From there we derive our own valuation for each and every player in the worlds major football competitions. The FIFA Fan Award is entirely decided by fans, with no input from journalists, coaches or players when it comes to determining the winner. Barellas creativity and passing helped the Milan giants to a first Scudetto in a decade, before he starred for Italy en route to Euro 2020 glory. A year later, Lloris passed his renowned colleague Fabian Barthez to become Frances all-time leading goalkeeper, and he went on to lead his country to victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Football magazine FourFourTwo has released its annual list of best players around the world and made some questionable choices. As well as being Spains most capped player, he is also the countrys most prolific scorer as a defender. As henchmen on either side of Ciro Immobile, Insigne and Chiesa were both responsible for match-winning moments at the Euros and helped bring the title back to Italy. From De Bruyne being crowned as No 1, Cristiano Ronaldo somehow down in 10th-place, or fan-favorite NGolo Kante barely making the top 30, this list will no doubt leave a lot of fans baffled. Hes no ones sidekick. A key figure in Brazil's pursuit of the 2022 Copa America Femenina - ahead of that she'd been named MVP in the NWSL Challenge Cup. The Argentinian has ascended to become one of the most sought-after forwards on the planet in the past 12 months and hes dazzled with his speed, finishing and much-improved hold-up play. Kjaers actions performing emergency first aid on Christian Eriksen before the medics arrived has no bearing on his place on this list but it does show what kind of remarkable character he is on the pitch. Paolo Maldini is regarded as the greatest left-back ever. The Barcelona captain's world-class displays and inspiring leadership helped the club win all 30 of their Primera Division matches last season. Best soccer players in 2021. Whether it be Pele, Di Stefano, Garrincha, Puskas in the 1950s, Maradona in the 1980s, or Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Messi and Ronaldo in the last 20 years, we have been fortunate enough to witness some of the world's best football players. The youngest player ever to represent England at a major tournament only turned 18 during Euro 2020 and already had a full season at Borussia Dortmund under his belt, including a Champions League quarter-final goal. LaLiga has seen better days, of course, but the plethora of technical midfielders who ply their trade in Spain will perhaps remain unrivalled for a while yet. Hes been a no.6 for Pep, a secondary playmaker, the creative heartbeat and last season, a false nine and Manchester Citys top scorer in all competitions. Hes world-class. Just as with The FIFA Best Mens Player, there is an award for the best female player each calendar year as well. Ronaldo has had a great club and international career, during which he has scored goals and won trophies on a constant basis. They all thought it was Romelu Lukaku who fired Inter Milan to their first title in forever and yet Lautaro Martinez has picked up the reins and continued where his ex-partner left off. The Best FIFA Football Awards 2021: Best Mens Player and all the awards. More News. Fri 24 Dec 2021 05.00 EST. He made this kind of year the norm years ago. But it was a tight . 2021 was the return of the king for Manchester United fans, as Ronaldo coronated himself with two home goals against Newcastle and noise that Old Trafford has barely heard before, while last-minute winners throughout Uniteds Champions League group stage prove hes still got that clutch gene. We all know that Liverpool have two of the best full-backs in the world (though maybe not this season), but FM has confirmed it here as the Reds have the best rated left-back in Andrew Robertson and the best rated right-back in Trent Alexander-Arnold.. Gento is the most successful captain of all time and one of the most successful players of all time. LONGREAD Mason Mount: The rapid rise of Chelsea and England's midfield star, as told by Jody Morris. Eyebrows were raised when Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed Harry Maguire the captaincy after Ashley Young's departure in January 2020. Ronaldo is the most successful football player in the history of Portuguese football and possibly the most recognizable face in the world of sports. Belgium. This is what we came up with. The iconic image of Lionel Messi in 2021 is not one of in-game brilliance. Hes robotic in his movements, plays football like its a computer game and so when the world fell quiet in 2020, spectators dissipated and Bayern targeted a treble, the Pole was the natural frontman. This award celebrates the work of the best coaches in world football, and it ultimately decides which manager is considered to have been the best over the past 12 months. And hes still capable of surprising us all. Arsenal is the top list of Most Attractive football Jerseys 2022. He would be left disappointed, as England lost the final without him the player injured ahead of the Italy clash. Italy did pretty well in 2021. Since 2005, the world players union FIFPRO has asked professional footballers worldwide to select the best players in the game each calendar year, with over 25,000 players participating in the vote. Together with SciSports, FT aims to use advanced football data, current and future skill level as well as contract length and other details to create our unique internal calculation. It is the age of the full-back, and while Davies, Robertson and Cancelo are three of the best left-backs in the world, in completely different ways. Valuing a player is currently an arbitrary process where teams, players and representatives simply estimate what they are worth. 2 major international tournaments - the Copa . The man who achieved the fastest running speed at Euro 2020 (an astonishing 33.8 km/h, for those interested) captured hearts and minds with his tireless bombing up and down Italys left flank. The Germany captain may have turned 35 in March but he remains the gold standard for modern goalkeeping. These three are keeping out-and-out strikers cool in a modern game that doesnt prioritise them. FootballCritic (FC) has one main purpose - to help football fans of every level of obsession understand and enjoy the game just a little more. He was particularly excellent in the quarter-final victory over Belgium, scoring one before teeing-up a Lorenzo Insigne winner in arguably the best game of the tournament. last updated: June 30, 2021, 14:18 IST. Hugo Lloris has been a star performer for France since making his international debut in a goalless draw against Uruguay in 2008. News and results Well-arranged and in one place. TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you the top 10 best football captains in 2022. Ralf Rangnick may hold the key to him recapturing his mojo in 2022. Lionel Messi is also one of the best footballers in the world. Robert Lewandowski is a silent killer. Such is the expected artistry of a Napoli winger, after all while Chiesa is all bustle, brutishness and bottled anger. But that won't stop us gallantly nailing our flags to these poles. The teen prodigy who grinned, feinted and burned past defenders is long gone. Erling Braut Haaland, Lionel Messi, and Mohamed Salah all make Insider's list. It started in 2001, 10 years after the mens award was introduced, and brings more recognition and attention to womens football. Several high profile stars, like FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter-Stegen, Liverpool's injured defensive colossus Virgil Van Dijk, and even Cristiano Ronaldo, miss out. Please refresh the page and try again. 2021 has been a year filled with some stunning performances from top players around the world. These players are often seen in both club and international football, and their performances are well-known. Chelseas player of the season in a year when they won the Champions League shows just how good Mason Mount has got. From 29th March 2023, FlashSport will not be available. The beating heart of both a Denmark team that went to the Euro 2020 semi-finals and a resurgent AC Milan side after a decade in the doldrums, Kjaer's cool defensive head has been a footballing . Also Read: Top 10 Richest Basketball Players Of All-Time. Jose Mourinho will be excited to have him back for Roma in 2022. Is anyone arguing? David De Gea - Manchester United. Probably the greatest defender ever. His 2021 has had chapters of failure and redemption a missed penalty for France at the Euros, followed by a Nations League-winning goal because, in typical PSG fashion, the individual development of Les Bleus favourite son has been far more noteworthy than anything his teams have achieved. In 2021, Son has weathered Tottenhams withering. A Champions League title was lifted in May before a solid showing at Euro 2020 for Spain. Also Read: Top 10 Richest Golfers In The World & Their Net Worth In 2021. On the other hand, lesser known stars such as Lille's Sven Botman and Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella do feature. He turns 37 in February and who says he wont do all of this all over again? Theyve just as deserving of the trophy as one another, too. Now, there are nine awards to be won, as well as a FIFPro 11. Last year, it began at 18:00 GMT / 19:00 CET / 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT. The lists do not create a definitive ranking the 11th best attacker in the world may be better than the eighth best goalkeeper, for example. These are the coaches eliminated: The final three nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper were: Running in conjunction with the men's awards are the same prizes for women. The Bayern Munich striker beat Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool to the gong. After scoring 30 goals in 46 games for Spanish side Villarreal last season including one in the Europa League final victory over Manchester United veteran striker Moreno found himself starting for Spain for much of Euro 2020. The winner in 2020 was Mattia Agnese, who administered critical first aid to an opponent who lost consciousness following an on-field collision. Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Inter Milans Romelu Lukaku also bagged a top 10 spot. After impressing for the youth side, the former Tottenham Hotspur academy player has continued his good touch for the first team. Whod have thought that reuniting Neymar and Lionel Messi in the same team would only shine more of a light on Kylian Mbappe? Before the merge, The Best FIFA Football Awards was known as FIFA World Player of the Year. Hes one of the most intelligent players in the Premier League were he a little flashier, perhaps hed be thought of as one of the best midfielders of the past decade. Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid . I n the Guardian's 10th edition of the best 100 male footballer in the world our . Noni Madueke. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Photo: FootballItalia. Feb 27, 2023 4:40 PM EST. What we did in the last few years is really special, and its all about these boys. Jurgen Klopp was humility personified as he accepted #TheBest FIFA Mens Coach Award @LFC | #FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/ZSKnfvIqnv. While Tuchels arrival was integral, Silva and Mendy are emblematic of Chelseas now imperious defence. Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been ranked as the worlds best player in 2021. Pedri only turned 19 in November but the years Golden Boy has been ever-present for club and country, assuming Leo Messis mantel, dragging Spain to a Euros semi and Olympic final. Pradip Kumar Banerjee, shortly known as P.K Banerjee is one of the most successful Indian captain and striker. The players amazing ability to take the initiative and inspire his teammates when the chips are down made him a vital member of both Real Madrid and Spains squads. While Kane finished last season trophyless, he was the Premier Leagues top scorer and captained England to the Euro 2020 final, while Suarez and Lukaku both fired their sides to the Spanish and Italian titles respectively breaking other clubs dominance in both countries. De Gea made the third-most saves in the Premier League last term; constantly . The 2021-22 season Arsenal kit features Adidas with a slightly red color, made woven into the fabric. In recent months, Insider has ranked the best players in every position in world soccer in 2021. Yet Lewandowski, now 33, is still more relevant than ever. It's said that the technical and physical level of football is increasing all the time. A star of Germany's Euro 2022 squad . Benzema's enduring . Enter the world of the most comprehensive sports information. You think 2021 was good wait for what he has in store at AFCON, the World Cup and the Premier League run-in. Real Madrid should DEMOLISH Barcelona in Copa del Rey clash according to cup competition statistics. The Guardian picks the best prospect from each club born between 1 September 2000 and 31 August 2001, an age band known as first . The Bayern Munich striker beat Lionel Messi of Paris Saint-Germain and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool to the gong. More Trending News. Maguire had joined Manchester United . In addition to being the all-time leading scorer in Champions League history, he has also scored more goals for Real Madrid and Portugal than any other player. The 35-year-old pipped Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema to win the prize, which . LONGREAD The rise of Jack Grealish: From Aston Villa starlet to Manchester City's record-breaking signing. Chelsea and Germany fans both know what a deadly frontman the 2021 Champions League winner can be on his day, but finishing practice is a must if hes to take his game to the next level next year. Best Soccer Players 2021. Despite being 37, Chelsea are still keen on ensuring veteran centre-back Silva sticks around with a new contract, while 29-year-old Mendy is likely to the No.1 at Stamford Bridge for several years at least. Pele. The 35-year-old, who led Argentina to their first World Cup triumph since 1986 in December . The goalkeeper, who won over fans and opponents alike with his shot-stopping abilities and calmness in the box, was given the opportunity to lead France for a brief while in 2010. Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. There was plenty of teammate bias on display during last year's voting. The final three nominees for The Best FIFA Men's Player were: Eight originally-shortlisted players to be eliminated at this point were: The final three goals nominated for the Puskas Award were: Three coaches were nominated for The Best FIFA Men's Coach. Hes still the most likeable footballer on Earth, to boot. Barclays Premier League: 72.42: 9.6: Manchester City: 90.4: Nottingham Forest: 56.2: 2. A number of players on the lists did not make Insider's ranking of the world's best soccer players at the end of 2020, but have raised themselves into our top 10s through scintillating performances in 2021. September 2020s 30m switch from Calgiari to Inter marked the start of a phenomenal year for the composed midfielder. Football. Get insight to top players, instructions & drills and extensive coverage of equipment. Van Dijk missed almost all of Liverpools disappointing season last term, and made an early call to sit out of the Euros in order to be fit for this campaign. Germany icon Lothar Matthaus was the first winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year back in 1991 and Lewandowski is the current holder due to his exploits with Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 season. Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Romelu Lukaku all make the cut. An excellent 2021 has seen the Chelsea captain reinstated in a back three under Thomas Tuchel after being dropped towards the end of Frank Lampards tenure. A season in which Foden became a starter for club and country culminated in an EFL Cup and Premier League double, with the 21-year-old also starting in Mays Champions League final defeat to Chelsea. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Atleticos, Reals and Barcelonas beating hearts are still toasts of Spanish football and all three have enjoyed a 2021 to remember. You can find out more about the Ballon dOr here. The 2021 The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony will take place in the Swiss city of Zurich on 17 January, 2022. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who has preserved an astounding 41 clean sheets in 94 appearances for Germany, was a key player in the teams fourth World Cup victory in Brazil in the 2014 edition of the championship. It seems, though, not everybody agrees. The Frenchman is 34 now somehow, hes actually getting more magical with each trip around the sun. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski won the headline prize, the Best FIFA Men's Footballer, beating Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah to the award. In recent months, Insider has ranked the best players in every position in world soccer in 2021. Years captain: 2012-2021 Highest Premier League finish: 1st (2015/16) Played well above his level to deliver unto the world the miracle of Leicester City being Premier League Champions. The event was organized on February . Last season saw the Slovenian keep the highest number of clean sheets in La Liga as Atletico recaptured the Spanish top flight title for the first time since 2014. 4. Messi's inevitable triumph comes as absolutely no surprise, though you can't deny that Mbappe and Benzema have also enjoyed superb years. Earlier this year, Ronaldo scored his 100th goal for Portugal, marking a personal milestone. 3. 2021 saw him complete the set. Our goal is simple - to become the #1 multi-language transfers source in the football world, serving the football fan their direct desire for everything around the most popular subject in football: Football Transfers. By the way, Ronaldo is his second given name. On paper, Fede Chiesa and Lorenzo Insigne are two sides of the same coin. @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zNAZiTp4S2. Its a shame, too, with consecutive managers failing to find a way to unleash his quality. From De Bruyne being crowned as No 1 . The ceremony, which is held in Paris, will kick off in the evening local time. Heres how it works. Neuers excellent reflexes, shot-stopping ability, agility, and uncanny knack for taking penalties in penalty shootouts make him a valuable member of the national team. The biggest and best names from the world of football were honoured at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 ceremony in Paris. Top 10 Best Defenders in The World 2023. 01 / 20. He is inevitable. Image Source: Manchester Evening News. 10. The ageless Portuguese scored 36 goals in yet another record-breaking campaign for Juventus. FIFA Awards 2023 Date and Time: It's Lionel Messi vs. Kylian Mbapp again, this time for the FIFA Best Men's Player award for 2022. Hes still scoring more goals at a better rate, from inside the box, outside, with his left foot or right. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Real Madrid. Be excited, be very excited. The prolific Pole set a new record for most Bundesliga goals . Englands first 100m player became a national icon for the Three Lions during Euro 2020, despite barely playing his inventiveness on the field capturing the imagination of millions, even in his absence (and earning him a FourFourTwo cover after joining Manchester City). Or why not treat yourself? 3. And frankly, at 34, he is an old-school Italian defender. Aston Villa - Jack Grealish. He will score when his teammates are performing; he will score despite their failures. He was flawless whether positioned on the right of a back four or a back three and has developed a defensive intelligence only rivalled by his blistering speed. Manchester United duo Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba also make the cut. All three are exquisite players let them have the ball between them and youre never getting it back. The 29-year-old full-back is without doubt one of the best players in women's football right now. A third Premier League winners medal and a run to the Champions League final help secure the Wembley boy a spot in the top 20. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and N'Golo Kante. A difficult few months at the start of 2021 saw the PSG enforcer miss 10 league games between January and May a mixture of coronavirus and knee injuries to blame as the French giants surrendered the Ligue 1 title to Lille. There was a problem. Last modified on Fri 24 Dec 2021 07.10 EST. Insigne coaxes his way through defences, while Chiesa bursts through. After starring in Borussia Dortmunds DFB-Pokal triumph Sancho scored twice in the 4-1 final victory over RB Leipzig the winger has massively struggled. On 7 January, an 11-man shortlist was reduced to three players. Check out our complete club world rankings. Real Madrid are still being pulled along by his heroics as the last performing artist of BBC and hes spent 2021 making Les Bleus his team again, too. Kirby is one of the world's most exciting forwards and capped the 2021-22 season by winning the domestic league and cup double with Chelsea, but the year has not been without its challenges. 7 7. We cross-referenced their form, their ability, their history and their sheer impact on a field: who wouldn't you be without? Fans make up 25% of the vote, with the other 75% coming from: national coaches of FIFA Member Associations, their team captains, and a select group of media from those countries. There are also female awards for The Best FIFA Womens Goalkeeper, The Best FIFA Womens Coach and a FIFA FIFPro Womens World XI. The award is presented by FIFA. Players from 68 countries made submissions for the 2022 FIFA FIFPRO World 11. Lloris is Frances third-most-capped player and was instrumental in guiding his team to their first win in the quadrennial event in 12 years. Who did the world's best coaches and captains vote for at The Best FIFA Awards 2021? Whatever wave of COVID we go through next, hell likely still be breaking up play, cheekily slotting home pennos and lining his cabinet with silver. A firing Bruno is crucial to Uniteds hopes of silverware and top four finish. 1. Here are the 50 best teams in world football currently according to the supercomputer. The Best FIFA Mens Player is the award handed out to the best player every calendar year. They separated for 2016 and have remained two different awards since then. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) The departure of Sergio Ramos left a huge role to be filled at Real Madrid in terms of leadership, but the experienced members of the team have all stepped up. BA1 1UA. The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023 Highlights: . Average players in the modern game would have been world-class decades ago. Hes the central striker, now. The 2021 edition saw 90min.com - Toby Cudworth 1h Miguel AZEEZ (Arsenal) - Midfielder - 18. The FIFA Fan award was created in 2016 and celebrates the best fan moment or event across the calendar year. In 2021, his wings were amputated. German . Maradona also captained Napoli from 1986 until 1991, winning two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia, a UEFA Cup and a Supercoppa Italiana as captain and leader, in every respect. NGolo Kantes story is one that you never tire of telling. He also won FIFA World Cup 1974 for West Germany. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Bonucci scored in the Euro 2020 final, as well as putting away a penalty in Italys victorious shootout, earning him UEFAs man of the match award. . He began 2021 with a goal and assist performance against Chelsea, scored vital goals in each knockout round of the Champions League up to the final and would have starred for Belgium in the Euros, were it not for injury as a sublime goal and assist against Denmark in the group showed. A wobbly patch of form, following a broken foot in 2019, had many calling for his head at national level but hes been back to his best in the 24 months that have followed. The World 11 squad includes 12 players who have already won a World 11 award: Becker, Alexander-Arnold, Alves, Bonucci, De Bruyne, De . Football Top 100 footballers 2017:the best talents in the world. All the winners of FIFA's The Best awards 2022 will be crowned on Monday 27 February. The only possible gripe you could have with Ronaldo on the pitch? and really, there's no right answer. But it didnt take long for Lloris to take over as the regular captain of Les Bleus national team. However, there is no room for Cristiano Ronaldo. Five Manchester City players made the cut between 11th and 25th places in winger Riyad Mahrez, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, defenders Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo, and goalkeeper Ederson. Thierry Henry represented France in the 2012 European Championships and at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014. Erik Lamela (March 14, 2021 Tottenham vs Arsenal) Patrik Schick (June 14, 2021 Czech Republic vs Scotland) Medhi Taremi (April 13, 2021 Porto vs Chelsea) Three wonderful goals here. A leader for club and country. Had we done a 100 list, the scorer of the winning goal in the Copa America final would be guaranteed a spot. We do this together with our partner SciSports. Bruno Fernandes, Kevin De Bruyne, and Joshua Kimmich all make Insider's list. He supports Blackburn Rovers and holds a season ticket with south London non-league side Dulwich Hamlet. Theres more to him than a long-range goal against Scotland. Yet a poor Euros and a stuttering start to this season (hes scored just twice in the league since an opening day hat-trick at Leeds) have seen him slip down this list. He now spends his weekends dovetailing with Lionel Messi on the Parisians right flank we can think of less enjoyable duties. Real Madrid (Spain) comes in second place while Bayern Mnchen (Germany) is third. Son Heung-min isnt a footballer, hes a scalpel. Football Manager 2021 best full-backs. The Bayern Munich star provided 11 goals and 21 assists in only 32 Bundesliga appearances last season. A three-month injury, little tournament time in the summer and a wait for him to hit his stride at City stop him being further up the list already. List of Sweden national team football players who have served as captain of the team. Alexia Putellas is the best female soccer player in the world right now. What they do do, however, is provide a snapshot of the most elite stars in the beautiful game in 2021, reflecting both career achievements and domestic and international form this year. Fans also have the chance to cast their votes for The Best FIFA Mens and Womens Player, The Best FIFA Mens and Womens Coach and The Best Mens and Womens Goalkeeper awards. Yet both were as captivating as one another at Euro 2020. Jorginhos 2021 has seen him go from an awkward fit to one of the most respected players on the continent. The Argentine midfielder managed just six league goals in 27 outings as PSG surrendered their Ligue 1 crown. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Getty/DeFodi Images/Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Picture Alliance/Soccrates Images, Visit Insider's homepage for more stories, Insider's ranking of the world's best soccer players at the end of 2020, Liverpool's injured defensive colossus Virgil Van Dijk, The 10 best goalkeepers in world soccer right now, The 10 best defenders in world soccer right now, The 10 best midfielders in world soccer right now, The 10 best attackers in world soccer right now. But is he still one of the greatest forwards in the modern game? That hes brought that form back to the biggest stages of all, however, should be no surprise at all. Professional footballers voted for the best men's players for the period 8 August 2021 to 18 December 2022 . 2023 Minute Media - All rights reserved. Steph is an accomplished defender who has won multiple English domestic league and cup titles playing for various female club sides like Arsenal and Manchester City FC. #10. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Brentford - Pontus Jansson. Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino have been in direct competition for a spot, while Mohamed Salah ascends to god mode. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich, Germany) Joshua Kimmich, the man who will lead Bayern Munich into its next era, has jumped onto this list with his sterling play over . Being the most capped player with 148 caps, Anders Svensson was the captain in 21 matches. Interestingly in 1999, he was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. Selecting a top 21 is not an easy task since there are a lot of deserving players on the planet right . Read More. Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski complete the top three in this surprise list. 10. Its just the 56 goals in all competitions in 2021 for Lewandowski, in just 45 games works out at a strike every 68 minutes. Olympique Lyon 's 2021/22 away jersey by adidas is, in our humble opinion, simply outstanding. Brighton and Hove Albion . Next on the list of the best dribblers in football is Douglas Costa. Reverting away from the stealthy black away strip of 2020/21 . They dont call him Lewangoalski for nothing (erm is it still just us and Thomas Muller?). Chelseas man of the match in Portos Champions League final put in the quintessential Kante performance. An unpolished gem, Cristiano started his career at Sporting and was identified by Sir Alex Ferguson as a precocious talent in Sporting CP, and it is at Manchester United that the Portuguese superstar initially established his legacy as one of the best footballers of our age. Mikel Arteta has not been afraid to give Arsenal 's youngsters game time and Azeez is one expected to receive more in 2021. A sensational year for the defender, who has just six months left to run on his deal at Stamford Bridge. Football Manager 2021 was released this week, and, as ever, players are immediately drawn to the list of wonderkids - those teenagers with the potential to become world-class players.