Even if football is a team sport, you should still take a moment to appreciate the individual genius that has adorned the Premier League over the years. Even though collaboration is unquestionably crucial, there are those amazing moments of genius that may make or break a game, and those are definitely worth seeing.
However, occasionally a player stands out over an entire campaign, and a team achieves its success due to their unwavering will and drive. Throughout the Premier League’s history, there have been numerous instances of outstanding individual seasons from players, and it’s time to reflect and honour them.
Factor of Ranking:
The value of statistics to the team
Team performance 15 Eden Hazard 2014/15
Due to his dominance in the Premier League during the 2014–15 season, many people believed that Eden Hazard was among the finest in the world at the moment. The Belgian prodigy finished with nine assists and fourteen goals. With his low centre of gravity, quick acceleration, and captivating dribbling, he assisted Chelsea in winning the championship. For defenders, it made him a continual threat.
Hazard was unparalleled in his ability to effortlessly evade opponents and generate opportunities out of nothing. What the Chelsea winger could accomplish with the ball at his feet has not been replicated by many of his successors. His great performances throughout the 2014–15 campaign and his entire tenure at Stamford Bridge solidified his status as one of the top players in the Premier League at the moment.
The PL season of 2014–15 for Eden Hazard
Looks
38
Objectives
14
Helps
9.
Trophies
League Cup and Premier League
Didier Drogba, 14 (2009)/10
Didier Drogba had a tremendous season in 2009–10, scoring 29 goals and dishing out 10 assists in 32 games, his best G/A run while in England. He was the ideal focal point for Chelsea’s assault because of his physicality, aerial prowess, and clutch goal-scoring. He was the driving force behind the 2010 double for the team. He also received the Golden Boot at the end of the season.
In addition to his natural strength, Drogba has a soft touch and a talent for scoring goals in crucial games. He had one of the best seasons as an individual player in the Premier League during the 2009–10 campaign.
The PL season of Didier Drogba in 2009–10
Looks
32
Objectives
29
Helps
10.
Trophies
Community Shield, FA Cup, and Premier League
A Premier League logo, Eden Hazard of Chelsea, Park Ji-sung of Manchester United, and Thierry Henry of Arsenal in the centre
Associated
The Premier League’s Top 10 Big-Game Players, Ranked
Commentators were astounded by these ten players’ outstanding performances in title deciders and derbies.
1–13 Roy Keane 1999–2000
Roy Keane proved during the 1999–00 season why he is regarded as one of the best captains and even players in Premier League history. Manchester United reached a then-record-breaking number of points thanks to his leadership and perseverance.
The Irishman scored five league goals, which was extremely impressive considering that he was a defensive midfielder. But what really made him stand out was his impact on the pitch, his ability to manage games and his will to win. He embodied Sir Alex Ferguson’s winning mindset in his performances that season. They continue to rank among the league’s most outstanding ever.
The PL season of 1999–2000 for Roy Keane
Looks
29
Objectives
5.
Helps
One
Trophies
The Premier League
Twelve Gareth Bale 2012–13
Gareth Bale transformed from a potential talent to a legitimate superstar throughout the 2012–13 season. In addition to contributing four assists, the Welshman scored 21 goals. He was a true threat to defences because of his lightning-fast speed, devastating left foot, and long-range goal-scoring prowess.
The summer following the 2012–13 season, he made a then-world-record transfer to Real Madrid after his performances earned him the PFA Player of the Year title. Given the performances he produced during the 2012–13 season, it is easy to understand why Spurs struggled for years to fill the void he left.
The PL season of 2012–13 for Gareth Bale
Looks
33
Objectives
21
Helps
4.
Trophies
N/A
Eleven Sergio Aguero 2011–12
Sergio Aguero was a game-changer for Manchester City in his first Premier League season, helping them win the league for the first time. The most spectacular goal in Premier League history was among the 23 goals scored by the Argentine striker. As the season came to a close, Aguero’s goal against QPR to win the title cemented his status in English football legends.
He was a formidable forward because to his extraordinary speed, lethal finishing ability, and incredible poise under duress. The Premier League has never seen a player as good as him. Aguero’s first season was one of the greatest individual seasons in league history and demonstrated his extraordinary talent. It was a portent of future events.
2011–12 Sergio Aguero’s Premier League season
Looks
34
Objectives
23
Helps
8.
Trophies
The Premier League
10 Lampard, Frank (2004)/05
Under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage at Chelsea, Frank Lampard gave a box-to-box masterclass during the 2004–05 season. The Englishman led the Blues to their first Premier League championship with 13 goals and 18 assists, all from midfield. Lampard was a vital asset because of his ability to dominate the game from midfield and his aptitude for scoring goals. He is regarded as one of the greatest players in Premier League history because of this.
Frank’s set-piece delivery gave him another dimension to his game, and his late dashes into the box were a nuisance for defenders. Lampard’s incredible season raised the bar for Premier League midfielders. One can easily understand why it is regarded as one of the greatest in Premier League history.
The PL season of 2004–05 for Frank Lampard
Looks
38
Objectives
13.
Helps
18
Trophies
League Cup and Premier League
9 Cantona, Eric 1992/93
Cantona’s arrival at Manchester United was a turning point for the club. The French forward’s magnetism played a key role in United’s first championship victory in 26 years. He had what can only be called an absolutely amazing season, scoring 15 goals and dishing out 16 assists. Together with a few very important goals, Cantona’s flair and inventiveness drastically changed United’s offensive strategy.
He was a performer and a player who played with genuine swagger while also producing noticeable outcomes and tallying significant goals. Cantona’s personality both on and off the pitch gave United fresh life, and his first Premier League season was among the best in the team’s history.
The PL season of 1992–1993 for Eric Cantona
Looks
22
Objectives
9.
Helps
11.
Trophies
The Premier League
In 2019/20, Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne’s 2019–20 season with Manchester City was his best yet, and it was a season in which his team failed to win the Premier League. He recorded a record-tying 20 assists and added 13 goals in 35 appearances, demonstrating his flawless vision, accurate passing, and amazing shooting ability. He was a vital part of Guardiola’s system, often acting as the team’s creative outlet at the time, and his delivery was often frightening, whether it was a cross from the right, a through ball from deep, or a shot from the edge of the box. His exceptional performances during the season cemented his status as one of, if not the best, midfielders in the world.
One of the greatest individual seasons in Premier League history is still Alan Shearer’s 1994–95 season with Blackburn Rovers. With an incredible 34 goals in 42 games, the England striker helped the team win their first and only Premier League championship. Shearer was a continual threat because of his strength, accuracy, and amazing flying prowess.
He could score from anywhere with to his deadly right foot, and his positional awareness frequently placed him in the ideal position to complete any opportunity. The Englishman became the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer thanks in large part to his achievements this season. His 1994–95 season is still regarded as one of the greatest individual player seasons in Premier League history.
The 1994–1995 PL season of Alan Shearer
Looks
42
Objectives
34
Helps
13.
Trophies
The Premier League
Mohammed Salah, 6 (2017)–18
When Mohamed Salah joined Liverpool for the 2017–18 campaign, nobody anticipated his level of success. By scoring an incredible 32 goals in 36 games, the most in a 38-game Premier League season at the time, the Egyptian winger cemented his place in history. Salah became a terror for defenders by combining outstanding close control, a lightning-fast pace, and an amazing eye for goal. They just had no idea how to handle him.
His signature move was his ability to score with his left foot after drifting in from the right flank. Even after seven years, defenders are still perplexed. Even if Salah’s record was surpassed in 2023, his first season with Liverpool was still amazing and is still regarded as one of the best Premier League player seasons ever.
The PL season of Mohamed Salah in 2017–18
Looks
36
Objectives
32
Helps
10.
Trophies
N/A
Fifth, Luis Suarez 2013–14
From legend to legend in Liverpool. Liverpool supporters were hoping for their first Premier League championship after Luis Suarez’s outstanding 2013–14 campaign. His remarkable G/A return of 31 goals and 13 assists in 33 games was absolutely astounding, and it almost gave the Reds the championship. In every game he played, the Uruguayan attacker displayed his incredible skill, quickness, and accurate finishing. He was completely unrelenting.
Suarez was an intriguing opponent who outwitted goalkeepers with his daring shots and swerved past defences with his deft agility. Because of this, he was a very challenging player for managers to control. Although Liverpool did not win the league, it would have been entirely due to Luis Suarez’s outstanding play in the 2013–14 campaign, which was his final season at Anfield before leaving for Barcelona.
The 2013–14 PL season of Luis Suarez
Looks
33
Objectives
31
Helps
13.
Trophies
N/A
Rio Ferdinand: A Connection
When asked to name five players he detested the most during his playing career, Rio Ferdinand named three Liverpool players that he “hated” on the pitch.
Erling Haaland 2022–2023
As we previously mentioned, Salah scored 32 goals in the 38 Premier League games during the 2017–18 season, shattering the previous record. That record remained in place until 2023, when Erling Haaland helped Man City win the Premier League with 36 goals in just 35 appearances during his first campaign.
Haaland’s goal-scoring heroics in England thus far have been unlike anything the league has ever witnessed, especially in recent memory. He was a complete freak in front of goal. The Norwegian can put the ball in the net better than anyone who has ever played in the Premier League, even though he may not be the most technically proficient or the most attractive player on the ball. His 2022–2023 season is unquestionably among the best in Premier League history.
2022–2023 Erling Haaland’s Premier League season
Looks
35
Objectives
36
Helps
8.
Trophies
FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League
Three Yaya Toure 2013–14
Even though Luis Suarez had an amazing season in 2013–14, another player outperformed him within that time frame. During the 2013–14 season, when City won the league at its peak, Yaya Toure was perhaps the most dominant player in Premier League history and the most prolific midfield player.
With an incredible 20 goals and nine assists that season, Toure redefined what it meant to be a central midfielder in the Premier League. Toure’s performances, which combined technical skill with physical strength, were absolutely remarkable and may not have been equalled by a midfielder since. Yaya also scored some stunning long-range goals during that time, to cap it all off. He had one of the greatest seasons as an individual player in Premier League history, a season that was marked by his remarkable talent and adaptability.
The 2013–14 PL season for Yaya Toure
Looks
35
Objectives
20
Helps
9.
Trophies
League Cup and Premier League
2. Ronaldo Cristiano 2007–2008
A player who won the Ballon d’Or during the 2007–08 season is difficult to ignore. Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, and few players have had as much of an impact on the Premier League as the Portuguese striker did during that season. In 34 games, he scored 31 goals, leading United to the Premier League championship, the Champions League, and his first Ballon d’Or.
The world really started to notice Ronaldo’s explosive runs, amazing talent, and deadly finishing during this season. He demonstrated his capacity to alter a game’s outcome on his own. His 2007–08 season is among the best individual performances in Premier League history due to his combination of goals and unwavering work ethic.
The PL season of 2007–08 for Cristiano Ronaldo
Looks
34
Objectives
31
Helps
7.
Trophies
Champions League and Premier League
1 Henry Thierry 2003/04
The fact that Thierry Henry, the greatest player the Premier League has ever seen, also had the greatest individual season in the history of the league should come as no surprise. Henry’s 2003–04 season was a masterclass in offensive football, with his ability to score goals and create for others unmatched.
The ‘Invincibles’ team relied heavily on the Frenchman, who made 37 appearances while contributing 30 goals and six assists. His exquisite control, lightning speed, and predatory instincts were too much for defences to handle, and Arsenal finished the season undefeated. The Premier League has yet to duplicate this accomplishment. Henry had a remarkable grasp of the game and always seemed to be in the right place at the right moment, whether he was charging through the middle or drifting out wide. His reputation as one of the greatest players in Premier League history was solidified by his incredible season.
The PL season of 2003–04 for Thierry Henry
Looks
37
Objectives
30
Helps
6.
Trophies
The Premier League
