10 best players in the world this season (2020/21)

With domestic leagues across Europe coming to an end for the season, the attention shifts towards the highly-anticipated Euros.

There have been some excellent performances across the season by various top players and some surprising results as well. 2020/21 has seen the emergence of potentially the next great superstars, while the existing ones continue to prove their quality.

We look at the:

10 best players in the world this season (2020/21)

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#10 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Manchester City v Everton - Premier League

Kevin De Bruyne was the best player in the Premier League last season, and while he has not been as influential this season there is no denying his world-class ability.

The Belgium international, who cost Manchester City an eye-watering fee of £68.4 million in 2015 from Wolfsburg, has been exceptional since his debut for the club. A highly creative player with excellent passing and crossing ability, De Bruyne has been the engine in Manchester City's midfield.

The 29-year old made 25 Premier League appearances this season, scoring six goals and providing 12 assists. De Bruyne signed a new contract last month which will keep him at Manchester City until 2025.

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#9 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Real Madrid v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Leg One

One of the most underrated players in Europe right now, Karim Benzema is Real Madrid's star player.

Having played a more subdued role during Cristiano Ronaldo's stint with Los Blancos, Benzema has run the show for Real Madrid since Ronaldo's departure. The 33-year old is a complete forward, capable of creating as well as goalscoring and the 2020/21 season has been a fine example of Benzema's qualities.

Such were his performances this season that France national team boss Didier Deschamps decided to name him in the squad for the Euros, his first call-up in over five years. The former Lyon forward made 34 La Liga appearances this season, scoring 23 goals and providing nine assists.

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#8 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Manchester United v AS Roma - UEFA Europa League Semi Final: Leg One

Arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League this season, Bruno Fernandes has been in stellar form for Manchester United since his arrival.

Fernandes' arrival in January 2020 from Sporting CP for a fee of £49.5 million completely transformed Manchester United. The Portugal international immediately added some much-needed drive, intensity, creativity and goals to the Manchester United midfield, and is already a firm fan favorite among the Old Trafford faithful.

The 26-year old won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for his performances, his second one in a row. Fernandes enjoyed an excellent 2020/21 campaign, making 37 league appearances, scoring 18 goals and providing 12 assists.

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#7 Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)

RB Leipzig v Borussia Dortmund - DFB Cup Final 2021

Nicknamed "The Terminator", Erling Braut Haaland is a frightening blend of speed and power who has gained renown for his excellent finishing ability.

Having made his name at Red Bull Salzburg, Haaland joined Borussia Dortmund in January 2020 for a fee of £18 million. The 20-year old is regarded as one of the best strikers in world football at the moment and has been in scintillating form for the Bundesliga giants since his arrival.

Haaland has made 59 appearances in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 57 goals. The Norway international scored a brace in the 2021 DFB-Pokal final against RB Leipzig to win his first trophy as a Borussia Dortmund player.

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#6 Ruben Dias (Manchester City)

Manchester City v Burnley - Premier League

The best centre-back of the 2020/21 season, Ruben Dias, has proved to be a shrewd acquisition by Manchester City.

When Manchester City paid £61.2 million to sign Dias last summer from Benfica, there were doubts as to whether the Portugal international could translate his Primeira Liga form to the Premier League. A season later, Dias's Manchester City have secured the Premier League and the EFL Cup, and are in the finals of the Champions League.

Dias is among the favorites to win the PFA Player of the Year and if Manchester City secure the Champions League trophy the 24-year old could very well be in contention for the Ballon d'Or.

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#5 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

The best player this season in the Premier League, Harry Kane's Tottenham Hotspur adventure might soon come to an end.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured a poor campaign and one shudders to think where they would be without Kane's contributions. The England international has arguably enjoyed his best season as a professional footballer, making 35 league appearances, scoring 23 goals and providing 14 assists. Kane finished this season as the top goalscorer and leading assist-provider in the Premier League.

There have been reliable reports that Kane wants out of Tottenham Hotspur. While he won't come cheap, the 27-year has been heavily linked with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.

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#4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)

Hellas Verona FC v Juventus - Serie A

Juventus have been poor this season. They managed to finish fourth in the league amid fears that they would miss out on Champions League football altogether.

Cristiano Ronaldo, however, has once again been in good form. He is the top goalscorer for the season in Serie A, having finished with 29 goals in 33 league games for Juventus. However, it would be fair to say that the 36-year old will not be happy with how Juventus' season panned out.

There have been suggestions that Ronaldo's time in Italy might be coming to an end. The Portugal international has been linked with a return to Manchester United in recent weeks.

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#3 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

Paris Saint-Germain v FC Bayern Munich - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final 3: Leg Two

Football's new superstar, Kylian Mbappe's rise to the top has been rapid. The forward, alongside Erling Haaland, looks set to dominate the footballing landscape for the next decade.

A breakthrough 2016/17 season with AS Monaco saw Mbappe pique the interest of various top clubs. Paris Saint-Germain won the race, securing the France international's signing for a record £130.5 million. Mbappe has been sensational for the Parisiens since his debut.

The 22-year old has made 171 appearances across all competitions for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 132 goals. An extremely quick forward with excellent dribbling, creativity and finishing ability, Mbappe has been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Liverpool recently.

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#2 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

FC Barcelona v RC Celta - La Liga Santander

Arguably the greatest player to have played the game, Lionel Messi continues to enthrall us all with his brilliant footballing abilities.

A one-club man, Messi is regarded as Barcelona's greatest ever. A dribbler, creator and goalscorer all rolled into one, the Argentina international has been Barcelona's most important player this century. It is hard to imagine the Camp Nou outfit winning a slew of trophies without Messi's involvement.

This season has been a disappointing one for Barcelona. They finished third in the league and there are doubts over the future of manager Ronald Koeman. Messi, who made 35 league appearances, scoring 30 goals and providing nine assists, could leave as well with his contract expiring in the summer.

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#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

FC Bayern Muenchen v FC Augsburg - Bundesliga

Arguably the greatest striker of the modern generation, Robert Lewandowski seems to be getting better with age.

Bayern Munich's acquisition of Lewandowski on a free transfer in 2014 has to go down as one of the best transfers in the history of the sport. The Poland international has made 329 appearances in all competitions for the Bavarians, scoring an astounding 294 goals. He was Bayern Munich's best player when they won the treble last season.

The 32-year old made 29 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring 41 goals. Lewandowski broke Gerd Muller's long-standing record of scoring the most goals in a single Bundesliga season. He was awarded the European Golden Shoe for the 2020/21 season.

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