Since 2011, Italian Footballers’ Association has been organizing an annual award ceremony called the Gran Gala del Calcio.
This year, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, no actual ceremony took place, but the awards had been granted nonetheless.
The aim of the ceremony is to recognize the best performers of the 2019/20 season, from the players, to the managers, and even referees.
In the history of the sport, very few men boast a trophy cabinet that can be comparable to Cristiano Ronaldo’s, and the Portuguese star further extended it by winning the Best Serie A player award for the second season in a row.
The 36-year-old led Juventus to its 9th straight Scudetto triumph, whilst managing to score 31 league goals.
In the Best XI formation, CR7 is joined by his teammate Paulo Dybala in attack, as well as Lazio’s Ciro Immobile who won the European Golden Shoe award after scoring 36 goals in Serie A last season.
It should be noted that whilst Ronaldo has just been voted by the AIC – which is composed of the Serie A players – as the best player of last season, Dybala was instead voted as last season’s best player by the Lega Calcio.
In midfield, former Atalanta captain Alejandro Gomez was chosen alongside Lazio playmaker Luis Alberto and Inter’s Nicoló Barella.
Milan’s Gianluigi Donnarumma was picked as the best goalkeeper in the league, with his international teammate Leonardo Bonucci lined up in defense next to Nerazzurri man Stefan de Vrij.
Theo Hernandez was naturally chosen at the left back spot, and La Dea’s Robin Gosens was curiously pushed to the other fullback role.
Atalanta’s honors were far from over, as Gian Piero Gasperini was deservedly chosen as the best manager of the season, and the club itself winning the best team award.
Daniele Orsato received the award for the best referee, and Juve’s Cristiana Girelli won the best Female Player award.
Una squadra da sogno! ?
Ecco la Top 11 maschile del Gran Galà del Calcio AIC-Special Edition con i premi dell' @assocalciatori per la stagione 2019-20! ??#GGDC21 pic.twitter.com/Y4KlIRxpRI
— Gran Galà del Calcio AIC (@GranGalaAIC) March 19, 2021