Benzema 4th, Vinicius 6th, Haaland 5th… the 10 best football players of the year (2022)
2022 is a big year for football fans. Football action is almost non-stop throughout the year and the 2022 FIFA World Cup capped off a banner year for the beautiful game.
Looking back to 2022, we can see some top players who have left a lasting impression. While some of football’s biggest stars had great outings in 2022, some others didn’t have such a memorable year.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 10 footballers of 2022.
#10 Sadio Mané (Senegal/Bayern Munich)
Sadio Mané was in sensational form, both at club and national level, in the first half of 2022. He developed as a centre-forward at Liverpool in the second half of the 2021-22 season and became a reliable goalscorer for the team.
Mané helped Senegal win the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The 30-year-old was named ‘CAF Men’s Player of the Year’.
The Senegal international joined Bayern Munich in the summer and has done an excellent job for the Bavarians since the start of the season, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in 23 appearances across all competitions. competition. Unfortunately, the versatile striker has been sidelined for the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to a leg injury.
#9 Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid)
Thibaut Courtois has done a great job for Real Madrid this year. His exploits helped the Whites’ successful run to the UEFA Champions League last season. Courtoi put in a man of the match performance in the final of Europe’s elite tournament.
From the beginning of the season, Courtois also distinguished himself for Real Madrid. He is one of the best goalkeepers of his generation. The Belgian great’s form will be crucial for Real Madrid, who are looking to defend their La Liga and Champions League titles this season.
#8 Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid)
Although he is in his thirties, Luka Modric remains one of the best midfielders in the world. The unfazed Croatian manipulates space and time with such ease that he makes the game as easy as falling on a log.
Modric propelled Croatia to the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was also huge for Real Madrid in their Champions League and La Liga wins last season. Modric is easily one of the best footballers of 2022.
#7 Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne is unquestionably the best midfielder in the world today. He has been in incredible form as a goalscorer and playmaker for Manchester City in the first half of 2022. The Belgium international won the ‘Premier League’s Best Player’ award last season for his exploits.
In the absence of a standout striker in the 2021-22 season, De Bruyne’s generous contribution in the goal department has helped City’s cause immensely. He scored 19 goals and 14 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side last season.
Manchester City have since signed Erling Haaland, who has proved to be the perfect match for De Bruyne. De Bruyne already has 15 assists and three goals in 20 appearances in all competitions since the start of the season for the reigning Premier League champions…
#6 Vinicius Junior (Brazil/Real Madrid)
Vinicius Junior is arguably the most improved player of the 2021-22 season. The Brazilian winger doubled down on his strength last season and caused havoc alongside Karim Benzema for Real Madrid.
His 22 goals and 20 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions helped Real Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League. This year, the 22-year-old continues to capitalize on his excellent form.
In 21 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid since the start of the season, Vinicius has scored 10 goals and provided 5 assists.
#5 Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City)
Erling Haaland is a prodigy at the age of 22 and has already established himself as one of the best strikers in the game. Haaland missed most of the first half of 2022 with a muscle injury, but he came back strong.
He secured a high-profile move to Manchester City in the summer and has been in top form ever since. Haaland has scored 24 goals and provided four assists in 19 appearances in all competitions for Manchester City so far this season.
Remarkably he scored three Premier League hat-tricks in the first half of the season.
#4 Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
Karim Benzema won his first Ballon d’Or this year. He was virtually unstoppable in the 2021-22 season, putting in several breakthrough performances, including in the Champions League knockout ties.
Benzema’s inspired form helped Real Madrid win against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16. The Frenchman scored 44 goals and provided 15 assists in 46 appearances in all of last season’s competitions.
However, he has not been able to replicate that form in the current season. In 12 appearances in all competitions since the start of the season, Benzema has scored just six goals and provided one assist. He also missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to a hip injury.
#3 Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Barcelona)
Robert Lewandowski has been the world’s most prolific goalscorer for several years now. He showed his scoring skills in the 2021-22 season for Bayern Munich, scoring 50 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions. The veteran striker also helped Poland secure a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Lewandowski moved to Barcelona in the summer and did a good job for his new club in the first half of the 2022-23 season. He has scored 18 goals and four assists in 22 appearances in all competitions for the Catalans so far this season.
#2 Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)
After joining Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021, Lionel Messi had a rather disappointing debut campaign in the French capital by his own lofty standards. But Messi showed signs of returning to form in the second half of the season.
He was truly impressive in the 2022-23 season. Deployed in a somewhat recessed role as a playmaker, Messi has been able to impose his authority in almost every game he has played this season.
His incredible output of seven goals and three assists propelled Argentina to World Cup glory. So far this season, Messi has bagged 12 goals and 14 assists in 19 appearances in all competitions for PSG. The 35-year-old is already in contention for a record eighth Ballon d’Or next year.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
Kylian Mbappé made scoring like child’s play in 2022. He was Ligue 1’s top scorer in the 2021-22 season and finished the campaign with 39 goals and 26 assists in his career. Active in 45 appearances in all competitions.
He continued in the same vein in the 2022-23 season and already has 19 goals and five assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for PSG. Mbappe has been one of the stars of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with eight goals and two assists in seven appearances. He won the Golden Boot of the tournament.
The 24-year-old is an absolute wonder and his hat-trick in the World Cup final is testament to his desire to succeed and ability to dominate at any stage.
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