This list of underrated footballers primarily includes players who were very instrumental for their respective clubs but didn’t get a lot of commendation and underappreciated.
The year 2020 has been a very bizarre and awkward year, most especially in the world of football. The year serves us a global pandemic that disrupted everything that has to do with sport, despite the huge damages caused, the football world was able to pull the chestnut out of the fire as some of the elite leagues in Europe were able to conclude their season.
In the 2019-20 season, there are several players who performed greatly but didn’t enjoy the recognition. While some of their comrades get appreciated for their efforts, and other players didn’t get enough credit for their efforts despite working their socks off.
In this piece, we bring you 10 of the top underrated footballers of the 2019/20 season
- Ciro Immobile – (SS Lazio)
The Italian forward is arguably the best Italian striker right now, having won the ‘Golden Boot’ twice before and also won it last season ahead of Juventus’s Cristiano Ronaldo with 36 goals.
Although Immobile is often judged by his unimpressive stints with Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla, where he failed to hit the ground running despite joining them with a lot of reputation.
Immobile’s goals stat last season simply put him on the same pedestal with some of the past finest Italian Seria A strikers. Sadly for him, his goals couldn’t win Lazio the league.
However, his goals were able to propel Lazio to a European position on the table despite losing the league to Juventus.
Despite the huge turnaround he brought to the Lazio attack since he got back from his woeful spell in Germany and Spain respectively, the Italian is often overlooked or unappreciated in the conversation of some of the finest strikers in the world, scoring 36 whopping goals last season.
As the Seria A enters its full flesh for the 2020-21 season, Immobile would no doubt wants to pick up an impressive form from where he left it last season, as he edges closer to be one of the greatest goalscorers in Seria A when he draws the curtain on his career.
- Carlos Casemiro – (Real Madrid)
Casemiro will forever be grateful for the huge support is enjoying under Zinedine Zidane.
Shortly before Real Madrid appointed Zizuo as the gaffer, Los Blancos were humiliated by Barcelona in the ‘Clasico’ with a team led by Benitez.
According to reports, it was believed that the Madrid board influenced Benitez’s starting eleven, as he was reportedly told to dropped Casemiro from the starting line-up which backfired in the end as Madrid were massacred.
Following Zizuo’s appointment as Benitez’s successor, Casemiro established himself as one of Los Merengues‘ most important players and finally became the glue that keeps Madrid together in the defensive department.
Apart from the unsung contributions he had in Real Madrid’s consecutive Champions League triumph.
Casemiro was also very instrumental in Los Blancos winning the 2019-20 La Liga title playing over 35 matches, scored 4 goals, assisted 3 and with an averaged total of 63 passes per match, with a pass completion rate of 84%.
With all these stats and his achievements, the Brazilian should be getting more commendation.
- Wilfred Ndidi – (Leicester City)
Talking about one of the most underrated footballers, the Nigerian international would make every list.
Take away the Super Eagles midfielder out of the Foxes midfield, then you would be left with players that really can’t bring to the table what the former Genk star offers.
Leicester City signed Ndidi in the summer of 2017, as a quick substitute for Ngolo Kante, who left for Stamford Bridge. And he has been improving exponentially playing the position comfortably as well as making sure Leicester City didn’t miss the exit of Kante.
Ndidi’s stats in the English Premier League for the 2019-20 season comfortably put him in the list of some of the finest defensive midfielders in the world.
The Nigerian international played 32 matches last season, had 3 shots on target from a total of 19 shots, scored 2 goals, averaged 54 passes per match with a pass completion rate of 86% with one assist to his name.
In addition to his stats, he made 61 interceptions and 194 recoveries and won 181 duels plus 59 aerial battles won.
With all of his contributions and stats, without mincing words the Nigerian midfielder his one of Leicester City’s most important players, and clearly one of the most underrated footballers in the Premier League.
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- Robert Lewandowski – (Bayern Munich)
If the 2019-20 season were anything to go by with what the Polish international achieved personally and with his Bayern Munich, without a doubt the Polish forward would be on the podium of ‘Ballon d’Or’ and going confidently to winning the gong for the best player of the campaign.
According to ‘Football365.com’,
“As ever with the English tabloids, you could be playing the most incredible football ever seen on earth while wearing a mirrored top hat and fluorescent jodhpurs, but if you’re not doing it in the Premier League, aren’t wanted by Premier League club or playing alongside a Briton who is rumored to be a transfer target for the top team, they’re really not interested”.
Perhaps, that is the case of Lewandowski despite consecutive and consistent exploit with Bayern Munich, the Polish international isn’t getting enough credit.
Lewandowski was clearly the best player in the German Bundesliga last season and to a large extent in Europe,.
He played 31 matches, had 67 shots on target from a total of 112 shot, scored 34 goals, assisted 4, averaged 25 passes in a match, and a pass completion rate of 74%, plus winning a treble with the Bundesliga giant.
Lewa isn’t well appreciated now, perhaps when he retires he would get the accolades and celebrated as one of the best footballers of this era.
- Keylor Navas – (Paris Saint Germain)
We’ve seen great goalkeepers who have shown memorable displays in the world football over the years, such as former Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas, the ever-reliable Gianluigi Buffon, and the revolutioner of goalkeeping position Manuel Neuer.
In the same breath, there is also a certain Costa Rican, who without a doubt could be mentioned comfortably at the same table as these great players mentioned above.
Navas became one of the best goalkeepers today with big thanks to his stints at Real Madrid, where he played with the cream de la cream and played a vital role in Los Merenguez’s triumph in the Champions League.
Despite his unrelenting dedication to the team, the Madrid hierarchy was never satisfied with him being their number one shot-stopper, which prompted the signing of a new goalkeeper, which looks more like he wasn’t appreciated despite his exploits.
Despite the fact that Navas is a player on a tremendous level and successful football career, he isn’t recognized as much as other players who are fortunate enough to achieve the kind of success he has achieved.
Navas could have won yet another Champions League with Paris Saint Germain but the efficiency of Bayern Munich prevented him from achieving an unprecedented record.
- Heung-Min Son – (Tottenham Hotspur)
South Korea forward is one player that comes with a lot of versatility, albeit his quantity of goals may not be in tandem to that of Ronaldo or Messi of this world.
However, he is one player that flourish a lot by cutting in from the left flank to score a different kind of goals, long-range goals, a header, and a tap in, all of that, the South Korean international got it all in his system.
During the Mauricio Pochettino era, the former Bayern Leverkusen forward never get all of the recognition he deserves for his efforts. The trio of Kane, Eriksen (before he left for Italy), and Dele Alli were the ones getting all of the credits.
Whenever the North London side was in any kind of trouble, the South Korean forward always raise up to the occasion.
Son also stepped up in the absence of their talisman, the 2019-20 season was a testament to how well he showed topnotch performances in the absence of Harry Kane.
Last season he played over 30 games and scored 11 goals, which he combined with his workaholic and tireless runs, as well as his great technique which the team benefitted a lot from.
Underrated footballers? Son shouldn’t be one.
- Roberto Firmino – (Liverpool)
Firmino is often seen as the driver for the gengen-pressing of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who presses a lot and it was evident last season.
The Brazilian forward came in as a relatively unknown player for a slightly more decent fee with the hope that he’s going to be the player for the future.
The future is certainly here for the Brazilian international and he’s been delivering a whole lot for Liverpool.
So the question now is, why is the Brazilian underrated despite been the orchestrating force that makes the Liverpool forward gelled and mesmerize the opposing team en route Kops way to triumph in the Champions League and the Premier League?
Well, it’s simply because of the great form in which the duo of Mane and Salah are in.
However, the former Hoffenheim player is also one of Liverpool’s best players. Played 34 games, had 38 shots on target from a total of 69 shots, scored 9 goals, assisted 8, and averaged 31 passes per match with a pass completion rate of 80% last season.
- Angel Di Maria – (Paris Saint Germain)
The Argentine currently plies his trade in France with Paris Saint Germain, he likewise played for a big club such as Real Madrid, where he wasn’t really appreciated or recognized like Ronaldo who often gets all the credit.
Like Real Madrid like Paris Saint Germain, in terms of getting appreciated and recognition that goes to Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Despite what he brings to the table with his vision for great passes and scoring a match-saving goal, yet he still doesn’t get enough recognition.
Di Maria is always well appreciated by his managers, case in point was at Real Madrid where he was managed and well appreciated by Carlo Ancelotti, who brought out the best in the former Benfica star.
The Argentine is well known for his workaholic and tireless runs down the flank and in the midfield with his undiluted professionalism.
With all of these attributes embedded in his game, Di Maria definitely deserves more recognition.
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- Raphael Varane – (Real Madrid)
Since making his debut for Los Blancos in 2011, Varane has grown in leap and bounds and has gone on to win every trophy possible at club level, same as the biggest trophy on the international scene (World Cup) in 2018.
The Real Madrid center-back is simply one of the most underrated footballers despite all of his achievements so far.
Varane isn’t known as a player with a great personality in terms of ego, arrogance, or brilliant flashes of skill, he’s more of a player that goes quietly and confidently about his work on the pitch.
His performances last season were a testament to how good he was for Real Madrid, played 32 matches, scored 2 goals, and averaged 53 passes per match with a pass completion rate of 87%.
In the 2019-20 season, he won over 108 ariel duels, 70 tackles, and made a total block of 15.
Last season he was a partner in crime alongside club captain Sergio Ramos, forming an integral part of a defense that won the league ahead of Barcelona.
With all of this great achievement, Varane is undoubtedly a talented player who hasn’t really enjoyed a lot of recognition like other superstars in world football.
- Sadio Mane – (Liverpool)
It’s worrying and heart disturbing why the Senegalese international seems to be relatively underrated compared to his peers.
When talking about Liverpool’s most dangerous player, one name that often comes to mind is Mo Salah, which is understandable due to how Salah painted the Premier League with stunning performances when he joined from Roma in 2017.
To further buttress how well he has been underrated, former Everton and Manchester United forward Louis Saha was of the opinion that
“Sadio Mane is criminally underrated, he’s a more consistent player than Mo Salah and deserves more recognition”.
The former Southampton forward played 35 matches, scored 18 goals, had 7 assists, and averaged 32 passes per game with a pass completion rate of 82% last season in the Premier League.
All of these stats show Mane has the ability to turn up in games and delivers with a lot of aplomb, despite that he’s isn’t well appreciated like other stars.
