2016 beckons. The European Championships in France, the centenary Copa America and the Olympic football tournament presents itself this summer. Us football writers will have our work cut out, alongside all the other fantastic matches.
2015 was a big year for football. Sepp Blatter fell from his lofty throne, with Michel Platini involved too as FIFA tumbled in Zurich. Maybe, finally, the organisation will clean itself up. Barcelona won yet another treble, although it's not getting boring with their stunning football. Chile ended a 99-year wait for a Copa America victory, lifting it on home soil. Real Madrid and Chelsea customarily sacked a manager while Manchester United have jumped from 'soon to be dominating' to in 'crisis'.
Messi, Suarez and Neymar tore defences apart every week, who else is in our first ever definitive list of the Top 50 Players of 2015. They have all been published since Christmas, here is the full list.
50. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain)
Another fine year for Real Madrid's long-serving defender, despite a lack of trophies.
49. Vincent Kompany (Manchester City and Belgium)
Injuries prevent Kompany from being higher up our list but has impressed when fit. Vital for Manchester City, who struggle without him in defence.
48. Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil)
The heart of the French Champions defence as they lifted the French Cup as well.
47. Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain and France)
Continuing to improve despite moving out of the 'peak' age for a midfielder. One of the most all-round defensive midfielders in Europe.
46. Luka Modric (Real Madrid and Spain)
Often goes unnoticed for the La Liga side, but he is one of their most important players.
45. Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich and Netherlands)
An injury ruled him out for a good chunk of the year but he returned as effective, if predictable, as ever.
44. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid and France)
One of Europe's best young players. Real Madrid's first choice centre-back at a young age, incredibly composed.
43. Chris Smalling (Manchester United and England)
An incredible year for Smalling. He has massively improved to become one of the league's best defenders, having looked like fading away from the Manchester United first team.
42. Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus and Italy)
Alongside Giorgio Chiellini, the main men in Juventus' resolute defence who were the reason for their successful UEFA Champions League run.
41. Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla and Poland)
One of Sevilla's main men in their UEFA Europa League winning side, surprising that he hasn't been snapped up by one of the 'bigger' teams.
Read from 50-41 here on VAVEL UK here.
40. Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund and Germany)
A difficult year for Borussia Dortmund but Marco Reus still played well, particularly now they have returned to success in the second half of the year.
39. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid and France)
Off-field issues clouded another prolific year for Karim Benzema for club and country, could miss out on his home Euros because of allegations of blackmail.
38. Phillip Lahm (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Retired from international football but still as important as ever for Bayern Munich. One of the most important players for Pep Guardiola's fluid system.
37. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea and Belgium)
Shows his class and control over his defence constantly for club and country. Injury in the second half of the year left him with less time to impress, but Courtois is quickly challenging Manuel Neuer as the best goalkeeper in the world.
36. Alexandre Lacazette (Olympique Lyonnais and France)
Stunning in the 2014/15 season, on par with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for goals from open play. Quietened slightly in second half of the year.
35. David Silva (Manchester City and Spain)
One of the Premier League's best players, so silky and clever as a number ten.
34. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid and Germany)
Settled in well in Madrid after moving from Bayern Munich. First choice midfielder, Kroos adds something different from the norm in La Liga.
33. Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City/Valencia and Argentina)
A great first half of the year with Valencia, Otamendi moved to Manchester City for big money but has easily become a key player in their side.
32. James Rodriguez (Real Madrid and Colombia)
Injury struck James in 2015 and he was missed by Real Madrid. Has returned to oust Isco and create an incredible amount of chances for the lethal Ronaldo and Benzema.
31. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur and England)
One of Tottenham's own, and boy do they love him. Sprung from nowhere and has battled against second-season syndrome, still up there as one of the best striker's in the Premier League.
Read from 40-31 here on VAVEL UK.
30. Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain)
One of the world's best centre-backs as he lifted the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, again.
29. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid and Wales)
The hero of his country as he led them to the European Championships next summer, determined to make it work at Real Madrid.
28. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain and Sweden)
Age? Not an issue for 'King Zlatan'. Still scoring consistently for the French champions and helping Sweden to the European Championships in France next summer.
27. Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich/Shakhtar Donetsk and Brazil)
After many summers of transfers to big clubs supposedly falling through, Bayern Munich will be glad they took Douglas Costa. Has stolen Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben's places in the side, brilliant to watch with his fast footwork.
26. Eden Hazard (Chelsea and Belgium)
Chelsea's best player as they lifted the title in May, Hazard would be higher up on our list if he had not fallen with the rest of his players in the second half of the year in one of the worst collapse's of champions in English football history.
25. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid and France)
The silver-haired forward is still one of the best players in La Liga, and is important as an individual in Atletico Madrid's defensive side, often providing the moment of magic needed.
24. Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors/Juventus and Argentina)
After success with Juventus and reaching the Champions League final, Tevez has returned to his boyhood club Boca Juniors and has built a special relationship with the fans. Is not ending his career back at home, but is earning a great reputation, winning the league and cup in Argentina.
23. David Alaba (Bayern Munich and Austria)
The most versatile player in world football, key to Guardiola's constantly changing formations at Bayern Munich. Still just 23 years old.
22. Mesut Ozil (Arsenal and Germany)
Quickly on his way to breaking the most assists in a season record in the Premier League. After bulking up, has been the league's best player in the 2015/16 season.
21. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
In incredibly good form in the second half of the year. An average of a goal every game since the start of the 2015/16 season under Thomas Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund.
Read from 30-21 here on VAVEL UK.
20. Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid and Uruguay)
The rock for Atletico Madrid who is consistently world-class. Diego Simeone's ideal player for his defensive system.
19. Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich/Juventus and Chile)
Very successful at Juventus, winning the League and Cup and reaching the Champions League final. Has moved to Bayern Munich and been seamlessly introduced to the side.
18. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy)
Still up there as one of the best goalkeeper's in the world. His reign lives on at Juventus, still breaking records and winning games.
17. Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus and Italy)
The man at Juventus. A proper central defender who wins the battles he enters, which are most. Missed the Champions League final for Juventus, which had a huge impact on the game.
16. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona and Croatia)
Has become Barcelona's key midfielder as Xavi Hernandez has left the club and Andres Iniesta is playing fewer games.
15. Paul Pogba (Juventus and France)
Still at Juventus despite summer rumours and they're lucky he is. One of the world's best midfielders and still getting better at a young age.
14. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona and Spain)
Constantly forgotten in the debate of the world's best midfielder, the main man in the Barcelona midfield who keeps them ticking.
13. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain)
Still going strong for Barcelona as his partner for many years in Xavi has left. Playing fewer games with more injuries but still important for the side.
12. Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich and Germany)
One of the best strikers in the world. His goals may not be beautiful, but they come all the time. Has just signed a new contract at Bayern Munich.
11. David de Gea (Manchester United and Spain)
Challenging Manuel Neuer for the title as the best goalkeeper in the world. Almost left Manchester United for Real Madrid but has signed a new contract and is still producing multiple match-winning saves every game.
Read from 20-11 here on VAVEL UK.
10. Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Our best defender in the world. Always the last man back in the Bayern Munich team, allowing the rest of the side to attack together. Just signed a new deal at the Allianz Arena. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
9. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany)
The best goalkeeper in the world, and comfortably. His save against Arsenal in the Champions League was incredible, and one of the best of the year. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
8. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City and Argentina)
Injuries have stopped Aguero scoring more, but he has been sensational once more. One of the best strikers's in the world. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
7. Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City/Vfl Wolfsburg and Belgium)
His move from Wolfsburg to City has been seamless. Remains one of the best forwards in the world after an incredible season of assists with Wolfsburg. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
6. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal and Chile)
Arsenal's best player last season, won Chile the Copa America in the penalty shootout. Never stops running. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
5. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich and Poland)
Provided the most incredible moment of the year as he scored 5 goals in 9 minutes after coming on as a substitute. Won over the Polish fans as he helped them in the Euro qualifiers. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
A bad season for Ronaldo and he was still better than most in the world. Broke even more records, scored even more goals but won no trophies with Real Madrid. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
3. Luis Suarez (Barcelona and Uruguay)
Combined with Neymar and Lionel Messi in an incredibly selfless trio as they won the treble. Showed his individual class in the Club World Cup as he scored a hattrick with his two partners on the bench. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
2. Neymar (Barcelona and Brazil)
Showed just how good he is as he stepped into Lionel Messi's shoes when the Argentine was injured. Lifted the treble in June, as well as the Club World Cup in December. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
The best player of the year, despite a time out of action with injury. Scored an incredible goal against Athletic Bilbao that will live on for decades. Another year, another incredible show from Messi, arguably the best player of all time. Read a longer description of his 2015 here.
