While we're all happy to see the back of 2020, there are some players who will look back at the year that was with pride — at least in the soccer sense.
Despite enduring the most challenging year on record in the worldwide professional game, there were several players who stood out, burst onto the scene, or simply lived up to their already-established star billing. The stop-start nature of 2020 allowed for more introspection into the game itself, with some players not missing a beat when games resumed after global COVID-19 shutdowns.
For every Robert Lewandowski — an established, world-class striker who put up his best numbers across the calendar year — there was an Alphonso Davies. The Bayern Munich teammates were constantly among the talk of the soccer world; Lewandowski for his absurd goal rate and Davies for his breakout campaign as a teenaged Canadian succeeding where none of his countrymen have before.
On a special edition of "Shoot-Out," hosts Steve Bower and Greg Brady debate the merits of 2020's stand-out players, with each offering his own lineup for discussion.
Watch the entire episode of "Shoot-Out" above or on DAZN Canada's YouTube page.