Continuing from the first part of the series here we look at the 5 best footballers of 2016. So without any further ado, here they are:
Sportskeeda Football Awards 2016: 10 best footballers of the year 2016 - Part 1 - #10 to #6
#5 N’Golo Kante
The only reason why Kante is ahead of Mahrez despite playing an equally important role in Leicester’s maiden Premier League win is that unlike the Algerian, the defensive midfielder has maintained his form in the second part of the season.
The Frenchman has been a beast ever since his move to England from France and has seen his stock grow thanks to his no-nonsense style of play, coupled with his effective tackling and a knack for vital interceptions. In fact, he heads the charts of most interceptions in the league this year.
His performances might have flown under the radar in the presence of more flamboyant players but his effectiveness can never be underestimated. He earned a big money move to Chelsea in the summer and has been a key factor in their excellent run of form so far this season.
#4 Antoine Griezmann
Life is not always fair and Griezmann has learnt it the hard way. First, he had to endure the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid. Then he saw Portugal lift the prized silverware at the Euros despite being the best player of the tournament and having finished the top-scorer of the tournament with 6 goals.
He has seen his form dip in the second half of the season but that has more to do with his team – which is heavily underperforming – than the Frenchman himself.He also witnessed his side destroyed by their arch-rivals courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick and finished 3rd in the Ballon d’Or behind the Portuguese and Lionel Messi.
Surely the Frenchman will bounce back from this year in style and will be hoping 2017 is the year he finally wins his first major trophy.
#3 Luis Suarez
To become the first player to win the Pichichi since the Messi-Ronaldo era of domination began (in 2009) is no mean feat in itself and the Uruguayan can proudly claim to be the one to end the duopoly – if only briefly.
Suarez was instrumental in what Barcelona did achieve in 2016 – which includes La Liga and the Copa Del Rey, carrying the team on his back in the absence of their talisman – Lionel Messi. Not only that, he scored some truly spectacular goals in the process.
To put things into perspective, Suarez notched up 51 goals and 31 assists in the calendar year – a feat only surpassed by Messi who has 91 goals and assists. Not even the Ballon d’Or winner could match his overall contribution, however, the Portuguese did score more goals than him.
#2 Lionel Messi
In any other world, on any other alternate universe – Lionel Messi would have won a major international honour with Argentina. However, not on this one, not on the one that matters right now.
Three consecutive years the Rosario-born magician has guided his national team to the final of a major tournament and has come out on the losing side on all three occasions.
The pain of the third consecutive loss was so hard to take for Messi that he didn’t know what to do next and sent the world into a frenzy after what many termed as his declaration of retirement from international football.
However, let’s not take away the moment in limelight from the diminutive forward. After all, this was yet another successful year for any other footballer on the planet, having guided his club to three titles while having led his national team to the final of the Copa America Centenario. Add to this the fact that he contributed with 91 goals and assists during the calendar year for club and country. But not for Lionel Messi.
Messi would look at the year and wonder what could have been. But for now, all he can do is prepare harder than he ever has – if that was possible, score more than he already has and ensure that someone else doesn’t spoil his party. For he deserves it!
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
2016 was the year of Cristiano Ronaldo – no matter what angle you look at it. First, it was the La Undecima triumph. He bettered it by leading Portugal to their maiden international honour and then he won his 4th Ballon d’Or – closing the gap on Lionel Messi.
However, that was not it. He capped off his excellent year with the Club World Cup win and finished the year on a high – truly.
The unprecedented success that he has managed during the course of the year has put him on a pedestal unlike any of his contemporaries and it is only right that he is awarded the Footballer of the Year, for probably he has never deserved it more.
As even the legendary Luis Figo could never manage what Ronaldo did – win Portugal a major international title.
