10 Seko Fofana
The Ivorian midfielder wears the captain’s armband at Ligue 1 Lens, and has been one of the standout midfielders in France’s top flight over the last two years. Since joining from Udinese, Fofana has been the driving force behind Lens’ impressive results since their promotion, and this season has seen him take an even bigger step forward. “He's raising the standards of those around him,” says goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca, in the sort of assessment that perfectly encapsulates both his influence and all-action play style.
9 Ramy Bensebaini
Quite simply the continent’s standout left-back. Borussia Monchengladbach are still struggling to get to grips with life after Marco Rose, but they can be grateful for the consistency of their Algerian international. An intelligent, wily defender who pitches in with goals from the penalty spot as well as from his prowess in attacking set-pieces, Bensebaini may not be as explosive as some, but his strong technical base and solid performances have attracted interest from no less a club than Barcelona in recent months.
8 Youssef En-Nesyri
While the first half of his year was stronger than the second (which has sadly been interrupted by injuries and suspensions), En-Nesyri is worth highlighting for his tremendous growth over the last 18 months. The Moroccan finally grew into the responsibility of leading the line for a side chasing European competition, scoring 13 league goals after the turn of the year to secure fourth-place for Sevilla in La Liga and justify the sale of Luuk de Jong to Barcelona. A consummate finisher who is quick off the mark, he could do with cutting out the simulation, however.
7 Kelechi Iheanacho
In 2021, Iheanacho played 30 Premier League matches for Leicester City. he scored 14 goals and assisted six others, despite only 19 of those appearances being starts. It was a staggering return that helped the Foxes to a first trophy since their shock title win five years ago, and served notice of the Nigerian forward’s enduring quality. For his sheer efficiency in the final third, for the technical excellence of some of his finishing, and for the many laughs and memes by way of his social media antics, Iheanacho earns his place on this list.
6 Sadio Mane
Not the strongest year of his career at Liverpool, granted. Also not a huge stretch to wonder if, at 29, his powers are starting to wane a little bit. However, you would still be judging against Mane’s best form; even a diminished level remains potent. Seven goals in 18 appearances so far this season suggests he is back to something approaching his sharpest, and he has played his part in ensuring a return to something approaching title-challenging form for the Reds this term.
5 Kalidou Koulibaly
Napoli famously bungled a place in the Champions League on the final day of 2020/21. However, only two teams had a better defensive record all season long. This season, the Neapolitans picked up where they left off, excellent defensive performance keeping them in pole in the Serie A table until Koulibaly got injured. That the wheels have come off so quickly paints a picture of just how influential the Seneglaese stalwart is at the back. Despite never getting the big-money transfer his ability demands, it is a credit to the 30-year-old that, somehow, his level continues to improve.
4 Sebastien Haller
Haller’s redemption arc has been something to behold. After West Ham elected to cut their losses in January, the Ivorian’s stock was at an all-time low. However, it turns out all he needed was a change of scenery. The striker is thriving at Ajax: he is the fastest player to 10 goals in Champions League history, a feat he achieved in six matches, and he has scored 35 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions for the Dutch giants. Reuniting with Erik Ten Hag has been instrumental, as the system leverages all of the Ivorian’s strengths, allowing him to shine.
3 Achraf Hakimi
Inter fans are unlikely to forget Hakimi in a hurry. As the Nerazzurri ended a decade-long wait for the Scudetto, there were two distinct features to their play: the combination between the front two of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, and the Moroccan wing-back marauding down the right flank like some wild berserker. The 23-year-old is genuinely one of the most dynamic wide players in world football, and it came as little surprise to anyone that Paris Saint Germain paid top dollar to snap him up right away. That is Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Inter and PSG taken in already at that age: if you are good enough, you are old enough.
2 Edouard Mendy
No one expected Chelsea to go all the way in the 2020/21 Champions League. However, win it they did, in large part thanks to a miserly rearguard marshalled by Mendy, who equalled a competition record by keeping nine clean sheets. The 29-year-old is something of a late bloomer, but his arrival at the club has heralded security and assurance at the back, the bedrock on which Thomas Tuchel’s revolution has been built. His calmness, wingspan, concentration and composure in possession mark him out as one of the game’s premier goalkeepers.
1 Mohamed Salah
Who else was it going to be, really? While Liverpool laboured last season, Salah was one of the few in the squad who produced at a high level regardless. Now Africa’s all-time highest goalscorer in the English top flight, the Egyptian has been irresistible this term, already up to 22 goals in all competitions. Somehow, remarkably, there remains a frustrating sense that Salah is underrated still, ludicrous considering his ability to score all kinds of goals and his importance to one of Europe’s best clubs. Quick, strong as a bull, with the poise of the ballet dancer and the precision of a surgeon, he is not only Africa’s best player in 2021, but is definitely top three – at the very least – in the world.