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2021 has proven to be a historic year for football. From Chelsea winning the Champions League against all odds, to Italy and Argentina claiming the Euros and Copa America respectively, fans all around the world have had something to cheer about. However, it didn't just end there.
Another thing that has managed to capture our attention so far in 2021 is the incredible exploits of our favorite superstars. For instance, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have proven they still have fuel left in their tanks with their performances for both club and country.
They aren't the only players who have dominated the headlines during the year, however. In fact, there are many players whose performances and achievements in 2021 have defied expectations. In this article, we take a look at five such players.
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#5 Pedri
The Barcelona youngster is arguably one of the biggest revelations of the year. From being just another young talent looking to play football to establishing himself as a regular for club and country, Pedri's rise in 2021 has been nothing short of inspiring.
The 19-year-old played a whopping 52 games for the Catalan giants across all competitions last season, recording four goals and six assists to his name. He followed that up with a string of spectacular performances for Spain in the 2020 Euro, featuring in all of La Roja's six games.
Pedri was also a standout performer for the national team at the Olympics in Tokyo. The midfielder was recently presented with both the Golden Boy award and the Kopa Trophy to honor his exploits with club and country during the year.
#4 Eder Militao
The departure of Sergio Ramos raised questions regarding Real Madrid's defensive options for the new campaign. However, Los Blancos have been able to adequately replace the 35-year old as their backline has proven to be one of the most effective in La Liga. Eder Militao has been a rock-solid presence at the heart of the defense since the beginning of the season.
The Brazilian has missed only one of Real Madrid's 19 games in the Spanish top flight so far. He has also featured in all of Los Blancos' six Champions League games. Considering that he also impressed for the Spanish giants last term, playing 21 games, it is easy to see that he has become a pivotal figure for the club.
#3 Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in the summer of 2020 and wasted no time in winning the hearts of the Anfield faithful with his eye-catching displays. The Portuguese had an impressive debut campaign for the Premier League giants, scoring 13 goals and setting one up in 30 games in all competitions.
Jota has taken his game to another level this season. The forward has been a huge force to be reckoned with since the campaign kicked-off, providing answers for the Reds in front of goal in the absence of Roberto Firmino.
So far, the 25-year-old has recorded 12 goals and two assists to his name in 22 appearances across all fronts. That includes 10 goals in the Premier League and one each in the Champions League and EFL Cup.
#2 Jorginho
There's simply no doubt Jorginho has had the brightest year of his career in 2021. The midfielder has enjoyed tremendous success with both his club Chelsea and national team Italy.
Jorginho was a vital figure in the Chelsea squad that claimed the Champions League crown against all odds in May. The Italian followed up his impressive domestic season with a successful Euro 2020 campaign with his nation this summer.
He entered the new season on a high note, helping Chelsea defeat Villareal to claim the UEFA Super Cup in August. Jorginho was crowned the best player in Europe for 2021 to appreciate his brilliant exploits.
#1 Mohamed Salah
Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has blown all expectations out of the water with his sensational output this year. The Egyptian enjoyed a prolific outing last season, with an impressive tally of 31 goals and six assists for the Reds in all competitions.
Despite the hype surrounding the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku heading into the current Premier League campaign, Salah's consistency in front of goal has been unmatched.
The diminutive forward has been in a class of his own since the term kicked-off, making even the best defenses look ordinary with his amazing goalscoring exploits. As it stands, he leads the top scorer chart in the division with 15 goals. Overall, he has bagged 22 goals and nine assists for Liverpool in 24 games in all competitions so far.
