French media outlet L’Equipe announced its team of the year for 2021, and the two stalwarts of this generation, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, failed to find a place in it. The media house went with Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema up front in a 4-4-2 formation, a team that otherwise had no surprise picks.
In the midfield, the Chelsea duo of Jorginho and N’Golo Kante, who were sensational for club and country, made it to the XI as a number six pivot. The Italian, who did not get off to the best start last season, picked up form after Thomas Tuchel took over and played a crucial role in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph.
Jorginho was also one of the driving forces behind Italy’s sensational Euro 2020 campaign. The Azzurri, who had not qualified for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia, entered the tournament as underdogs but went on to win it against all odds. Besides him, no other Italian player found a place in the XI as a potential pick Gianluigi Donnarumma was snubbed to accommodate Chelsea’s Edouard Mendy.
Mendy, who joined Chelsea at the start of last season from Rennes for a 22-million-pound transfer. He had a stellar impact on the club, especially in the Champions League, keeping a record-equalling nine clean sheets en route to Chelsea’s second triumph in the tournament. It also came as no surprise that Kante made it to the XI, who was one of the driving engines of this team.
The four-man defensive unit comprised of Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Marquinhos (PSG), Ruben Dias (Manchester City) and Trent Alexander–Arnold (Liverpool).
The Reds did not have the best of seasons last time around, but has shown great form this season, scoring two beautiful goals in the Premier League and assisting 11 times across all competitions in the first half of the campaign.
Hernandez is at the heart of AC Milan’s title charge this season, and produced some sensational performances, pretty much warranting his position in the team. Dias had an outrageous first season in English football, winning PFA Player of the season for helping Manchester City win their third league crown under Pep Guardiola.
He also chipped in with some stunning performances in the Champions League, inspiring the side to their first-ever Champions League title, but fell a foot short with the Blues defeating them 1-0 in the final. He is partnered by the versatile Marquinhos, who was a pillar in PSG’s setup throughout the year despite the club not doing very well across competitions.
In the forward line, perhaps the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo did make a strong case, but Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski made the cut with Mohamed Salah, and Kevin de Bruyne deployed on the wings.
Messi and Ronaldo, who made eye-popping club switches this season, are no longer playing football at the level they once used to.
Lewandowski had a stellar outing with Bayern last season and, throughout 2021, has kept banging in goals for fun. Benzema is leading Real Madrid’s title charge with his goal-scoring exploits and are currently eyeing another Champions League title as well.
Salah, being hailed by many as the best footballer in the world right now, has scored 23 goals across all competitions in this season alone, adding to the 31 he scored last season.
Kevin de Bruyne was instrumental in driving the City unit to the Champions League final and had a breathtaking league campaign as well, scoring six goals and assisting 12 times in 25 appearances.
