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#3 Luis Suarez
When Luis Suarez joined Atletico Madrid, very few people saw him winning La Liga within a season. The experienced Uruguayan forward had been informed by Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman that the club no longer required his services, and he joined Atleti for a fee of €7 million.
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The 34-year-old took to his new environment like a fish to water with a brace on his debut. The veteran striker contributed 20 goals and four assists in 39 La Liga appearances in 2021.
In Suarez's debut season, he inspired Atletico Madrid to a first La Liga triumph in seven years by scoring vital late winners in each of their last two games of the season. The striker was voted as the 17th best player in the world in 2021 during the Ballon d'Or awards.
#2 Lionel Messi
Despite leaving FC Barcelona and La Liga in August, Lionel Messi remains one of the best players to have played in the Spanish La Liga in 2021. The mercurial forward won a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or crown after a stellar year.
The Argentine international appeared 21 times in La Liga in 2021 and contributed 23 goals and eight assists for the Blaugrana. He led his club to Copa del Rey glory, scoring a brace in the final against Athletic Club.
Messi also led Argentina to a first international title since 1993 when he helped his country win the 2021 Copa America.
The Argentine legend was forced to leave Camp Nou after the club ran into a financial crisis and could not afford to pay him anymore. He left La Liga as its and FC Barcelona's record goalscorer and scored on his final appearance for the club, a fitting end to a spectacular spell.
#1 Karim Benzema
Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema had as good a 2021 as he would have hoped. The veteran French striker led Los Blancos in the absence of captain Sergio Ramos last season before he was given the armband on a permanent basis.
Benzema made 38 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid in 2021, contributing 30 goals and 11 assists for the side. His form this season has put Real Madrid in the prime position to regain their La Liga crown that was taken from them by Atletico Madrid.
The striker also enjoyed a return to the French national team after a six-year exile, leading them to glory in the UEFA Nations League.
Also get to know Karim Benzema's religion, his beliefs, and who he is as a player.
