Bobandjim.ca’s 2021 Football Awards
By bobandjim.ca
Sorry for not posting for a while, this article took a while to make.
As the Ballon D’Or has come and gone, us here at bobandjim.ca thought we’d give our awards for the calendar year of 2021. We’ll start with our award definitions
Sheffield FC Award
The award for best player of the previous calendar year. Named in honor of the oldest club in history, Sheffield FC.
Finalists for 2021 Sheffield FC Award
Nicolo Barella-
Karim Benzema-
Kevin De Bruyne-
Gigi Donnarumma
Phil Foden-
Erling Haaland-
Jorginho-
N’Golo Kante
Robert Lewandowski
Kylian Mbappe-
Edouard Mendy-
Lionel Messi
Pedri-
Cristiano Ronaldo
Mohamed Salah-
Casillas Award
Named in honor of one of the best goalkeepers of all time, the Casillas Award is awarded to the best Goalkeeper of the year
Casillas Award finalists
Allisson-
Tibo Courtois-
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Ederson-
Emi Martinez
Edouard Mendy
Keylor Navas-
Manuel Neuer-
Gero Rulli-
Weverton-
Di Stefano Award
This award goes to the best young player in 2021, named the Di Stefano award as he was one of the first to take the world by storm at a young age. You have to be under 22 to win the Di Stefano Award
Di Stefano Award finalists
Jude Bellingham-
Alphonso Davies-
Phil Foden
Erling Haaland
Youssoufa Moukoko-
Jamal Musiala-
Pedri
Bukayo Saka-
Jadon Sancho-
Florian Wirtz-
Bela Guttman Award
The Bela Guttman Award is given out for the best manager of the season, after one of the managerial pioneers, Bela Guttman.
Bela Guttman Award Finalists
Ruben Amorim-
Antonio Conte-
Unai Emery-
Hansi Flick-
Christophe Gaultier-
Pep Guardiola
Roberto Mancini
Diego Simeone-
Gareth Southgate-
Thomas Tuchel
Mohamed Salah Award
This award is to the most improved player throughout 2021, named for Mohamed Salah’s breakout 2017-18 for Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah Award Nominees
Nicolo Barella-
Jude Bellingham-
Jonathan David
Ruben Dias
Jeremy Doku-
Achraf Hakimi-
Jens Petter Hauge-
Curtis Jones-
Marcos Llorente-
Gerard Moreno-
Edouard Mendy
Pedri
Yeremy Pino-
Leandro Spinnazola-
Youri Tielemans-
Marcus Rashford Award
This award is for the best action in football in 2021, named for Marcus Rashford’s contributions to the starving schoolchildren back in 2020. There will be no finalists for this award as we don’t want to cause controversy now or in the future.
We now start with the award rankings…
Di Stefano Award rankings 8-10
10: Youssoufa Moukoko
Borussia Dortmund
17 years old
German ST
While not getting his full 1st team breakthrough yet, Moukoko has been there when Dortmund need him. He has 144 goals in 113 games in competitions from youth to senior level, while Moukoko has yet to break into Dortmund’s senior team full time yet, he’s still got bags of potential. St. Pauli must be kicking themselves for letting this gem slip through the cracks in 2016.
9: Jadon Sancho
Borussia Dortmund/Manchester United
21 years old
English RW
He’s getting docked a few points for the slow Man U start, but under new management, he seems to be refinding his form. He’s uber proven at Dortmund and I’m sure that he’ll find his potential, and quickly. He’s becoming more of a part of the 1st team and will play a bigger role under Ralf Rangnick than Ole, but for now he’ll be 9th
8: Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
20 years old
English LM
We say he’s a LM, but he can play anywhere on the left. Maybe he should be a bit higher, but he gets docked a couple points for being at Arsenal and losing England Euro 2020. Both of those were really bad luck, so he pips Sancho for the Eighth spot. 2021 has seen Saka get into his own, becoming a key figure under Mikel Arteta. By far in a way the crown jewel of Arsenal’s wonderkids here.
Casillas Award 8-10
10: Geronimo Rulli
Villarreal
29 years old
Argentine GK
He gets here for his 20-21 season, leading Villarreal to the Europa League title and a good La Liga finish. However, what really gets him here is his Europa League final performance. He did a great job stopping favorites Man U from scoring 2, and saved David De Gea’s penalty to win the shootout.
9: Tibo Courtois
Real Madrid
29 Years old
Belgian GK
Despite not winning a single team trophy in the whole of 2021, it can’t all be blamed on Courtois. He did an overall good shot stopping performance. However, it was a bit below average, having a better 19-20 season, and he let in a couple stinkers at the Euros.
8: Weverton
Palmeiras
33 years old
Brazilian GK
You can’t argue with success. He did a great job this year, and even though he’s Brazil’s 7th or 8th choice keeper at this point, he’s done something never done before. He’s won the Copa Libertadores twice this calendar year. He won the 2020 Copa in January, and the 2021 Copa over the past weekend, leaving players like Marinho and Gabriel Barbosa with a runner up medal. An underrated achievement by most of the media, but not by us. We put Weverton 8th on our Casillas award list.
Mohamed Salah Award 10-15
15: Youri Tielemans
Leicester
24 Years old
Belgian CM
I want to make this clear; we ARE NOT saying that Tielemans is the worst player on the finalists, we are saying that he is the least improved of the finalists. He did quite a lot of improvement in 2020, and he’s just adding icing on the cake in 2021, cementing himself as one of the Premier League’s best outside the big 6 teams.
14: Jens Petter Hauge
Frankfurt (On loan from AC Milan)
22 years old
Norwegian RW
He’s on here for the development in the first few months of 2021, since then he’s stagnated, but he’s still much better now than he was at the start of 2021. He could be a key piece of the upcoming Norwegian golden generation.
13: Leandro Spinazzola
AS Roma
28 years old
Italian LB
I wish him to get well soon, but when you look at him compared to the players ahead of him, he hasn’t developed that much. He’s on here just for the Euros run, but that being said, he still slowly developed for Roma, under the radar. It’s only what’s expected out of the 3rd oldest finalist for this award.
12: Jude Bellingham
Borussia Dortmund
18 years old
English CM
He’s like Tielemans, all the development was done last year, and if we did these awards last year, you bet he would have been very high up. This year, though, he’s still done a lot of development, enough development of someone expected to be the Birmingham Beckham, and enough to place 12th on this list.
11: Gerard Moreno
Villarreal
29 years old
Spanish ST
He’s a unique case. He’s become the premier Spanish striker, but he ranks so low because he was already at a great level before this year. However, this year he’s jumped up a level. He’s gone from great to spectacular, and led Villarreal to the Europa and Spain to the Euro semi final.
10: Marcos Llorente
Altetico Madrid
26 years old
Spanish CM
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I thought Marcos Llorente was around 24, not 26 turning 27 at the end of January. Anyway, like Moreno but on a lower scale, Llorente was already pretty good at the start of the year. I, like so many others, finally started to take notice after his extra time brace vs Liverpool. I was aware of his story, switching sides of Madrid and all that, but I started to take him seriously after that, and it’s safe to say that he hasn’t disappointed that notion.
Bela Guttman Award 8-10
10: Unai Emery
Villarreal
50 years old
Won the Europa League in 2021
Good Ebening! The time we’ve used to ridicule Unai Emery he’s used to make success in Villarreal. He won yet another Europa League this year and has got the best out of his players. A redemption year well done.
9: Hansi Flick
Bayern/Germany
56 years old
Won the Bundesliga and World Cup 2022 Qualification in 2021
He may not have made this list if not for his electric start with Germany. He bossed the Bundesliga, not hard with Bayern, but was a bit disappointing in the Pokal and Champions League. However, he steered Germany to top of their qualification group, and hasn’t sniffed his rear once (we’re looking at you, Joachim Low).
8: Christophe Galtier
Lille/Nice
55 years old
Won Ligue 1 in 2021
Even though he’s one of the less proven managers in this list, Galtier deserves respect for the win of Ligue 1 with Lille of all teams. He didn’t do much otherwise, but he’s 8th for the league win alone. You have to give him respect for that.
Sheffield FC Award 13-15
15: Phil Foden
Man City
21 years old
English CAM
Poor Phil Foden. 2nd in the UCL and Euros, but hey. At least he won the Premier League. He’s in his 3rd season of being a regular starter for Pep, and he’s already here. An outstanding player with a sky-high ceiling.
14: Nicolo Barella
Inter
24 years old
Italian CM
Another one of the youngsters to take the world by storm soon, Nicolo Barella has done amazing this year. A Serie A trophy and the Euros, playing a big role for Inter and Italy for winning both as well, This kid is one to watch.
13: Jorginho
Chelsea
29 years old
Italian CDM
He won the UCL and Euros, and played, again, a key role in both. He wasn’t the star man by any stretch on either Chelsea or Italy, but he was starting most games. Great stuff from the Italian this year. Shouldn’t be anywhere near top 3 like he was in the Ballon D’Or, but I think here is a good spot for him.
Di Stefano Award 4-7
7: Florian Wirtz
Leverkusen
18 years old
German CAM
I’m not saying he’s bad, I’m saying the rest of the finalists are really good. He’s been Leverkusen’ s main creative threat in 2021, and looks like the next Kai Havertz. He also became the first player under 19 to score 10 Bundesliga goals. Germany’s future golden boy.
6: Jude Bellingham
Dortmund
18 years old
English CM
He’s had a great 2021, although no success with Dortmund, he did well with England this year too. He already seems like he’s been around for a while, but he’s only 18. A future world beater, for sure.
5: Jamal Musiala
Bayern
18 years old
German CAM
The former Chelsea youngster has become a key part of Bayern’s midfield this season. Interchanged between starter and super-sub this season. Along with having some great mentoring, Musiala has all the tools to become Bayern’s Thomas Muller heir.
4: Alphonso Davies
Bayern
21 years old
Canadian LB
The best rated player in the finalists not on the Sheffield FC Shortlist, Alphonso Davies is elite. He’s now a bona fide 99.999th percentile full back, and He’s only 21. Look out for a bigger show from Davies in next year’s awards, As a successful season from Bayern and a Canada world cup berth could see him rise the ranks.
Casillas Award 4-7
7: Keylor Navas
PSG
34 years old
Costa Rican GK
He had a great start to 2021, but he stagnated after, and that’s why he ranks so low here. That, paired with the fact that he won a measly Coupe De France this year, too, drops him this low. However, he has started a redemption now, after Real Madrid sold him.
6: Alisson
Liverpool
29 years old
Brazilian GK
The opposite of Navas, Alisson had an abysmal start to 2021, which since June, he’s recovered from. He got the the Copa America Final, and has had a good start with Liverpool. However, the 2019 Yashine Trophy winner has to place here simply for the poor start.
5: Manuel Neuer
Bayern
35 years old
German GK
He had a great 2020, followed by a below average 2021, for his standards. Although he did well for Germany and Bayern, it is all you can expect for a player like Neuer, whose best years are surely behind him at this point. He gets here for his Group Stage with Germany, where he led them to 2nd when everyone thought they were going to be 3rd.
4: Ederson
Man City
28 years old
Brazilian GK
He places above his Brazilian counterpart for the league title and Champions League final appearance, where he wasn’t at all at fault for Kai Havertz’ winning goal, that was mainly due to the Man City defenders being asleep during that play. He did very well this year, and was unlucky to not be in the finalists.
Mo Salah Award 4-9
9: Achraf Hakimi
Inter/PSG
23 years old
Morrocan RM
Like the others before him, he improved a lot in 2020, and that was a lot of the development he’s done. He was at a good enough level to start for Serie A champs Inter after his sale from Real Madrid in 2020, and just was at too high a level in 2020 to be high in the 2021 list.
8: Curtis Jones
Liverpool
20 years old
English CM
From this poin on, you’ve really done well. Curtis Jones isn’t good enough yet to be right up there as of yet. He could be on the list next year, but he isn’t good enough right now. He became a recurring player in Liverpool’s team in the 2nd half of 20-21, whether it was a starting role or super sub, he was a great contributor to the team.
7: Jeremy Doku
Rennes
19 years old
Belgian RW
Like Jones, Doku isn’t on the level of the last 6 nominees here. He can’t place higher than this, but credit where it’s due. He had a great Euro campaign with Belgium and earned a move to Rennes, the Dortmund of Ligue 1.
6: Yeremy Pino
Villarreal
19 years old
Spanish RM
It was really close between Pino and Doku, but Pino’s increased role in the Yellow Submarine’s team along with the Europa League win gets him above Doku. Expect Pino to get into the Spain team soon. He went from a fringe player in 2020 to a key prospect in Unai Emery’s side.
5: Edouard Mendy
Chelsea
29 Years old
Senagalese GK
I’ll tell more about Mendy in his Casillas and Sheffield entries, but he has been a beast this year. He became one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and won the Champions League. I would put him higher, but he was already starting for a Rennes team that qualified for the Champions League in 2019-20. Only time will tell if he gets to the 2022 World Cup.
4: Nicolo Barella
Inter
24 Years old
Italian CM
I talked about him in his Sheffield Nomination, but I’ll talk more about him here. I think it’s crazy how Barella went from an occasional player for Inter in 19-20 to the midfield star of the team in 20-21. His year speaks for itself. Serie A win, Euro Win, he did the lot this year.
Bela Guttman Award 4-7
7: Gareth Southgate
English
51 years old
Made Euro 2020 Final in 2021
Gareth Southgate deserves a big mention here. He took a super young England team, even if it was in a boring way, to the Euro 2020 final, and if not for Bukayo Saka’s missed penalty, he may have won it. It only makes me more eager to see what he’s going to do in the World Cup.
6: Ruben Amorim
Sporting
36 years old
Won Liga NOS in 2021
Let’s not overlook Amorim’s achievement. The coach around the same age as some of the older award nominees took a Bruno Fernandes-less Sporting and turned them into a title winning side that won their first title in 19 years. A promising career ahead for this one.
5: Diego Simeone
Atlético Madrid
51 years old
Won La Liga in 2021
He and 4th place are really close, but that shouldn’t take anything away from his achievement of winning La Liga with Atlético Madrid. He beat 2 giants, with just Luis Suarez, Jan Oblak, a determined team, and tactics. A great season for them here.
4: Antonio Conte
Inter/Spurs
52 years old
Won Serie A in 2021
He’s had a rocky start with Spurs so far, but he had a miracle in Inter this season, somehow dominating Serie A, ending Juventus’ 9 season title streak that he started, with a team that was secretly in tons of debt. Despite finishing bottom of the UCL group, that was in 2020, so we won’t count it. I can do nothing but wish him every bit of luck with Spurs, he’ll need it.
Sheffield FC nominees 6-12
12: Edouard Mendy
Chelsea
29 Years old
Senagalese GK
From the French 2nd division to a Sheffield nomination, Edouard Mendy is the perfect underdog story, the breakout 20-21 season cementing himself among the world’s best keepers. He’s also had an underrated start to 20-21, getting Chelsea top of the League at December, something they want to keep going for the season likely.
11: Pedri
Barcelona
19 years old
Spanish CM
I really wanted to put him higher, but I couldn’t find any reason to. That being said, for 19 years old, 11th is a great place to be in. I wish him to recover fast so he can become a mainstay in this list. 70 appearances in 12 months in competitions like La Liga, the Champions League, Euros, and the Olympics isn’t anything to shake a stick at.
10: Kevin De Bruyne
Man City
30 years old
Belgian CAM
He’s the best passer in the world, and I wanted to put him higher, but the rest of the players in this top 10 are absolutely insane. He gets dropped points for the Euro QF exit, but he was a key part of Pep’s title winning team.
9: Kylian Mbappe
PSG
22 years old
French ST
He’ll turn 23 soon, and if you think this is low, think of what he’s done this year. That’s right. Not much. He’s failed to win Ligue 1, got France knocked out of Euro 2020, demanded a transfer Neymar style, and has so far bombed with Leo Messi in the team.
8: Erling Haaland
Dortmund
21 years old
Norwegian ST
This list is insane, how does Erling Haaland rank here? I don’t know, but He didn’t win anything, so he has to get lowered. That was the one thing that eluded him, and it’s a shame he won’t get to the World Cup, either. Other than that, he continued his 2020 form, and is looking like the next monster in world football.
7: Mo Salah
Liverpool
29 years old
Egyptian RW
Sure, he’s had a great start to 2021, but we mustn’t forget; he had a stinker to start 2021. The losing streak to start the year gets him down some points, but he gets here with his amazing comeback in form. Definitely a contender for the 2022 award, I predict.
6: Karim Benzema
Real Madrid
33 years old
French ST
It seems low, but Karim Benzema didn’t win anything this year. If Mo Salah ranks 7th, Karim Benzema ranks here. The players above him played key roles in sides winning big pieces of silverware. Other than that, he did amazing. The France comeback, and a key piece in Real Madrid, it was a great individual year for Karim.
The Finalists
Di Stefano Award
Phil Foden
Man City
21 Years old
English CAM
He had a great year. As I said in his Sheffield FC nomination, won the PL, was runner up in the Champions League and Euros, so he was on the winning side a lot. He also usually played a big role on those winning sides. That has to put him in the finalists.
Pedri
Barcelona
19 Years old
Spanish CM
I’ve talked about Pedri a lot here so I’ll make this one short. Barca’s new Xavi heir being trained under Xavi, although he didn’t win anything came close a lot, and was a great player, being utilised as an undroppable starter for all the teams he played for this year.
Erling Haaland
Dortmund
21 years old
Norwegian ST
The last year he’s eligible for this award, he is a MACHINE. I’ll never forget the breakout Champions League campaign he had for RB Salzburg, got over a goal per game, went to Dortmund and somehow continued his form, then everyone took real notice. If Real Madrid can snag him and Mbappe, it’s over.
Casillas Award
Gianluigi Donnarumma
PSG
22 years old
Italian GK
Wow. What a year. After a while of will he, won’t he become a great keeper, here he is at only 22 on the Casillas award finalist list. We all know why he’s here. Next.
Emi Martinez
Aston Villa
29 years old
Argentine GK
He would probably get on the top 10 for this award for his Villa performances alone, let alone a Copa America. Most people will remember his performance in the Copa America final, stopping a barrage of Brazil chances, the most notable one being Gabriel Barbosa’s shot from 8 yards through about 9 or 10 players from a Neymar free kick.
Edouard Mendy
Chelsea
29 years old
Senegalese GK
I talked about him in his Sheffield FC nomination, so I’ll keep it short here. You couldn’t write a story like this, a comeback story like this. From the French 2nd division to the Casillas award.
Mo Salah Award Finalists
Jonathan David
Lille
21 years old
Canadian ST
When he signed for Lille in 2020, raise your hand, yes, I’m talking to everyone reading this bar none, if you thought Jonathan David was going to have scored almost 30 goals for them and be the main striker for the Canada national team in a quest for World cup qualification where they’re the closest they’ve ever been. Yeah, that’s what I thought. Not many hand raised. His sheer rise since his Gent days has been absolutely insane. That’s why we’re putting him in these finalists.
Ruben Dias
Man City
24 years old
Portugese CB
He went from a promising Portugese league Center back to one of the world’s best in a year. This is why we do the Mo Salah award, to recognize cases like these. A great rise for a player who deserves the recognition. Give Ruben Dias a pat on the back.
Pedri
Barcelona
19 years old
Spanish CM
I know, I know. Pedri has been on a lot of these lists, but he needs the recognition. In a year he went from the Second Division of Spain to a Ballon D’Or finalist, a Sheffield FC Award finalist, Di Stefano award finalist, Euro 2020 semi finalist, and many other accolades. If that isn’t a meteoric rise, I don’t know what is.
Bela Guttman Award finalists
Pep Guardiola
Man City
50 Years old
Won the Premier League & Carabao Cup, Runner up in the Champions League in 2021
It has been a great trophy year, even for Pep’s standards. He was excruciatingly close to a QUADRUPLE, with a Kai Havertz counter and Leicester masterclass foiling those plans. The final push over the line for Pep’s boys, if they even needed one, is the great start to 2021-22, with them being in 2nd with 34 points so far, only a point off top.
Roberto Mancini
Italy
57 years old
Won Euro 2020 in 2021
Need I say more? Isn’t Euro 2020 enough? Italy were the best team in the tournament by far, and I could see their win coming from a mile away, mainly due to Roberto Mancini’s making them seem like they were a level above anyone else in the whole thing. He does get docked points for the failing to win their World Cup Qualifying group and now having to beat portugal to just qualify.
Thomas Tuchel
Chelsea
48 years old
Won the Champions League in 2021
He got a sinking ship under Frank Lampard to a Champions League. That is in itself a great feat, then your take into account his signing of Romelu Lukaku and now him being only 2 points off top of the league with the two teams that have been dominating the table for the last half decade.
Sheffield FC Finalists
Gigi Donnarumma
AC Milan/PSG
22 years old
Italian GK
I know you’re wondering why he’s here, but don’t forget, he won player of the tournament at the Euros and was the first Keeper to do so. He played a big role in getting AC Milan back to the Champions League, for better or for worse, and has done well for PSG so far.
N’Golo Kante
Chelsea
30 years old
French CDM
No matter what anyone says, we all know that Kante was the main orchestrator of Chelsea’s Champions League winning team. He played a big role all the way until the Champions League final and continues to play a big role. He also did well with France in the Euros, too.
Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich
33 years old
Polish ST
Maybe not quite as good as 2020, but Robert Lewandowski’s 2021 was still world class. He broke the Bundesliga goal record set by Gerd Muller, a few weeks after his death, he also has had a great start to this season, he has the most goals scored by anyone in Europe’s top 5 leagues, and is a goal machine, he has been for a long time.
Lionel Messi
Barcelona/PSG
34 years old
Argentine RW
It’s too bad he didn’t have much of a 2021 for club, as Messi would have been the unanimous winner of all the best player awards, but the Copa America is the only accolade that he had this year. I was talking with Bob the other day, that this is like the anti-Messi. A bad year with club, a great one with Argentina, he leaves Barca, he can’t score at PSG, we’ve never seen this before. Still a good favorite for the award though.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Juventus/Man U
36 years old
Portugese ST
A man worthy of a spot in our top 5, CR7, no matter how many people say he’s been poor this year, I disagree. He’s bailed Man U out many times, and scored over 40 goals! He was one of the more underrated players on the Ballon D’Or rankings.
Final Award Rankings
Di Stefano Award
- Phil Foden
- Pedri
- Erling Haaland
Casillas Award
- Emi Martinez
- Edouard Mendy
- Gigi Donnarumma
Mo Salah Award
- Ruben Dias
- Jonathan David
- Pedri
Bela Guttman Award
- Pep Guardiola
- Roberto Mancini
- Thomas Tuchel
Sheffield FC Award
- Gigi Donnarumma
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Lionel Messi
- N’Golo Kante
- Robert Lewandowski
Award Winners
Di Stefano Award: Erling Haaland, Dortmund & Norway
Casillas Award: Gigi Donnarumma, Milan, PSG, & Italy
Mo Salah Award: Pedri, Barcelona & Spain
Bela Guttman Award: Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea
Sheffield FC Award: Robert Lewandowski, Bayern & Poland
Thank you for reading the inaugural awarding of the bobandjim.ca awards! The next one will be after the World Cup 2022 and before 2023, so stay tuned then! A big thank you to Dean, Sam, and everyone at 442oons for sending the Cameo! This is Jim James signing off!