'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We have seen some fantastic football in 2019, all across the world, and there is certain to be more when we cross over into 2020.When looking back at 2019, it’s hard not to look back on the Champions League semi-finals as the highlight of the year. In the first semi-final, Liverpool produced a sensational comeback against Barcelona, coming from three goals down in the first leg to beat the Spanish champions 4-0 in the second leg at Anfield.
Somehow, the second semi-final was even more dramatic. Trailing 3-0 on aggregate at half time in the second leg, a Lucas Moura hat-trick sent Spurs to the final, with his third goal coming in the final seconds of the tie. It continued Tottenham’s astonishing run to the final, after they beat Manchester City on away goals in a pulsating tie in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Liverpool ran Manchester City close in the highest quality title race in Premier League history, as the Reds fell short by just one point, despite finishing the season on 97 points. It was the same old story as far as the rest of the top European leagues were concerned, as Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich all retained their titles.
Individually, the year was once again dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but we also saw the emergence of Virgil van Dijk as one of the world’s top players, as we was named UEFA Player of the Year.This year, we will almost certainly see the rise of some top talent around the world. Here are five players to keep an eye on in 2020.
#1 Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
We have never really seen a genuinely top class Canadian footballer, but we may be about to see the first in the shape of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies. The 17-year-old moved from the Vancouver Whitecaps to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £17 million at the start of this year, the then-record fee for an MLS player, before Newcastle paid Atlanta United £25 million for Miguel Almiron.
He hasn’t always been a regular in the Bayern side since his move, but he has started to make a bit more of an impact this year, and there is surely more to come. He is also a very versatile player. Davies has featured more at left-back this season, but is more than capable of playing further forward, which is where we could eventually see him settle.
Also check out: Premier League Table Champions League table La liga table 2019-20
#2 Erling Håland (Borussia Dortmund)
Very few players have been talked about as much as Erling Håland over the last few months. The Norwegian forward has been in incredible form since his move to Red Bull Salzburg at the start of the year, and he has become one of the most sought out players in the world. He has scored an incredible 28 goals in just 22 games so far this season, with eight of those coming in the Champions League group stage, where he became the first teenager to score in four consecutive games in the competition.
Borussia Dortmund are the side who have won the race for his signature, beating the likes of Manchester United to the signing. At just over £17 million, he could prove to be a bit of a bargain, especially given his goal record. It will be interesting to see how the 19-year-old handles the step up to a much more competitive league. He is clearly a clinical finisher, but he will now have to deliver in a team where he will likely get fewer chances, against stronger defences.
#3 Ansu Fati (Barcelona)
It seems rather sad to say, but we have only got a few years left of Lionel Messi at the top level. The Barcelona star is possibly the greatest footballer we have ever seen, and has won a record six Ballon d’Ors in his extraordinary career to date. He will turn 33 this year, and although we will no doubt continue to see some moments of brilliance from the Argentine, it is only inevitable that we will begin to see fewer as time goes on.
There are a few young players around who will be hoping to fill the enormous gap that Messi eventually leaves. One of those is Barça’s 17-year-old winger Ansu Fati, who has begun to make a real impact at the club this season. Having made his debut at the end of August last year, he became the youngest player in Barcelona history, before becoming the youngest scorer in Champions League history when he netted against Inter Milan at the San Siro in December.
#4 Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)
One of the most notable things we’ve seen this season is the opportunities that Frank Lampard has given to the younger, home grown members of his Chelsea squad. Of course, he has been forced into it at times given the transfer ban that Chelsea have faced, but we have hardly seen the likes of Pedro and Olivier Giroud because Lamprd felt he could trust in some of the younger players. Even though that ban is now over, we can still expect to see a number of young players feature in Lampard’s side.
One man who has not quite hit the heights expected of him yet are Callum Hudson-Odoi, partly down to a serious knee injury he suffered towards the end of last season. He is back now though, and has signed a new long-term contract to stay at the club. He still obviously has a lot of work to do to get to the top, but he will most certainly be given the opportunities he needs by Frank Lampard.
#5 Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes)
Eduardo Camivanga isn’t a name that is familiar to many football fans around the world, but he is certainly someone worth keeping an eye on. Despite only having turned 17 in November, he has played 29 senior matches, as well as being named the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Month for August 2019.
It was his performance against PSG in August that really caught the eye, as he ran the show against France’s top team at the age of just 16. He completed 40 of his 41 attempted passes, and set up the winning goal for Romain Del Castillo. He might not be a Rennes player much longer though, as he is being watched by Real Madrid, and that may be one club that is too hard for him to turn down, especially if he is given the chance to work with Zinedine Zidane.
