Having already revealed the WhoScored Team of the Years for each of Europe's top five leagues, it's time to delve a little further and shine light on those that excelled in each position.
Starting with the top four WhoScored rated goalkeepers from 2020, we will then assess right-backs, left-backs, centre-backs and so on until we reach the strikers.
From the quartet in each position with the highest ratings, you will be able to vote on our Twitter account on who you think should make the WhoScored Followers Team of 2020.
🤩 We want our followers to build an ultimate 2020 XI!
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 5, 2021
🥁 So... which of these four goalkeepers impressed you most last year?
⏳The poll is open for two hours 👇
4) Walter Benitez (Nice) - 6.92 rating
Nice endured a rollercoaster 2020 but Walter Benitez was their one consistent performer. In fact, of goalkeepers that started at least 20 games in Europe's top five leagues in 2020, Benitez averaged the second most saves per game (3.8). A save success rate of 75.6% also ranks among the better returns on the continent.
3) Nick Pope (Burnley) - 6.94 rating
Nick Pope's reputation continued to grow in 2020 and there are now calls for the Burnley shot-stopper to replace Jordan Pickford as England's No.1 for Euro 2020. Pope impressively claimed the WhoScored Man of the Match award more times than any other player in the Premier League last year (9). In fact, only Lionel Messi (20) and Rodrigo de Paul (10) picked up the award more times in Europe's top five leagues. Moreover, a return of 14 clean sheets was only bettered by Ederson (17) in the Premier League.
2) Emiliano Martinez (Arsenal / Aston Villa) - 6.98 rating
Emiliano Martinez has really come from nowhere to establish himself as one of the Premier League's best goalkeepers since Project Restart last year. He made a name for himself at the back end of 2019/20 for Arsenal and has continued that form for new club Aston Villa. Only Ederson (0.54) had a better clean sheet ratio (0.5) than Martinez in the Premier League last year, while he also ranked second in the division for save success rate (77.5%).
1) Alexandre Oukidja (Metz) - 7.11 rating
Taking the WhoScored award for the best goalkeeper in 2020 by a considerable distance is Metz shot-stopper Alexandre Oukidja. With only three seasons of top-flight experience in Europe's top five leagues under his belt, the 32-year-old excelled for the French outfit last year. Made to work hard between the sticks, Oukidja averaged 11.3 saves per clean sheet in 2020 and conceded less than a goal per game (0.92). The veteran goalkeeper averaged 3.6 saves per game, 7.7 accurate long balls per game and didn't make a single error leading to a goal. Moreover, Oukidja established himself as one of the most authoritative goalkeepers on the continent with the most successful cross claims per game (1.4).
Team of the Years: Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1
It's really odd that only ONE goalkeeper can keep a rating above 7. It's very unfair with them.