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Right Central Midfielder - Jorginho
Jorginho is the third and final Italian to be part of the IFFHS men's best team in 2021. The midfielder had a year to remember and few players will enjoy such an extraordinary 12 months over the course of their footballing career.
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Jorginho played major roles for both club and country and was an important proponent in both successes.
When Thomas Tuchel took over at Chelsea in January, he turned to the Italian to command his midfield. Jorginho didn't take long to settle in and soon became undroppable under Tuchel.
He provided both midfield creativity and defensive solidity as Chelsea won the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup. Jorginho played a similarly important role for Italy, and the Azzurri may not have been able to win Euro 2020 without the midfield metronome.
Central Midfielder - Lionel Messi
Can Lionel Messi have a more special year than 2021 when he won his record-extending seventh Ballon D'Or? The Argentine also broke the ice for his country as he finally led them to a cherished international trophy.
Argentina managed to beat their evergreen rivals Brazil 1-0 in the final to win the 2021 Copa America. However, Messi's outstanding performance couldn't drag Barcelona across the line as they lost the La Liga title on the final day. They also exited the Champions League prematurely, winning only the Copa del Rey.
Since then, Messi has been subject to the biggest free transfer in modern football history, moving from Barcelona to Paris. He has endured a slow start to his PSG career, but recent performances have raised fans' hopes.
As the footballing season intensifies, many will hope to see Messi in the same form that earned him a spot in 2021's IFFHS men's best XI.
Left Central Midfielder - Kevin De Bruyne
The 2020-21 season saw Kevin De Bruyne fall below his usual high standards, mostly due to niggling injuries. But the fact that still made it into the IFFHS men's best XI is testament to the Belgian's world-class abilities.
While KDB chipped in with important goals and assists, 2021 could have seen him celebrate more success. He did win the League Cup and the Premier League with Manchester City but the club fell one win short of winning the Champions League.
De Bruyne also failed to deliver the required spark for Belgium, who were knocked out of Euro 2020 by eventual winners Italy.
