Wednesday 21 December 2016 14:16, UK
Sky Sports is counting down the top 100 players of 2016, as ranked by WhoScored.com in a five-part series. But who will come out on top?
After every game, WhoScored.com gives players competing in Europe's top five leagues a mark out of 10 based on a wide range of statistical data. Each player received an average score for 2016, and to qualify for our list, players had to have made at least 20 league appearances.
So will Lionel Messi retain his crown or can Cristiano Ronaldo clinch first place? Where do Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale place? And how do Premier League stars Philippe Coutinho, Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero compare?
In part two of our series, we continue our countdown by looking at the players ranked 80-61...
See part one of our series (100-81) here.
80. James Milner - Liverpool - 7.3007 WhoScored.com rating
Milner has been a manager's dream throughout his career and is now proving an effective stop-gap to Klopp's left-back issues, having registered more assists than any other Liverpool player last season (11).
79. Adam Lallana - Liverpool - 7.3027
Liverpool's rejuvenation under Jurgen Klopp has been helped by Adam Lallana's form. Six goals and six assists is a fantastic return at this juncture of the season.
78. Lucas Biglia - Lazio - 7.3073
Lazio could only finish eighth in Serie A last season but Lucas Biglia proved to be a consistent performer in defensive midfield. The Argentine put in a string of good performances for the Italian side in the Europa League until they were knocked out by Sparta Prague in the last 16.
77. Mesut Ozil - Arsenal - 7.3169
With his assists drying up in the latter stages of last season, Ozil's influence waned but the German has developed a greater knack of finishing this time around and continues to link up superbly with Alexis Sanchez to offer the Gunners' best route to goal.
76. Emre Can - Liverpool - 7.3195
German international Can has been utilised in a number of different roles at Liverpool but seems to be flourishing under compatriot Jurgen Klopp given more freedom to support the attack this season.
75. Idrissa Gueye - Everton - 7.3197
Given Villa's woes last season Gueye's ability was somewhat overlooked but he's getting the recognition he's deserved since a move to Everton as N'Golo Kante's closest Premier League rival in terms of regaining possession.
74. Paul Baysse - Nice - 7.3230
Since making the move to Nice last summer, Baysse has been a key member of a side very much punching above their weight, excelling in new manager Lucien Favre's back three.
73. Karim Benzema - Real Madrid - 7.3269
It's been a difficult start to the season for Karim Benzema, coming under real pressure for a starting berth from Alvaro Morata, despite having ended the previous campaign with 24 goals in 26 league starts.
72. Koke - Atletico Madrid - 7.3280
Koke's ability to play anywhere across the midfield still has people guessing his best position, and while a move infield this season has seen his attacking contribution drop, he remains the creative hub of the side.
71. Marcel Risse - Cologne - 7.3317
Winger Marcel Risse has been an integral player for Cologne this year, with his delivery from wide areas and understanding with frontman Modeste key to their early success this season.
70. Jordan Henderson - Liverpool - 7.3319
With the pressure of taking the armband from Steven Gerrard, Henderson underwhelmed a little last season, with injuries taking their toll, but looks at home in a deeper role in front of the back four.
69. Ignacio Camacho - Malaga - 7.3347
Despite having been linked with a move away from Malaga on numerous occasions Camacho has remained and continues to get through a superb amount of work in shielding the back four.
68. Marek Hamsik - Napoli - 7.3405
Hamsik seems to have been around forever, but is showing no signs of slowing down. Six assists so far this season already shows just how invaluable he is.
67. Franco Vazquez - Sevilla - 7.3420
While his form for new club Sevilla has dropped having made an immediate impression, Vazquez has still had a notable year, playing the decisive role in Palermo's Serie A survival last season.
66. Diego Godin - Atletico Madrid - 7.3462
The experienced head at the heart of one of Europe's meanest defences, Godin is rightly considered among the very best centre-backs on the continent, helping ensure Atletico conceded just twice in this season's Champions League group stages.
65. Claudio Pizarro - Werder Bremen - 7.3505
The veteran striker continued to find the net in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 14 goals. This year he's been hampered by injury but Werder Bremen will be hoping he can rediscover his goal scoring touch of last season.
64. Giacomo Bonaventura - AC Milan - 7.355
Now an experienced head in a youthful and exciting Milan side, Bonaventura's influence and creativity from the middle of the park will be essential to the Rossoneri's quest to return to their former glories.
63. Kyle Walker - Tottenham - 7.3562
Very few defenders have the energy and ability to be both a threat in attack and solid defensively, but Kyle Walker breaks the mould. A regular for England too, it has been another year of progress for the full-back.
62. Yuri - Real Sociedad - 7.3566
Left-back Yuri has been a star turn for a Real Sociedad side on the rise since the departure of David Moyes, with the Basque outfit hoping to stay in the running for a European berth after a promising start this season.
61. Felipe Anderson - Lazio - 7.3594
After an outstanding breakthrough season in 2014/15, Anderson failed to reach the same standards last time out but is beginning to look back to his best for a fast improving Lazio side.
