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2021 has seen a lot of significant events take place in the world of football. It has been a year full of surprises and shocks, but most importantly with some amazing memories to take forward.
The Covid-19 pandemic hasn't made it any easier for clubs and more so for the players on the pitch. It has been tricky for the players to deal with the congested schedule throughout the year.
Top players have struggled with their form in 2021
The year 2021 has been good for many footballers but it has been a year to forget for some of them. Quite a few top players have found it difficult to recover from their poor form on the pitch. If a consistent goal-scoring machine like Harry Kane can struggle in the Premier League, then nothing can be predicted.
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Some high-quality players have struggled this year, which was quite unexpected from them. On that note, let's take a look at the top players who have declined in 2021.
#5 Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)
Joao Felix made quite the impression during his time at Benfica. Based on this, he earned a big money move to Atletico Madrid in 2019 for £113 million.
With his smart movement, amazing creativity, goal-scoring abilities and the versatility to play anywhere in attack made Felix a very valuable player. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case with him at Atletico Madrid.
Atletico won the 2020-21 La Liga title but Joao Felix did not have the most significant of contributions.
The Portuguese has struggled this season too, making just three starts and scoring and assisting only once in 10 appearances in the league. A player of his caliber is capable of a lot more. Given that he's still 22, Felix has the potential to turn it around next year.
#4 Frenkie De Jong (Barcelona)
Frenkie de Jong came through the ranks at Ajax and, like most Ajax youth players, he is a wonderful talent. The Dutchman has amazing passing range, composure and superb ability to read the game.
On his day, the 24-year-old can dictate the tempo of the game with utter ease. He can play as a central midfielder as well as a defensive midfielder. Since joining Barcelona in 2019, he has been a regular player for them. This year, though, de Jong hasn't been able to play to his fullest potential.
He has struggled to impose his authority on the game and has lacked conviction in his game. His passes haven't been up to the mark, which is quite unnatural for de Jong. Of course, the managerial changes at Barcelona have played their part but with a player of his talent, he is surely capable of doing better.
#3 Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
Manchester United have great squad depth at their disposal, which is why their poor form at times receives more criticism than other clubs. That being said, it has also been the case that United's players haven't stepped up. One of those famous cases is Anthony Martial.
The Frenchman is a wonderful dribbler on the ball and was expected to do pretty well when he was signed from Monaco in 2015. Since then, Anthony Martial has had his moments in a Manchester United shirt but has immensely struggled with consistency.
The year 2021 has been the epitome of those inconsistent performances. A player of Anthony Martial's capabilities would surely get into Manchester United's XI in his prime. But his lethargic approach has been one of the reasons for his poor form.
He has only managed to start twice this season and score a single goal in the Premier League. It's only understandable why he's not been playing more often. Unless there's a change of approach from his side, the French attacker is expected to struggle at any club.
#2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had two wonderful seasons at Arsenal since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2017, scoring 22 goals each season. He was one of the Premier League's best goal-scorers back then.
But from last season or more specifically this year, the Gabonese striker seems to have lost his touch. Aubameyang has struggled to score from some clear-cut chances and has thereby lost the confidence he once had. His attitude has also cost him the captaincy at Arsenal and is turning into a headache for manager Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners need Aubameyang to be at his best to have a good chance at qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. His future at the club remains uncertain as of now. If he prefers to stay, the 32-year-old definitely will have to work on being more efficient in front of goal.
#1 Eden Hazard (Real Madrid)
Chelsea had a gem of a player when Eden Hazard played for them in the Premier League. The Belgian had an impressive record of scoring 85 goals and recording 54 assists in 245 league appearances when he played for the London club.
In 2019, Eden Hazard joined Real Madrid for a big fee of £100 million and since then it has been downhill for him. The tenacious winger has struggled with injuries and poor form and has found it difficult to bounce back.
Eden Hazard, at his best, can easily dribble past players to score and create for his team. However, he has managed to contribute just 12 goals in 56 appearances across all competitions in more than two seasons. His form has only got worse with time. It is a massive challenge for the former Chelsea forward to bounce back strongly from his current form.
