Well, 2021 is done and dusted and it’s been another chaotic year all round, none more so than in the world of football. So many dramatic moments, games and performances, and several players have shone throughout the year. From Chile’s Brereton Diaz to Lionel Messi, there’s been some shining lights. As a result, we’ve picked out our top 5 players across the year, and due to sheer consistency it has to be the standard choice in most picks, however there are plenty of other significant players who deserve their mention, and perhaps we will come back to them, but for now, here’s our top 5.

As with every single thing on the internet, these choices are purely subjective and often led by personal bias, however if you disagree then head over to Twitter (@NextGoalWinBlog) and let us know what your top 5 players of 2021 were.

5. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund – Norway)

Erling Haaland is a machine, and at just 21, he has had a huge year in 2021. Although failing to nab silverware for his club, and missing a period towards the end of the year through injury, he genuinely seems to have scored in every game I have watched of his, and has at least 10-15 years at this level. In total, he has netted 49 goals for club and country in the calendar year, he is the no.1 transfer target for every single football club in the world, and come the summer of 2022, and a move looking likely, expect huge figures to be discussed for the signature of the Norwegian. With several records broken in 2021, such as fastest player to reach 100 goals, breaking the previous record from Mbappe by 34 games, the fastest and youngest player to reach 50 Bundesliga goals, he just seems to have everything, and everyone in the world wanting him to sign.

4. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid – France)

With off-field issues clearing, Benzema returned to the international stage for France and appeared to not miss a beat, netting instantly on return to his national side. Benzema has had a great 2021 on the pitch, and has many fans re-evaluating their stance on the striker, giving him the respect of one of the worlds’ top forwards as he has led the line for Real Madrid in a period of struggle for the giant club. He has been a top finisher, whilst also bringing in assists and playing with impeccable technique, intelligence and quality, he seems almost revitalised and has flown up the rankings this year.

3. Mo Salah (Liverpool – Egypt)

Mo Salah must have given 999 a call on the night of the Balon d’Or, as only finishing 7th after the year he has had is criminal. He is at a peak of his form and heading into 2022 looking unstoppable. Every game he plays currently, he is appears unstoppable, and with AFCON taking place early 2022, he will be a huge loss to Liverpool and a huge gain for Egypt, who will become one of the favourites surely just from the attackers presence. Liverpool had a lack of success in 2021, failing to retain their league title, or claim European silverware, however Salah has been simply sublime in 2021.

2. Lionel Messi (PSG – Argentina)

Messi had a wild 2021, finally leaving his boyhood side which many thought would never happen, got over the line internationally as he dragged his side to a Copa America title, was La Liga top scorer (yet again) in the 2020/21 season and added another Copa del Rey title to his huge trophy haul. Although the PSG move splits opinion, and leaving a struggling Barcelona side appeared a shock and something nobody (apart from PSG) wished to occur, he has been sublime once again, and now with a fresh challenge at PSG to bring home European silverware, at 34 he may just be the missing piece to the PSG puzzle and get them over the line. For Messi individually, he claimed the Balon d’Or which again will split opinion, but for us, he has to settle for the no.2 spot.

1. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich – Poland)

It has to be the goal machine, Robert Lewandowski in our top spot, he has been once again unreal and his scoring record is currently unmatched, and has been that way pretty much all year (and last year too). In 2021, he claimed his 7th Bundesliga title, and although unable to retain their Champions League reign, the talismanic striker was missing for the quarter-final losses to PSG, and the story could have been much different had that changed. On an individual record, he was robbed once again of his rightful Balon d’Or from 2020 and in my opinion the 2021 edition also (hopefully our vote will make up for it). He netted a total of 69 goals in the calendar year, meaning on average he was scoring a goal every 5 days. Breaking another Gerd Muller record along the way, he has had a sublime 2021, and at still only 33 years of age, he has at least another 2/3 years at the top, and he may be fighting for top spot in this list next year.