Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are three of the superstars who have been voted UEFA Men’s Team of the Year by fans, with Virgil van Dijk also included despite missing a part of 2020 due to from an injury. (More football news)
Fans had November 30 to January 6 to vote, and a host of predictable names made the cut, although Champions League winners Bayern Munich dominate.
The squad has five players from Bayern’s hat-trick in 2019-20, including Robert Lewandowski – winner of the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award – and Thiago Alcantara, who has since joined Liverpool.
The other Reds player on the squad is Van Dijk, although the Dutch center-back has only appeared in five Premier League games this season due to a serious knee injury.
2020 UEFA Men’s Team of the Year
Almost 6 million votes! Thank you for participating
Who would be your captain? #TeamOfTheYear
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) 20 janvier 2021
However, earlier in the year he inspired Liverpool to their first league title since 1990.
Ronaldo has been named to the squad for a 15th time after helping Juventus to another Scudetto.
Messi secured his 12th inclusion despite failing to help Barcelona succeed in La Liga during what has been a largely difficult year for the Blaugrana and their captain.
UEFA also confirmed the final selection for the women’s team, with six players from the Lyon team winning the Women’s Champions League.
Men’s Team of the Year:
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany); Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich and Germany), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and the Netherlands), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich and Canada); Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich / Liverpool and Spain), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium); Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus and Portugal), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil).
Women’s Team of the Year:
Sarah Bouhaddi (Lyon and France); Lucy Bronze (Lyon / Manchester City and England), Kadeisha Buchanan (Lyon and Canada), Wendie Renard (Lyon and France), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea and Sweden); Kheira Hamraoui (Barcelona and France), Amandine Henry (Lyon and France), Delphine Cascarino (Lyon and France), Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir (Wolfsburg / Lyon and Iceland); Danielle van de Donk (Arsenal and the Netherlands), Pernille Harder (Wolfsburg / Chelsea and Denmark).
For in-depth, objective and above all balanced journalism, click here to subscribe to Outlook Magazine
–
