The 2019 season saw a mix of emerging stars and veteran players shaping the world of football. The game continues to evolve, producing a new generation of top players alongside established legends.
1. Jadon Sancho
The 19‑year‑old English winger had 20 goals and 32 assists in 54 starts (74 appearances) across competitions. He earned a new Borussia Dortmund contract worth about £190,000 per week.
2. Hakim Ziyech
The Moroccan playmaker delivered 31 goals and 40 assists in 81 games for Ajax, playing a key role in their domestic double and Champions League semi‑final run.
3. Kevin De Bruyne
With nine goals and 20 assists, 17 of which came in the Premier League, he was close to matching Thierry Henry’s assist record of 20 in a season.
4. Alisson Becker
Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper, signed for £67 m, helped secure the club’s first Champions League title since 2005. He set a record with 21 clean sheets and again led the league in clean sheets despite missing eight matches.
5. Robert Lewandowski
The Bayern Munich striker consistently scored over 25 goals per season and signed a four‑year extension to stay until 2023.
6. Kalidou Koulibaly
Napoli’s 2018/19 Serie A defender of the year was widely coveted. The article notes that a Koulibaly–van Dijk partnership at Liverpool would have been nearly impenetrable.
7. Donny van de Beek
At 22, he scored the winning goal in Ajax’s Champions League semi‑final first leg against Tottenham. His performances drew interest from Real Madrid and Manchester United.
8. Kylian Mbappé
The 21‑year‑old World Cup winner finished second to Messi in the 2019 Golden Boot race, won Ligue 1 Player of the Year, and was strongly linked to Real Madrid.
9. Virgil van Dijk
Signed by Liverpool for £75 m, he became the backbone of their defence and was instrumental in their 2019 Champions League triumph.
10. Sadio Mané
One of Klopp’s best signings, the Senegalese winger had 77 goals in 161 matches for Liverpool and was central to both their Champions League win and Premier League title push.
11. Lionel Messi
Messi reclaimed the Ballon d’Or in 2019 and was involved in 63 goals for club and country (46 goals, 17 assists), averaging 1.17 goal contributions per game.
