Who was the best player in 2015? Find out, as Sky Sports counts down the top 25 players of the year as rated by WhoScored.com.
After every game, WhoScored.com gives players competing in Europe's top five leagues a mark out of 10 based on a wide range of statistical data. Each player then gets an average score for 2015, and to qualify for this countdown, players must have made at least 20 league appearances.
25. Nicolas Otamendi - Valencia & Manchester City - 7.547 average rating
After being named in the La Liga Team of the Season for 2014/15, Otamendi made a big-money move to Man City in the summer. His standout display so far has been in the Manchester derby, when he earned a man-of-the-match rating of 7.94.
24. Nabil Fekir - Lyon - 7.55 average rating
The highly-rated Frenchman was named the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year after a breakthrough season in 2014/15 and started the 2015/16 season with four goals in four matches. However, he suffered a cruciate ligament injury playing for France in September that not only ended his year, but also damaged Lyon's prospects. "I can guarantee you that with Nabil, we would be in the top three in the league and that we would have six more points in the Champions League," said club president Jean-Michel Aulas in October.
23. Marcelo - Real Madrid - 7.556 average rating
A fan favourite at the Bernabeu, the Brazilian has improved defensively over the last few years and is always a threat going forward. Named in the WhoScored La Liga team of the season for 2014/15, the Brazilian was rewarded for his improvement with a contract extension in the summer.
22. Santi Cazorla - Arsenal - 7.570 average rating
The Spaniard has become a key component in Arsenal's midfield over the past few seasons. At the time of a year-ending injury in early December, he had played more minutes than any other midfielder in the 2015/16 Premier League season aside from Daley Blind.
21. Francis Coquelin - Arsenal - 7.58 average rating
After being recalled from a loan spell at Charlton in December 2014, Coquelin firmly established himself in the defensive midfield role for Arsenal in 2015. "He has gone through a lot of doubt, questioning himself," said Arsene Wenger. "Now that he has a chance he doesn't want to let it slip away. But he is a winner - that's why he is so committed." At the time of his injury, Coquelin led the way for tackles and interceptions among Arsenal's midfielders and also had the best pass success percentage.
20. Thiago Silva - Paris Saint-Germain - 7.592 average rating
Zlatan Ibrahimovic might grab most of the headlines, but Thiago Silva has proved himself to be another key part of PSG's star-studded side. The captain led his team to a domestic treble in 2014/15, was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year and is part of a defence that has conceded just nine goals in the league this season.
19. Dimitri Payet - Marseille & West Ham - 7.606 average rating
