2015 draws to a close and VAVEL UK present our first ever Top 50 Players in the World.

Voted for by both editors and writers at VAVEL UK, we have produced a refined list of the best players of this year. Today, we'll reveal the 10th best player of 2015 with Number One on January 1st, New Year's Day.

Keep following to see who has made it and who hasn't. There were some lengthy discussions over who slipped into this list.

You can see the Top 41-50 here. You can see the Top 31-40 here. You can see the Top 21-30 here. You can see the Top 11-20 here.

And so, for the tenth best player in the world, Jérôme Boateng.

10 - Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich/Germany)

It has been a revolutionary year for Jérôme Boateng. Of course, his performances in 2014 for both club and country, specifically at the World Cup, were great. Yet he has only improved since then, by a large amount. 

Pep Guardiola is a manager who takes players under his wing, and changes their career, their style of play and their ability. Boateng has felt the full benefit of Guardiola's talent. 

At the heart of the Bayern Munich defence, Boateng is a key part of the possession football inspired by Guardiola. He is the highest ranked defender of any sort on our list, somewhat controversially. It is his ability to influence the game in other ways aside from tackling, blocking and intercepting that makes him in such a position. 

Highlights

Boateng's most recent achievement is a new extension to his contract at Bayern Munich. In his fifth season at the club, he is highly valued. The deal keeps him at the club until 2021. 

This is perhaps his best moment, it shows Guardiola's faith in him. Having asked to leave Manchester City in 2011 because of a lack of appearances at centre-back, not trusted to perform there, Boateng's career has turned around hugely. He has played just one game out of position this season, in central midfield.

Of course, lifting the Bundesliga again, for the third time, is another superb addition to Boateng's honours list. 

A testament to his importance in the Bayern side is that he has missed just one match for the Bavarians in the 2015/16 season so far. That was due to a suspension. In 26 games, he has kept 15 clean sheets and as the only player consistently in defence in Guardiola's fluid systems, it's fair to hand him and Manuel Neuer those clean sheets alone. He kept 10 earlier in the year too, so 25 overall, a sublime record. 

Low points

A slip as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar tore Bayern Munich apart in the UEFA Champions League from Boateng saw him globally mocked on social media in the semi final.

Aspirations for next year

To continuing developing as an all-round player? More trophies? More clean sheets? More success for Germany?

Yes to all of those. 

Bayern are almost certain to lift a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, although Borussia Dortmund's challenge is a real one. They look far stronger than last year in the UEFA Champions League and have a good chance of winning it, as the second best side in Europe only to Barcelona.

They could complete a treble in Guardiola's last season with the Dfb-Pokal as well, having been beaten in the semi-final last season.

For Germany, Boateng is first choice centre back, missing only two games in 2015. They go into the 2016 European Championships in France as the favourites, alongside the hosts. 

The squad has changed only slightly since becoming World Champions and they'll expect to win the Euros, with Boateng as the main man at the back. Maybe, he could score for the first time for his country too, after 57 appearances.

VAVEL Logo
About the author