FirstTouch’s Top 5 African Male Ballers of 2019

Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and West Ham United at Anfield on August 12, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 11, 2018 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Europe)

It's that time of when we round-up the year by celebrating select African soccer players who dominated headlines off and on the pitch.

Below, are five of the best who uniquely repped Africa, all around the world

1. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)

The Senegalese international is a clear favorite to win his first ever CAF African Footballer of the year award. Why not, after finishing 4th behind Messi, Van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting. The 27-year-old was arguably the best player in the world of the year 2019, clinching the golden boot after scoring 22 Premier League goals and helping Liverpool to a UEFA Champions League title. In his own words, he could have traded the UCL title for the 2019 AFCON which the Teranga Lions went as far as the final, narrowly losing 0-1 to eventual champions Algeria. Don't take my word for it, 2019 Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi thinks it should have been Mane and so does Arsene Wenger, Eden Hazard and Danny Blind who has labeled him the "new Cristiano Ronaldo."

2. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)

He didn't have the Africa Cup of Nations he would have dreamed of as the hosts, Egypt, crashed out of the round-of-16 at the hands of South Africa. Salah, however, continued his blistering goal-scoring form for the Reds, scoring 22 EPL goals just like strike partner Mane. The Egyptian king was also on song as a part of the infamous trio with Firmino and Mane that dominated Europe. The 27-year-old also scored one of the goals for Liverpool in a 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the UCL final.

Both Salah and Mane haven't slowed down as they are still firing for Jurgen Klopp's men who remain undefeated in the league and skewing the 2019/20 title race in their favor.

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Arsenal)

Just like Salah, the Gabonese captain's exploits on home soil proved not very fruitful as the Panthers failed to even make the 32 finalist list of the Egypt AFCON finals. He was, however, a clutch for the struggling Arsenal side that lost the UEFA Europa League final to Chelsea and missed out on the EPL top four by a point. The 30-year-old completed the list of the English top flight best scorers as he also had 22 goals to his name, sharing the golden boot with Liverpool's African striking duo.

He has finished the year with the responsibility of being the Gunners' captain and still loves his goals. Only Jamie Vardy had scored more than Auba in the new Premier League season at the time of writing this piece.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his sides third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom.

(Dec. 8, 2019 - Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

4. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)

It probably was his best year yet as far as winning is concerned. After winning a historic domestic treble with Manchester City, the 28-year-old immediately switched to his national colors and superbly led the Desert Foxes to their second-ever AFCON title. Most famously, the Algerian captain scored a sublime stoppage time free-kick goal in their 2-1 semi-final victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria. In the new season, he has become a Champions League ace for Guardiola's men, always involved in the goals.

5. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

The 21-year-old Moroccan is the only defender on our list and there's a good reason for that. The Lions of the Atlas were shockingly dumped out of the 2019 AFCON finals by Benin in the round-of-16 after entering the tournament as favorites and winning all their group matches. It could go without notice that in every match he ever played for Morocco, the flying full-back was unplayable. He was in similar form for Dortmund who narrowly missed out on a Bundesliga title, finishing second and has since carried that form into the 2019/20. From a defensive position, Hakimi scored an astonishing 3 goals in the UCL group stages and helped Lucien Favre's men to reach the last-16 at the expense of Inter Milan.

There we go folks, let us know who else you might have wanted to see on the list, or better yet share with us how you would rank them all.

FirstTouch’s Top 10 Female Players of 2019

Megan Rapinoe poses backstage during the 2019 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards at Alice Tully Hall on November 11, 2019 in New York City.

(Nov. 10, 2019 - Source: Getty Images North America)

In no chronological order, they are as follows;

1. Megan Rapinoe

It takes someone special to be a major influence both on and off the pitch. Megan Rapinoe has become one such player, a major force in the world of soccer who walks the talk. They say good things come to those who wait and seemingly Pinoe has had to wait until the twilight years of her career to become a global phenomenon. The year 2019 was particularly unreal for the USWNT star who led the Stars & Stripe to a record 4th World Cup title in France, finishing as a joint top goal scorer and taking home the Golden Ball Award for the best player of the tournament. The 34-year-old was also named the 2019 FIFA Best Women's Player of the Year and even won bigger battles off the pitch as she became a banner for gender equality advocacy in football.

2. Lucy Bronze

You have to be really good to get any mention on these lists if you are a defender. Fans of the game just have an interesting bias towards prolific goal scorers. Bronze is that good and more. The England international also had a fruitful 2019 as she helped the Lionesses finish 4th at the World Cup in France. At club level, the 28-year-old was also a key member of the Lyon squad that typically won multiple trophies, including the coveted Champions League title. The flying full-back was named the 2019 UEFA Women’s Player of the Year, finished 3rd behind Rapinoe and Alex Morgan on the FIFA Best Awards and also took home the Silver Ball from the World Cup finals in France.

3. Sam Kerr

Talk about scoring goals. The Australian international did that for fun in the 2019 NWSL season as her Chicago Red Stars reached the play-off finals. The 26-year-old bagged a total of 18 goals and served up 5 assists in 21 matches during the campaign, breaking the record of goals scored in a single season previously held by herself. In that process, she also extended her record as the all-time leading goal scorer in the American top-flight league. After months of speculation, with some of the big clubs in Europe reportedly monitoring her, Kerr eventually joined Chelsea at the end of the NWSL season in the FA WSL.

4. Ada Hegerberg

The Norwegian is no stranger to this list after being the first-ever woman to win the Ballon d'Or in 2018. She may have missed out on the 2019 World Cup finals in protest against her country's football federation on the grounds of poor investment in the women's game, but her club performance was just as impressive. She scored a total of 20 goals in 20 domestic league matches for the 2018/19 season, also helped Lyon retain the Champions League and French Ligue 1 titles. In fact, she bagged a hattrick in the UEFA final as the French club sank Barcelona by a 4-1 scoreline. Most remarkably, the 24-year-old striker became the all-time leading goal scorer in the Champions League in October when she scored her 53rd goal in 50 appearances, breaking the record previously held by the German Anja Mittag.

5. Wendie Renard

Lucy Bronze of England controls the ball during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group D match between England and Scotland at Stade de Nice on June 09, 2019 in Nice, France.

(June 8, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

The French international has a knack for scoring goals even though she is a center-back by trade. At the 2019 FIFA World Cup finals, she finished as the 5th joint top goal scorer with 4 strikes in 5 appearances for Les Bleus who were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by eventual champions, USWNT. Just like Bronze and Hegerberg, the 29-year-old Renard was a key figure in the Lyon side that won multiple trophies in 2019 and continues to prove to the world that they just might be the greatest living sports team. If men's football can boast being endowed with the immaculate Van Dijk, then women's football have the presence of Renard.

6. Vivianne Miedema

The Dutch forward could be the most talented forward in this generation and yes I am an Arsenal fan. Sue me if you may for being biased, but Miedema is almost as good as they come. At just 23-years-of age, the Gunners forward has already become the all-time leading goal scorer for both the women's and men's national teams in the Netherlands, surpassing the record previously held by her idol, Robin van Persie. In the year 2019, she helped Arsenal to a domestic treble and was awarded the PFA Women's Player of the Year, with her compatriot Van Dijk winning the men's accolade. She was also instrumental to the Oranje side who reached the 2019 World Cup finals, scoring 3 times in 7 appearances. In the ongoing Champions League campaign, Miedema is the top goal scorer with 10 in 4 matches and her club will play PSG in the last 8.

7. Alex Morgan

The 30-year-old also had a fun year being Rapinoe's "ride or die." Together they co-captained the USWNT to World Cup glory, also finishing as joint top goal scorers with 6 goals in 7 matches. She also received the FIFA Bronze Ball after being named the 3rd best player of the tournament in France and was among the three short-listed candidates for both the FIFA Best Awards and the UEFA individual prizes. Morgan didn't have as successful a club campaign with Orlando Pride in the NWSL and had to even pull out of the squad towards the end of the season to have surgery on a knee injury she had been nursing throughout the world cup.

Sari Van Veenendaal receives The Best FIFA women's goalkeeper of the year award at the Teatro alla Scala during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 on September 23, 2019 in Milan, Italy.

(Sept. 22, 2019 - Source: Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images Europe)

8. Lieke Martens

She is one of the quickest and most skillful women soccer players alive. Lieke Martens played through injury, helping the Netherlands reach the world cup finals in France. The winger's club form and exploits were relatively more fruitful as she was key in the Barca side that made the Champions League finals, eventually losing out to Lyon in the final. The 26-year eventually losing out to Lyon in the final. The 26-yearold just returned from the injury sustained during the world cup and like Messi, could be key in leading Barcelona to more silverware this new season.

9. Asisat Oshoala

Year after year, the Nigerian international continues to get a mention. The 25-year-old helped the Super Eagles to a historic knock-out round finish at the 2019 FIFA World Cup finals in France. Alongside South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana, they both top the list of the deadliest strikers on the African continent. With Lieke Martens, she also helped Barcelona reach the 2019 UEFA final, becoming the first African to score in the women's Champions League.

10. Sari van Veenendaal

No one had a safer pair of hands in 2019 than Atletico Madrid's van Veenendaal. The Dutch won the Golden Glove Award after being named the best goalkeeper at the 2019 World Cup finals where the Oranje finished 2nd behind the USWNT. She made a leading total of 23 saves during the world cup and earned herself a first-ever 2019 FIFA Best Women's Goalkeeper Award. Before France, the 29-year-old had also helped Arsenal to a domestic treble in the FA WSL. Now, she has been minding the goal for the Spanish champions who are in contention to win the Champions League crown after eliminating Manchester City in the round-of-16.

FirstTouch’s Top 10 Male Players of 2019

The Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year Lionel Messi poses with his family at the end of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at the Teatro alla Scala on September 23, 2019 in Milan, Italy.

(Sept. 22, 2019 - Source: Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images Europe)

In no particular order, they are the following;

1. Lionel Messi

As we have learnt in the past decade or so, it's never a top players' list if Messi is not on it. Aside from his reputation, the Argentine captain actually deserved to be on the FirstTouch's best male players for the year 2019. Barcelona may have crashed out of the UEFA Champions League in the semi-finals after capitulating in the second leg, but the 32-year-old almost single-handedly carried them that far. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner famously bagged a brace in Barca's 3-0 first-leg win over eventual champions Liverpool and was Europe's top goalscorer with 36 for the season as Blaugurana also retained the La Liga title. Messi was named the 2019 FIFA Best Men's Player of the Year, a 6th such accolade for the Barca captain.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Talk about presence! The Italian Serie A certainly felt the arrival of the other five-time Ballon d'Or winner during the course of the year; both financially and in footballing terms. Age has proven to be just a number for the former Real Madrid striker and the all-time leading Champions League goalscorer as he bagged 21 goals in his debut Serie A season. After adding a Scudetto to his illustrious trophy cabinet, the 34-year-old also led Portugal to an inaugural UEFA Nations League title and reached a remarkable 700 career goals in the year, including 99 for his country as of 17 November.

3. Virgil Van Dijk

Mountain man, that's how some refer to the Dutch captain. The 28-year-old was just that for Liverpool, a mountain stuck in front of their goal. He was a central figure in the Reds' camp as they clinched a 6th UEFA Champions League title and their first silverware since 2012. Liverpool had a league-high 21 clean-sheets in their run up to finish second in the Premier League, a point behind champions Man City. He may have been the losing captain in the UEFA Nations League final but his performances building up to the finale was on show for everyone to see. Being named the 2019 UEFA Male Player of the Year was simply a befitting reward to an excellent player who also took home the PFA Player of the Year accolade.

4. Kylian Mbappe

Once upon a time a teenage prodigy, Kylian Mbappe is now dominating the big game, year after year. The 2018 World Cup winner continued his blistering goal-scoring form as he bagged 33 for the season, just 3 behind Messi in the whole of Europe. The 20-year-old's goals helped PSG retain the French Ligue 1 title while he also claimed the individual prize as the league's best marksman with 33 goals. Any chance that the Parisians have on challenging for the 2020 Champions League crown, also heavily hinges on the French international's goals.

Sadio Mane of Liverpool in action during the Group C match of the UEFA Champions League between Liverpool and FK Crvena Zvezda at Anfield on October 24, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 23, 2018 - Source: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe)

5. Sadio Mane

On record speaking to BeIN sport, Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger revealed that the Senegalese international was his preferred candidate for the 2019 Ballon d'Or prize. To add on to his point, Wenger praised Mane as an "efficient" player. Fellow candidate, Eden Hazard also made a similar comment later on. The 27-year-old was the joint top goal scorer in the Premier League as Liverpool finished second and bagged a total of 27 goals as Jurgen Klopp's men clinched Europe's top crown. Internationally, Sadio also helped Senegal come within touching distance of their first major title as they narrowly lost 0-1 to Algeria in the 2019 AFCON final. The flying forward had scored 4 goals in 7 matches for his country in the process.

6. Raheem Sterling

Don't be fooled by him not taking the golden boot prize. The England international has become somewhat of a goal-scoring wild card under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Sterling, 24, was involved in a total of a second league-high 27 goals, with 17 goals and 10 assists, as City retained the Premier League title. Aside from his involvement at club level which helped the blue-half of Manchester secure a historic treble, Sterling also proved handy for Gareth Southgate and England who made the UEFA Nations League semi-finals.

7. Frenkie De Jong

The 22-year-old may just be the biggest midfield talent in Europe right now. Endowed with a rare ability to tirelessly labor throughout the 90 minutes, tackling and picking offensive passes, Frenkie became central for the young Ajax side that left everybody talking. He helped the Dutch club to win a domestic treble and most famously reach the Champions League semi-finals. With De Jong, who was also a key figure for the Netherlands as they reached the UEFA Nations League finals, it's not so much about goals and assists, just pure grit, passion and precision in the middle of the park.

8. Mohamed Salah

FIFA FIFPro Men's World 11 Players of the Year (L-R) Alisson, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo Vieira, Lionel Messi, Frenkie de Jong, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Luka Modric, Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt pose for a photo during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 on September 23, 2019 in Milan, Italy.

(Sept. 22, 2019 - Source: Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images Europe)

Repeating a crazily successful year as 2018 was always going to be a mountain climb for the Egyptian. Except you're a combination of Messi and Ronaldo, no one breaks as many records as Salah did in 2018, year-on-year, or repeatedly walks away with that bucket of awards. Just retaining the Premier League golden boot in 2019 was enough evidence that the Liverpool man is not a one-time wonder. The 27-year-old was unfortunate to see the hosting Pharaohs crash out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the round-of-16 but a Champions League win with the Reds could have been enough consolation.

9. Eden Hazard

It would have been extremely difficult for the football artist to miss our list of the top players. The 28-year artist to miss our list of the top players. The 28-year old may be taking time to establish himself as a Real Madrid player, but still owned the better part of 2019 in Chelsea colors. He was directly involved in a league-high 31 goals for the London club as he scored and assisted 16 and 15 times respectively. In the process, the Belgian captain helped Maurizio Sarri's men finish 3rd in the Premier League, win the Europa League title and got his big-money move to the Spanish capital.

10. Marc Andre Ter Stegen

The Germany international is arguably the best living goalkeeper and 2019 was no different. Reflex like superman saves for Barcelona and sweeper keeper moves ensured he retained his place as an internet sensation. It doesn't very much help his cause that Joachim Löw prefers veteran Manuel Neuer in goal for Germany or that Barca failed to win Europe's top prize, but his excellence is something that avid football fans of the game can never debate about. He made 85 saves for Barca in the 2018/19 season, averaging a remarkable 2.43 saves per game.