Leroy Sane

MANCHESTER CITY and GERMANY | Age: 22 | 2017 Rank: 6

Sane jumps to second after a year that has given him plenty to ponder. On the one hand there has been the high point of City's runaway Premier League success, during which he was virtually unplayable at times and scored 10 goals, setting up 15. On the other, there was the frustration of being omitted from Germany's World Cup squad, watching as they exited in the first round. He has not quite been as influential for City this season but there have been signs during the autumn that he is returning to his blistering best.