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It's that time of year when lists are compiled and records are reviewed. 2021 has been an action-packed year in the world of football and we would have it no other way. The Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 brought the world to a standstill. Fortunately enough, we have been recovering this year and football has been a blessing.
There have been so many standout performers in 2021. We all know how tight the Ballon d'Or race was this year. Compiling a list of the best players in a calendar year is one task, and picking a team comprising of the best individuals in their respective positions is a wholly different challenge.
But let's try to hack it anyway. Without further ado, let's take a look at the Sportskeeda Team of the Year (2021).
Sportskeeda Team of the Year 2021
Manager - Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel is a clear-cut winner here. He took charge of an out-of-sorts Chelsea side in late January 2021. The German coach almost instantly transformed the Blues into one of the most defensively solid units in all of Europe.
He also improved players immediately and the results were there for everyone to see. Chelsea won the 2020-21 Champions League and Tuchel's ideas and in-game management were all extremely beneficial to them.
Goalkeeper - Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
Edouard Mendy had a save percentage of 43.5% in the Premier League in 2021. It's the best of any goalkeeper who has played more than 20 games in the English top-flight this year. Mendy was phenomenal for Chelsea in their Champions League triumph.
Chelsea's defenders deserve a lot of praise for the way they've guarded their final third this year but Mendy has bailed them out on multiple occasions, too. The Senegalese shot-stopper has made a fine start to his 2021-22 season as well. Mendy has kept 12 clean sheets and conceded only 15 goals in 24 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions this season.
Right-back - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
There is no convincing us otherwise. Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the most technically polished and creative footballers on the planet. He is phenomenal with the ball at his feet and is Liverpool's creator-in-chief.
While the attacking side of the 23-year-old's game is significantly better than the defensive, he is still solid at dispensing his duties when his team is on the backfoot. Alexander-Arnold has already scored two goals and provided 11 assists in 19 appearances across all competitions this season.
Centre-back - Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Manchester City signed Ruben Dias for a sum in the ballpark of €68 million in the summer of 2020. The Portuguese international was phenomenal for City in the 2020-21 season. His exploits at the back helped Pep Guardiola's men secure a third Premier League title in four years.
Dias is also a threat from set-pieces thanks to his aerial ability. The former Benfica man has shown a lot of maturity at the heart of City's backline despite being just 24-years-old. He was chosen as the Premier League Player of the Season last term.
Centre-back - Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos is one of the best centre-backs in the world. In addition to being a reliable presence in the backline, the Brazilian international is a pretty good technician. This enables him to play in midfield when the need arises.
Despite not being all that tall, Marquinhos is a huge aerial threat thanks to his incredible leap. With Dias and Marquinhos at the heart of defence, this side will have no difficulty playing out from the back either.
Left-back - Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
In the end, it was a tough call between Joao Cancelo and Theo Hernandez. The former has simply been phenomenal this year. Hernandez has done a great job too but the Portuguese international has been one of the best players in the Premier League in the ongoing season.
Cancelo has three goals and seven assists to his name this term from 25 appearances across all competitions. That is despite being played out of position at left-back. Cancelo is primarily a right-back but has been doing a stellar job on the left flank.
Defensive midfielder - Joshua Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich is arguably the best deep-lying playmaker in the world right now. To even be regarded as one of the best among the current crop would be a great achievement. It is a year where so many deep-lying playmakers have shone.
Kimmich is one of the most versatile footballers on the planet. He can play in any position across midfield and can also play as a right-back. Kimmich's distribution is simply exceptional and he is also a very intelligent midfielder.
Kimmich's positional sense, spatial awareness and incredible game-reading ability goes a long way towards making Bayern Munich one of the most balanced teams in Europe. The German international is great at spraying diagonal balls to his wingers and full-backs with pin-point precision.
He scored six goals and provided 14 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions last season. He has three goals and four assists to his name after making 18 appearances across all competitions this term.
Defensive midfielder - N'Golo Kante
Chelsea transformed into a very stable side under Thomas Tuchel rather quickly. They could hold their ground against the best sides in Europe but they needed that X-factor to beat them. N'Golo Kante proved to be exactly that.
The tenacious Frenchman turned in multiple match-winning performances in the knockout stages of last season's Champions League. His performances against Atletico Madrid, Porto, Real Madrid and Manchester City enabled Chelsea to come out on top.
Kante's defensive acumen has been talked about a lot. Not only is he good at making recoveries and interceptions, but he is also excellent at carrying the ball forward and linking up with his attackers.
The 30-year-old gives it his all every time he goes out to play and when he is fully fit, he can walk into any team in Europe and not look out of place. After all, he was named the UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Season last term.
Attacking midfielder - Kevin De Bruyne
When Kevin De Bruyne is at his best, there are few midfielders in Europe who can match up. The Belgian international is one of the most technically gifted players of his generation and his passing range is simply astonishing.
De Bruyne can find his team-mates anywhere on the pitch and it doesn't even matter how difficult the angle might be. He'll just figure out a way to get the ball to them. The 30-year-old won the PFA Player of the Year for a second consecutive time earlier this year.
Despite his minutes being limited due to injuries and COVID-19 infection, he has managed to score 5 goals from 8 starts in the Premier League this season.
De Bruyne's creativity, vision and passing ability is hard to top and for that reason, he is our attacking midfielder for the year.
Left-winger - Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe continues to torment defenders with his electric pace and incredible trickery. The Frenchman is an absolute joy to watch and is widely viewed as heir-apparent to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Mbappe had a rather underwhelming outing at Euro 2020, scoring no goals and providing just a single assist in four appearances in the tournament. But he bounced back well on the international circuit, scoring a goal each in the semi-finals and final of the UEFA Nations League.
The 22-year-old scored 42 goals and provided 11 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions for PSG in the 2020-21 season. He was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year. Mbappe has been PSG's best player in the ongoing season as well.
He has scored 15 goals and racked up 15 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions so far this term.
Striker - Robert Lewandowski
There is no dearth of world-class strikers in football right now. But ultimately, a choice had to be made between Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland. As much as we admire Erling Haaland and his incredible goalscoring exploits, Lewandowski is hard to look past.
Many feel that the Bayern Munich marksman was robbed off the Ballon d'Or this year. He broke Gerd Muller's record for most goals scored in a single Bundesliga season (40) by scoring 41 goals in just 29 league appearances last season.
Lewandowski has been scoring at more than a goal per game for the past few seasons now. Despite turning 33 this year, he has kicked on in the same vein. He has already scored 30 goals and provided three assists in 25 appearances across all competitions this term.
He is extremely sharp in front of goal. Lewandowski's movements in and around the final third are immaculately measured and he can score some beauties with his head and either foot as well.
Right-winger - Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
This was perhaps the toughest call to make. It ultimately came down to Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. Lionel Messi was in spectacular form in the first half of 2021. He was a standout performer for Barcelona as they won the Copa Del Rey.
Messi also single-handedly dragged them back into the title race in the second half of the 2020-21 season. But Barcelona made a mess of it in the final few weeks. Then Messi went and won the Copa America with Argentina in the summer. He was also the Best Player at the tournament.
Messi was also the joint-top scorer and top assist provider. However, he has had difficulties settling down at Paris Saint-Germain in the 2021-22 season. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah has played some great football all throughout the year.
He scored 31 goals and provided six assists in 2020-21, which was a difficult season for Liverpool as they struggled with injuries to some of their best players. Salah has been unstoppable so far in the ongoing season.
He has scored 22 goals and provided nine assists in just 24 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool this term. The Egyptian international has been consistent throughout the year. The way things have gone of late, it is harder to leave Salah out of the team than it is to axe Messi.
Substitutes - Donnarumma, Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Antonio Rudiger, Lionel Messi
Well, some would be surprised to find both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi here. But neither player has convinced us extensively over the course of 2021 to warrant a place on the team of the year. Don't get us wrong. The duo have been absolutely world-class but a few players have performed better.
Bruno Fernandes is one of the most creative playmakers in the world. Antonio Rudiger has been a beast in defence for Chelsea. Karim Benzema has been one of the standout performers in the second half of 2021.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was named the Best Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020. However, he hasn't exactly been able to nail down a starting berth at PSG and is still alternating with Keylor Navas.
Gianluigi Donnarumma is our substitute goalkeeper. He was named Best Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020.
