The European football governing body, UEFA, has named the Uefa players of the year (2020-2021 season) and Futballnews has decided to take a look at how and why they were named best players in their various roles.
UEFA gave the awards to the players on Thursday, August 26, 2021, during the UEFA Champions League draw that was held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho won UEFA men’s player of the year, Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund won best forward of the season, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté won the best midfielder of the season, Manchester City’s Rúben Dias won the best defender of the season, and Chelsea’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy won the best goalkeeper of the season.
Below is how the UEFA players of the season were selected and named
The UEFA jury that named the winners of the 2021 UEFA players of the season comprised 24 coaches of the teams which participated in this summer’s UEFA Euro 2020, 32 coaches that participated in the UEFA Champions League group stage, and 48 coaches that participated in UEFA Europa League group stage.
Also, 55 journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, one from each of UEFA’s member associations were part of the jury.
“Jury members chose their top three players, with the first receiving five points, the second three, and the third one. Coaches were not allowed to vote for players from their team.”
Why they won the UEFA Players of the year
- Rúben Dias – Defender of the season
Manchester City defender, Rúben Dias won the defender of the season for the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League campaign after helping his club to reach the final of the tournament.
The Portuguese center-back garnered 217 points to beat Chelsea’s César Azpilicueta and Antonio Rüdiger to the award.
During the Champions League campaign, Rúben Dias made 11 appearances in which he recorded 6 clean sheets and conceded 5 goals. He completed 852 passes.
- Erling Haaland – Best forward
Borussia Dortmund striker, Erling Haaland was named the best forward of the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League season.
The 21-year-old Norwegian striker finished the Champions League season as the highest goalscorer of the tournament.
Haaland was named the best forward of the season after receiving 202 points from UEFA Jury. He won the award ahead of PSG’s Kylian Mbappé and Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski.
During the tournament, Haaland played 8 times in which he scored 10 goals and provided 2 assists.
- N’Golo Kanté – Best midfielder
Chelsea midfielder, N’Golo Kanté won the best midfielder of the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League campaign.
The 30-year-old French midfielder garnered 263 points to beat Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea’s Jorginho to the award.
Kanté made 13 appearances throughout the competition in which he recorded 9 clean sheets, concerned 4 goals, provided 1 assist, and won four players of the match awards. His effort helped Chelsea to win the UEFA Champions League title.
- Edouard Mendy – Best goalkeeper of the season
Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy won the best goalkeeper of the 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League campaign after helping Chelsea to win the tournament.
The 29-year-old French-born Senegal international garnered 286 points to win the award ahead of Manchester City’s Ederson and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.
Throughout the tournament, Edouard Mendy made 12 appearances in which he recorded 9 clean sheets and conceded 3 goals. His save percentage was 91.2%.
- Jorginho – UEFA Men’s Player of the Year
Chelsea’s midfielder, Jorginho was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year after helping Italy to win the UEFA European Championship and helped Chelsea to win the UEFA Champions League.
He garnered 175 points to beat Belgium and Manchester City midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne; Chelsea and France midfielder N’Golo Kanté to the award.
In the Champions League, Jorginho made 12 appearances in which he scored a goal, provided an assist, and won one player of the match award. While in Euro 2020, he made 7 appearances and helped France to win the tournament.
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