Thursday 21 December 2017 11:57, UK
Sky Sports has been counting down the top 100 players of 2017 - here we reveal those who ranked from 40-21.
Using the Sky Sports Power Rankings, we have crunched the numbers to calculate which players have enjoyed a stellar year across Europe's top five leagues.
Alvaro Morata, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and N'Golo Kante are just a handful of players to miss out on the top 40, and you can view previous lists below:
But who will feature in the list from 40 down to 21? Find out below...
40. Luis Suarez - Barcelona
Like the team itself, Suarez has not hit the heights of old this year and his frustration at his indifferent form was evident when he ripped his shirt and stormed down the tunnel after missing a chance against Las Palmas in October. But 30 goals over the 12 months suggest the 30-year-old is far from finished at the top of the game. He scored his 100th goal for Barcelona in January.
39. Alexandre Lacazette - Arsenal
Lacazette has taken his goalscoring exploits from Lyon to Arsenal, netting eight times in 18 games in the Premier League so far despite not always starting games under Arsene Wenger. The striker also netted twice for France in the friendly against Germany last month, just his second and third international goals, to boost his chances of leading the line at the World Cup next summer.
38. Roberto Firmino - Liverpool
Now operating as a central striker for the majority of time he's on the pitch and has already surpassed his 2016-17 total of 13 goals as he becomes integral both in the Premier League and Europe.
37. Ivan Perisic - Inter Milan
Having finished last season with 11 goals and 10 assists, Perisic snubbed a move to Manchester United in the summer and signed a new deal in September that will keep him at Inter until 2022. The Croatian winger is now focused on helping Inter secure a first league title for nine years and his hat-trick against Chievo early in December helped them to the top of Serie A.
36. Raheem Sterling - Manchester City
The winger is enjoying a stellar season for Manchester City, who are breaking records as they look to clinch a third Premier League title. Sterling already has 11 league goals to his name this campaign, including late winners against both Huddersfield and Southampton. He has cut a rejuvenated figure since August, and England fans will hope that can continue ahead of the World Cup next summer.
35. Leroy Sane - Manchester City
Sane has had a simply sensational 2017 and has really found his feet at Man City with the winger becoming an integral part of the side. He already has six goals and eight assists in 16 Premier League appearances this term and is starting to emerge as a real talent for Germany as the World Cup creeps ever closer, impressing when playing against England at Wembley in November.
34. Radamel Falcao - Monaco
Falcao enjoyed a wonderful first half of 2018 as his goals helped Monaco to an unlikely run to the Champions League semi-finals and by May he had scored 30 goals in 43 appearances as his side claimed a memorable Ligue 1 title. Monaco's form has slipped this season after being picked off in the summer transfer market, but Falcao remains a constant threat in front of goal and his 24 goals saw him finish 24th in the Ballon D'Or voting.
33. Marcus Rashford - Manchester United
Rashford came third in the Golden Boy 2017 award - behind Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele - after another impressive year for United. The forward was invariably pushed out to the wing with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and now Romelu Lukaku leading the line, but the England international has adapted to the role well, and looks certain to make Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad barring injury.
32. Memphis Depay - Lyon
Not too many people would have seen Depay's turnaround in form coming when he left Manchester United at the start of 2017, but the Dutchman has been resurgent since swapping Old Trafford for Ligue 1. He's scored 15 times in all competitions for Lyon and even re-established himself in the Netherlands setup, despite their failure to qualify for the World Cup.
31. Arjen Robben - Bayern Munich
Although he may have announced his international retirement from the Netherlands this year, he continues to be a key figure for Bayern. He signed a one-year contract extension in January until the end of this season, with his future yet to be decided, although fans will be hoping for another year yet as his potential club retirement is also being touted.
30. Philippe Coutinho - Liverpool
Coutinho's form at Anfield saw him become the No 1 target for Barcelona in the summer, but Liverpool stuck to their guns and insisted he wasn't for sale, and they've been rewarded with another fine campaign so far from the Brazilian. He's bagged 10 goals and eight assists so far in just 17 appearances this season.
29. Alejandro Gomez - Atalanta
Gomes, nicknamed Papu, makes the top 30 after a fine year with Atalanta. The 29-year-old attacking midfielder is integral to the Serie A outfit, having finished last season with 16 goals in 39 appearances. He marked his international debut for Argentina with a goal in the 6-0 win over Singapore in June.
28. Sergio Aguero - Manchester City
A memorable 2017 for Aguero saw the striker surpass Eric Brook's 78-year record to become Manchester City's all-time top goalscorer. Goal No 178 came in November's 4-2 Champions League victory over Napoli, just five weeks after a car crash in Amsterdam, which fortunately saw him escape with just a broken rib. His City future was cast into doubt upon the arrival of Gabriel Jesus in January, but Pep Guardiola has ably rotated the duo, and Aguero currently has 10 league goals in what has been a record-breaking campaign so far at the Etihad.
27. Gonzalo Higuain - Juventus
Higuain became only the second player (after Zlatan Ibrahimovic) to score over 100 goals in two of the top European leagues in the last 20 years when he reached three figures with a goal in the 2-0 win at Milan in October. The No 9 has proven to be a fine acquisition for Juventus, who made him the most expensive signing by an Italian club when he moved from Napoli for £90m in 2016.
26. Heung-Min Son - Tottenham
Son has risen to the occasion in terms of helping Kane with the goalscoring load at Tottenham, with 22 goals to his name this calendar year. Son also helped South Korea book their spot in the 2018 World Cup, where they have been drawn against world champions Germany, Mexico and Sweden in Group F.
25. Florian Thauvin - Marseille
Touted as a star of the future in 2014 and even a successor to Franck Ribery, the France winger looks to be finally fulfilling his potential on the south coast of France after an unsuccessful spell at Newcastle. The 24-year-old has 18 goals and 13 assists this year, making his France debut in the 5-0 win over Paraguay in June.
24. Mohamed Salah - Roma/Liverpool
Salah has made his price tag of £36.9m look an absolute bargain after a magical start to life at Anfield following his summer switch from Roma. His brilliant curled effort in the Merseyside derby in early December was his 13th of the season, form he has replicated for Egypt - Salah was the top scorer for his country with five goals during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. Another one to get away from Chelsea.
23. Antoine Griezmann - Atletico Madrid
Griemann committed to at least another season at Atletico Madrid in the summer thanks to their transfer ban, and it's been another impressive 12 months for the Frenchman. Although he hasn't quite reached the highs of a 2016 that saw him win the Golden Boot at the Euros and reach the final of that competition with France and the Champions League final with Real Madrid.
22. Casemiro - Real Madrid
While other Real Madrid players have invariably put in headline-worthy performances, Casemiro has gone about his business in impressive style. The Brazilian ranks second for the most tackles per game in La Liga this season (4.1 behind Leganes' Ruben Perez's 4.2) - a category he also came in second last year. A fine 2016-17 campaign for the midfielder was capped with a goal in the 4-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final.
21. Nabil Fekir - Lyon
Fekir is a technical player who can play as an attacking midfielder or a second striker and has been in fine form throughout 2017. He scored a hat-trick in the 7-1 Europa League home win over AZ Alkmaar in February and he is pivotal to Lyon being the best of the rest as PSG dominate the French top division.
