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#3 Cristiano Ronaldo | Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo's time at Juventus has been debated over and over again in the last three years. Although the Portuguese legend has won two Serie A titles and has also scored 101 goals in 133 matches, his inability to win the UEFA Champions League is still held over his head.
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Ronaldo signed for a club-record fee of around £105 million after winning three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid. Heralded as the man to break the Bianconeri's UCL curse, the winger has struggled to live up to that billing. Yet, Ronaldo has largely been Juventus's go-to man in the league and has won every domestic title on offer in Italy.
Massimiliano Allegri's side haven't been helped by their recent transfer market activity or their backroom signings. But they have continued to challenge on all fronts and a major reason for that has been Ronaldo's final output in front of goal.
#2 Neymar Jr. | Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar's transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain triggered a number of big-money transfers in an inflated market that continues to go strong despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The £198 million man has been a joy to watch for PSG though injuries have often troubled him.
Regardless, Neymar has put up stellar numbers for the Parisians. In 116 matches for the club, he has scored 87 goals and an excellent 52 assists. Neymar has won multiple titles in his four years at the club, in addition to leading PSG to their first ever Champions League final.
Yet, there remains an aura of under-achievement in Neymar's case as it would be with any record signing. PSG have splashed exorbitant amounts of money on him, Kylian Mbappe and numerous others but still don't have a Champions League title to show for it. It is a constant reminder that Neymar has unfinished business in Paris, but perhaps the arrival of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos this summer could finally end that jinx.
#1 Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool
There is little doubt about who tops this list. Virgil van Dijk has been synonymous with all of Liverpool's recent success and has quickly transformed into one of the best modern centre-backs in world football.
The Dutchman arrived at Anfield for around £75 million in January 2018. He was helpless during Liverpool's 3-1 reverse to Real Madrid in that year's Champions League final. But the loss seemed to spur on Van Dijk and Liverpool even more as they went on a phenomenal run to clinch the 2019 Champions League title. The centre-back was ever-present and a captain without the armband as he marshaled his troops excellently.
Van Dijk then proceeded to help Liverpool win the 2019-20 Premier League, ending a 30-year wait for the title. But a season-ending injury early on derailed his 2020-21 campaign. The Reds felt his absence as well as they stuttered to a third-place finish and failed to add to their trophy tally. With Van Dijk fit and firing again, Jurgen Klopp's men look set to compete on all fronts once again this season.
