The European football association UEFA announced on Thursday which players can call themselves the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and attacker of the past season in the Champions League. Bayern Munich was the absolute purveyor to the court. The choice fell on Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Kevin De Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski.

Last season, two Dutchmen won prizes during the election. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) and Frenkie de Jong (Ajax, now Barcelona) were named the best defender and midfielder of 2018/19 respectively. Alisson was the best goalkeeper at the time, while Lionel Messi could call himself the best attacker. This time, no Dutchman had a better chance of being elected best player in his position.

Neuer was voted the best goalkeeper of the past football season in the Champions League. With six clean sheets, including in the final against Paris Saint-Germain (0-1), the German had an important share in the win of the tournament. Neuer was ahead of Keylor Navas and Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid).

Kimmich was voted the best defender of last season. He was ahead of two teammates: David Alaba and Alphonso Davies. In the last three matches with Barcelona (2-8), Olympique Lyon (0-3) and Paris Saint-Germain (0-1) he was good for three assist and a goal. Van Dijk fell just outside the top three of best defenders with a fourth place; Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus) finished in tenth place.

Although Manchester City was already eliminated by Olympique Lyon in the quarter-finals, De Bruyne still emerged as the best midfielder of last season. The Belgian playmaker, good for two goals and two assists, was ahead of two Champions League winners from Bayern Munich: Thomas Müller and Thiago Alcántara.

The choice for Lewandowski came as no surprise. The Bayern attacker was good for no fewer than fifteen hits and six assists in the Champions League last season. With that he stayed ahead of both Kylian Mbappé and Neymar.

The trainers of all 32 clubs that participated in the Champions League last season were allowed to give points per position to their three favorite players. In addition, the votes of 55 journalists from UEFA member countries were included. Since the 2016/17 season, one Player of the Year has been named by UEFA per line.