Top 20 Footballers of 2021: A Comprehensive Ranking Based on Fan Votes
The annual countdown of the world’s elite footballers returns, spotlighting the top 20 male players who have defined the 2021 calendar year. This list is compiled using extensive fan voting, rewarding both consistency and explosive moments across key competitions such as the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Champions League, and major international tournaments. Here’s an in-depth look at the finest footballing talents, including their primary achievements, statistical impact, and key highlights from the past twelve months.
20. Neymar – The Creative Maestro of PSG
Despite less game time than in previous years, Neymar continued to dazzle for Paris Saint-Germain whenever available. Renowned for his extraordinary dribbling, the Brazilian forward formed a potent partnership with Kylian Mbappé, tallying 28 goal contributions across 40 matches in Ligue 1 and the Champions League during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns. He topped Ligue 1 for successful dribbles last season with 107, evidencing his persistent attacking threat. While injuries have limited his tenure on the pitch, Neymar’s influence remains unmistakable.
19. Joao Cancelo – Premier League’s Dynamic Full-Back
Joao Cancelo transformed his career at Manchester City in 2021, becoming an indispensable asset under Pep Guardiola. His adaptability enabled him to cover several roles across the defense and midfield, making him vital to City’s tactical flexibility. In the 2021-22 Premier League season, Cancelo led multiple advanced metrics: carries into the final third, passes into the final third, progressive carries, pass targets, and total touches. Although he missed Euro 2020 due to health reasons and was less featured toward City’s Champions League final run, his consistent league form distinguishes him among the world’s best defenders.
18. Romelu Lukaku – A Dominant Presence Up Front
Romelu Lukaku’s prolific season with Inter Milan crowned him as Serie A’s top performer in 2020-21, accounting for 24 goals and 11 assists in 36 appearances. His powerful displays continued during Belgium’s Euro 2020 campaign, with four goals in five matches. A subsequent move to Chelsea was hampered by injuries and limited minutes, yet Lukaku still managed to score seven times across league and Champions League outings. His goal conversion rate remains among the Premier League’s highest, netting 0.7 goals per shot on target.
17. Alphonso Davies – The Bundesliga’s Explosive Left Flank
Alphonso Davies stood out as the world’s premier left-back throughout 2021. At just 21, he marshaled Bayern Munich to yet another Bundesliga title and became a linchpin for the Canadian national team in World Cup Qualifying, helping them remain unbeaten throughout the year. Davies led the Bundesliga in dribbles completed (56) and topped the charts in progressive carry distance and entries into the attacking third and penalty area, illustrating his relentless impact both defensively and offensively.
16. Bernardo Silva – Manchester City’s Creative Engine
Bernardo Silva enjoyed his finest year in a City shirt, consistently producing crucial performances domestically and in Europe. The Portuguese midfielder seamlessly replaced Kevin De Bruyne at times, registering 7 goals in 19 matches during the 2021-22 season. He also contributed significantly during City’s run to the Champions League final. Silva ranks third in Premier League dribbles this term, breezing past 42 opponents, highlighting his technical prowess and influence on City’s attacking play.
15. Ruben Dias – City’s Defensive General
In just over a season, Ruben Dias transformed Manchester City’s defensive stability, elevating them to new heights. Quickly becoming a vocal leader and on-pitch captain, Dias made every teammate in the backline better. In the 2021-22 Premier League season, he ranked second in passing accuracy, progressive carrying distance, total completed passes, and pass targets, underpinning City’s possession-based dominance from the back.
14. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United’s Creative Force
Bruno Fernandes has been central to Manchester United’s resurgence, driving them to a second-place league finish in 2020-21 and a Europa League final. Last season, he scored 18 goals with 12 assists, supplementing these numbers with 5 league goals and 3 assists early in 2021-22. Including European matches, Fernandes contributed a further 9 goals and 10 assists. He created 94 Premier League chances last season—more than any other player—and continually ranks among the division’s most creative outlets.
13. N’Golo Kanté – Chelsea’s Midfield Dynamo
N’Golo Kanté’s influence was pivotal in Chelsea’s road to the Champions League title, offering relentless energy and midfield steel at crucial moments. He put in top-level performances during Euro 2020 and kept up his high standards into the 2021-22 club season. Averaging nearly 6 tackles and interceptions combined per 90 minutes—placing him in the top percentile for his position—even in a team usually commanding possession, Kanté’s work rate and timing in midfield define Chelsea’s competitiveness.
12. Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool’s Playmaking Right-Back
Trent Alexander-Arnold remains a creative phenomenon for Liverpool from the right flank. In 2021, he led the Premier League in chances created, amassing 2 goals and 8 assists in just 17 league matches this season. His proficiency in delivering crosses, progressive passes, and entering the final third—even as a defender—sets him apart. Only Mohamed Salah registered more assists in the league at this stage, illustrating Alexander-Arnold’s continued impact for both club and country.
11. Gianluigi Donnarumma – The Year’s Breakout Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s extraordinary performances at Euro 2020—securing both Player and Goalkeeper of the Tournament honors—highlighted his meteoric rise. Outstanding for AC Milan as they returned to the Champions League, he registered the league’s most clean sheets and minutes played before joining Paris Saint-Germain. There, Donnarumma quickly secured the starting role, boasting an impressive 74% save rate in Ligue 1 and nearly 88% in Champions League contests. Only Thibaut Courtois surpassed his save percentage in European play during the year.
10. Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich’s Multifaceted Midfield Strategist
Joshua Kimmich displayed unmatched versatility for club and country, frequently dominating in central midfield and occasionally excelling as a right wing-back with Germany. He produced 4 goals and 10 assists in Bayern’s title run, with an added 3 goals and 3 assists in just 11 matches before a COVID-19 absence. Kimmich completed the Bundesliga’s second most progressive passes despite limited appearances—an indicator of his technical quality and tactical intelligence.
9. Cristiano Ronaldo – Prolific Veteran Across Europe
At 36, Cristiano Ronaldo racked up impressive numbers across multiple competitions. He scored 29 goals in 33 Serie A matches during his final season at Juventus, firing them into Champions League qualification. In Euro 2020, Ronaldo claimed the top scorer’s crown with 6 goals in 7 games. After his return to Manchester United, he maintained his scoring touch with 8 Premier League goals and 6 in just 5 Champions League outings. Ronaldo tops the league for shots per 90 minutes, underlining his consistent involvement in goal-scoring opportunities.
8. Thomas Müller – Bundesliga’s Leading Playmaker
Thomas Müller continued to serve as Bayern Munich’s creative lynchpin, leading the Bundesliga in assists in both the 2020-21 and the ongoing 2021-22 seasons (18 in 32 games, 13 in 17 games respectively). His vision and movement repeatedly provided scoring opportunities for his teammates, notably Robert Lewandowski, and he remains crucial for the German national team. Müller also leads his league in key passes and other creative measures, highlighting his status as an elite playmaker.
7. Kylian Mbappé – Ligue 1’s Electrifying Attacker
Kylian Mbappé reinforced his status as one of the world’s premier footballers by notching 27 goals and 7 assists to lead Ligue 1 in scoring for the 2020-21 season. He also excelled on the Champions League stage and delivered solid displays at Euro 2020 with France. Mbappé has topped Ligue 1 for combined goals and assists for four consecutive years, accumulating 17 goal contributions so far in 2021-22, and 12 goals with 7 assists in the last two Champions League campaigns.
6. Jorginho – Orchestrator for Club and Country
Jorginho’s winning mentality surfaced in 2021, guiding Chelsea to Champions League glory and propelling Italy to the European Championship title. His consistent performances as a deep-lying midfielder drew widespread acclaim and individual honors. Jorginho also netted six penalty goals in the Premier League, more than any other player, reinforcing his composure under pressure and tactical influence across competitions.
5. Lionel Messi – The Argentine Legend’s Ongoing Brilliance
Although Lionel Messi experienced a transitional year with his move to PSG, he still posted remarkable figures. He scored 30 goals and delivered 9 assists in his final season with Barcelona while netting 10 times in 11 Champions League appearances across two seasons. Despite a modest start in Ligue 1, Messi dominated the 2020-21 La Liga charts in categories ranging from goals and assists to shot creation, reminding the world why he remains among football’s icons.
4. Karim Benzema – Real Madrid’s Consummate Striker
Karim Benzema, after years in a supporting role, achieved his best-ever year at Real Madrid, scoring 54 goals and providing 18 assists in 74 games for club and country. He returned to the French national team with immediate impact and led La Liga in goals and assists, boasting 15 goals and 7 assists in only 18 games so far this season. Benzema’s leadership and scoring have driven Madrid’s charge toward another league title.
3. Erling Haaland – Dortmund’s Goal Machine
Erling Haaland’s persistent scoring rates are nothing short of phenomenal. He amassed 13 goals and 5 assists in his first 11 Bundesliga outings of 2021-22, supplemented by 3 goals in 3 Champions League games. Haaland was second only to Lewandowski in goals per game last season, with 27 goals in 28 matches, and he continues to average 0.89 goals per 90 minutes across the calendar year—a remarkable feat for a 21-year-old forward.
2. Mohamed Salah – Liverpool’s Record-Breaking Attacker
Mohamed Salah registered arguably his finest year, topping the Premier League in goals (15) and assists (9) in the first half of the 2021-22 season. He also scored 7 goals in 6 Champions League matches while tallying 22 league goals in 2020-21. Salah leads the league not only in goal contributions but also in shots, shots on target, through-balls, and progressive passes received, making him the most influential forward in English football during the year.
1. Robert Lewandowski – The World’s Most Prolific Striker
Robert Lewandowski capped off another extraordinary year by smashing Gerd Müller’s long-held Bundesliga record with 41 goals in 29 games in 2020-21. He sustained his incredible form into the current season with 19 league goals in 17 matches and 9 more in 6 Champions League games. On international duty, Lewandowski netted 8 goals in 8 World Cup Qualifiers for Poland. No attacker matched his consistency or impact across Europe’s biggest stages in 2021.
Conclusion
This list celebrates the elite standard set by world football’s top performers across 2021. From experienced legends to rising superstars, each player brought something unique to the pitch, as reflected in statistical output, fan engagement, and trophy hauls. Their combination of technical excellence, leadership, and decisive contributions have shaped the footballing landscape over the past season.
For a deeper dive, don’t miss the full ranking from 100–21, available in linked editions covering every player who defined the year at the highest level.
