produced his iconic moment, not just of the year, but an image that will forever be associated with his career. Holding off one defender, Neymar engineered the room to pull off a dazzling rainbow flick over another. While the second defender watched the ball soar over his head, Neymar walked around him and gathered it as it landed. And that, for all of Neymar's great contributions to Barcelona and Brazil with goals and assists, will be his epitaph for 2016: a truly unique talent, who is capable of pulling off moments that almost every other player could never even dream of.7: Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus and Argentina) (New entry)
As far as goal-scoring records go, those set in Serie A truly do mean something. On the final day of the 15/16 Serie A season, Higuain channeled his inner Rivaldo, bagging a hat-trick sealed by a gobsmacking overhead kick to tie up the record for most goals in a single season which had been unmatched since 1928/29. Higuain's 36 goals were 17 more than the next highest scorer. With that the Argentine earned a huge money move to Juventus where he has already hit 12 goals in the league. Higuain finally stands alongside the greatest strikers in the world after years spent on the outskirts.6: Pepe (Real Madrid and Portugal) (New Entry)
At least in the two finals, it was Pepe who contributed the most to the European successes of Portugal and Real Madrid. Pepe was sublime, no longer the wild hot-head that seemed to cost his team more often than not in years past. This was the world's top defender for 2016; disciplined, determined and dogged. Pepe threw himself at anything and repelled an Antoine Griezmann who seemed destined for greatness in both finals. A high profile teammate of Pepe's for both club and country understandably took the glare of the spotlight, peel it back a little however and you'll see nobody was more decisive to the destination of Europe's major club and international trophies than Pepe.5: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid and Wales) (Up 21)
The story of the summer was undoubtedly Wales, and the man who powered on the fairytale was undoubtedly Gareth Bale. It is truly rare to see a global superstar drag a team of spirited but limited team-mates to the brink of greatness. So rare to see a player lauded as one of the world's finest arrive at a major tournament with such hype and deliver. But Bale was awe inspiring in France. The free kicks against England and Slovakia, the demolition of Russia, the cross that Gareth MacAuley couldn't help but put into his own net and, of course, that night against Belgium. It's a testament to Bale's talents, that a nation like Wales can look at home against Europe's best. He has enshrined himself as Wales' greatest ever, and one of Europe's true superstars.4: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid and France) (Up 10)
It's easy to look at how Griezmann failed to win anything in 2016 when he had shots at the European crowns for club and country, but that misses the point completely. Griezmann was the reason both of those sides got to those finals. Yes he missed the best chance in the Stade De France against Portugal, yes he crashed a penalty against the bar against Real, but the goals against Germany, against Bayern, against Ireland. Griezmann is a magical talent, capable of bringing a team to the brink of the summit. In 2016 though, he didn't have enough to finish it off.3: Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) (Down 2)
Messi has become hard to equate. What exactly is a down year for a talent as undisputed as his? I guess losing yet another international final that disillusions you so much as to declare retirement, regardless of how long that decision held up, would suffice. It's Messi. It's a player who unless he continues to push the boundaries of the sport into places we thought weren't possible then his year won't stand out of the ordinary. He's a victim of his own brilliance. He can produce moments like the penalty against Celta or the mesmeric dribble against Espanyol, but in the end, he just wasn't the best. 2: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal) (Up 2)
It was almost heartbreaking to see the weight of Ronaldo's career lifted without him on the pitch. Forever looked upon with scepticism by those who felt he never did for Portugal what he was doing for Madrid. Well in 2016, when nobody predicted it, it finally happened. Ronaldo lifted the European Championship amid a flood of emotion, but sadly his game was ended after a matter of minutes with injury. And while he also won the Champion's League this year, his contribution in Milan amounted to little more than nothing. But to analyse Ronaldo's year through two finals that he was not a major factor in is wrong. The performance against Wales, the hat-trick against Wolfsburg when Real were destined to go out; these were the moments where Ronaldo earned his billing as the second best player of the year. And in the end, the devastation of his injury against France was quickly replaced with the elation of victory, and to watch an all time great claim something so overdue was a joyous watch.So then:
2010: Lionel Messi
2011: Lionel Messi
2012: Lionel Messi
2013: Cristiano Ronaldo
2014: Cristiano Ronaldo
2015: Lionel Messi
For the first time ever...
1: Luis Suarez (Barcelona and Uruguay) (Up 2)
Suarez was the best player in the world in 2016, it's as simple as that. Nobody was as relentlessly brilliant in front of goal from start to finish. Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Griezmann; all of these players went through patches where they were out of the side or out of form and all the while Suarez was finding the net. A spell of 17 goals in 6 league games, with four hat-tricks in among them, scarcely seems real. Suarez at times scarcely seems believable. Unlike at Liverpool he doesn't have to carry a team of lesser players, he just has to score goals. And nobody on the planet is better at scoring goals than Suarez. A machine, whose fitness is seemingly never in question, whose thirst for goals is never quenched. It's taken a season of video-game level goal scoring to knock Messi and Ronaldo off their perch, and Suarez is a worthy successor.
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