Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the UEFA Champions … [+]
Vini Junior, the sterling 24 year-old talent from Brazil has been widely regarded as the best South American footballer on the planet in 2024. In fact, the Real Madrid attacker narrowly missed out on winning the Ballon d’Or; a much coveted title awarded to the best player on the planet.
In the ‘top five’ European leagues ‘Vini’ was the South American with the most goals and assists in the calendar year. The winger was responsible for 46 goal contributions; 32 goals and 14 assists. That’s an impressive tally of one crucial contribution every 83 minutes of playing time. Finally, of course, Vini also scored for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund to help ‘Los Blancos’ win the 2024 UEFA Champions League final.
In 2024 Raphinha has transformed from a man who’s form had been widely questioned to one who has commanded the captains armband at FC Barcelona.
Behind only Vini for goal contributions for a South American in Europe’s top leagues; Raphinha made a difference every 86 minutes of playing time with 24 goals and 13 assists in 2024; 37 contributions in total.
He has been a key part of Barcelona’s quick start to the 2024/25 season in particular, marking 11 goals and 6 assists in just 19 league games for the ‘Culers.’ Now captain of the team, his left foot looks as dangerous as ever, as he drifts in from the right wing to haunt opposition defences.
Barcelona’s Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the … [+]
With eight goals in 12 premier league starts in the 2024/25 season Luis Díaz is hitting his best ever form for the Premier League club. As the Reds go marching on towards the title, LFC rotate between five or six incredible forwards, but all of them are playing their part as they blow the rest of the league away.
Díaz has improved in front of goal for sure. His eight league goals come from an xG of just over 5. One of few criticism’s of his game until late might have been that he needed to produce more in the final third, but for now Díaz has turned that around this season.
In 2024 ‘Lucho’ was also a key figure for his national team. The winger is a talismanic figure for a Colombia side that reached the Copa America final against Argentina and have looked commanding in South American qualifying for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Luis Diaz during … [+]
Inter Milan won the league at a canter in 2023/24 and their main man was captain fantastic Lautaro. The Argentinian forward finished that season with the most goals in the Italian league, and then scored the most goals at the Copa America in the summer of 2024 as he led his national side to victory.
Lautaro’s summer exploits included the winning goal in extra time of the final, as Argentina won a third major international tournament in a row. This time, unlike at the 2022 World Cup; Lautaro was front and centre of the action, not simply waiting in the wings.
A fabulous goal in qualifying against Peru recently and continued form for title-chasing Inter Milan suggest Lautaro can take this consistency into 2025 too.
Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale holds the Serie A TIM Scudetto title trophy at full-time … [+]
Emi Martínez, known as ‘Dibu’ in Argentina, helped Argentina to the 2024 Copa America crown and kept a clean sheet against Colombia in the final. The keeper has also been incredible for club side Aston Villa all year.
Dibu led Villa to a Champions League finish at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and since then he has basked in the spotlight of club football’s most prestigious competition, maintaining clean sheets against giants like Juventus and Bayern Munich.
For these reasons, and incredible shot-stopping, Dibu was voted ‘The Best’ mens goalkeeper by FIFA this year. He is as influential a South American footballer in Europe as any and for some he is the best number 1 on the planet today.
Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa gestures following the team’s victory during the UEFA Champions … [+]
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