'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Thomas Muller - Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich are by far the strongest team in the Bundesliga, which tends to go against them when individual accolades are considered. To no one’s surprise, FIFA has once again overlooked several key Bayern players for FIFPRO World XI, including the evergreen Thomas Muller.
Trending
While Robert Lewandowski stole all the headlines with his goals, Bayern’s leading assist-provider did not get the attention he deserved. The German was excellent with the ball and without it, doing complete justice to his name “Raumdeuter (space interpreter).”
Last season, the 2014 World Cup winner scored 11 goals and provided 22 assists in the league to help Bayern to their ninth successive Bundesliga title.
#2 Harry Kane - Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur captain Harry Kane may have struggled to get going this campaign, but that shouldn’t be a reason to overlook his last-season exploits. The England striker was in the form of his life in the 2020-21 campaign and was one of the most prolific forwards in Europe.
Kane used his physical strength, movement off the ball and pace to leave defenders for dead in the Premier League. Kane also held up the ball expertly for his teammates and produced key passes and assists at will.
The 28-year-old ended his Premier League campaign with 23 goals and 14 assists. Not only did he win the Premier League Golden Boot, but was also the league’s highest assist-provider last term.
Putting his numbers into perspective, Neymar only had nine goals to his name in the 2020-21 Ligue 1 campaign, but still made the FIFPRO shortlist.
#1 Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah has been at the top of his game for a couple of seasons now, scoring goals and providing assists for fun. So, when the Egypt international was left out of the FIFPRO 23-man shortlist, the netizens wasted no time taking the fight to FIFA. The governing body of football is currently being hounded across social networking platforms and deservedly so.
Despite failing to win a trophy with Liverpool in the 2020-21 season, Salah himself enjoyed an impressive campaign. The right-winger was at the heart of every impressive passage of play for Liverpool and pitched in with important goals and assists.
Salah scored 22 goals and provided five assists in the Premier League. He netted six goals in the Champions League and three more in the FA Cup to take his season total to 31.
