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#3: Martin Odegaard (Real Sociedad)
It was about time, and Martin Odegaard has finally come of age. He played a starring role for La Real before the lockdown that put the Basque outfit in Champions League contention, while also helping them reach the Copa Del Rey final.
Odegaard contributed ten La Liga goals (scored four and assisted six) in 31 top-flight games. But his influence declined post the restart as he was diagnosed with a knee injury, and Sociedad lost steam to eventually finish fifth.
#2: Riqui Puig (Barcelona)
The reputation of Barcelona's La Masia academy as the conveyor belt of world-class talents had taken a beating in recent years. But the emergence of Riqui Puig this season has restored some pride in that regard.
Promoted to the senior side only after the turn of 2020, Puig's real value was apparent only after the lockdown when the 20-year-old breathed new life in an otherwise incoherent Barcelona midfield.
With classy first-touches, inch-perfect passes and impeccable vision, Puig demonstrated his frightening potential with one top-notch performance after another to end the 2019-20 La Liga campaign with two assists.
#1: Ansu Fati (Barcelona)
Another graduate from Barcelona's famous youth academy to break out this season, Ansu Fati took the La Liga by storm.
Only 16 when he earned is senior callup last year, the striker took no time to announce himself, scoring in only his second top-flight appearance on matchday three against Osasuna that also made him the youngest ever scorer in the competition's history.
Since then, Fati went on to add six more to his tally, half of which came since the restart as he played a crucial role in the title run-in. The teenager's confidence and precise finishing belied his age, as he appeared to be on the same wavelength as the established stars like Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez.
Going forward, Fati and Puig may be instrumental to Barcelona's fortunes.
