Picking the best of anything is never easy.
What really is the best Christmas song? Or the best Christmas movie? Whose Mum actually does make the best Christmas dinner?
Deciding upon the best Chelsea player of 2021 is arguably harder than any of those debatable topics.
For the most part, the Blues have been brilliant in the past 12 months, despite a few wobbles here and there.
This is not only down to the outstanding transformation caused by Thomas Tuchel, but the quality of contribution from several members of his star-studded squad.
Here are the Chelsea Chronicle’s picks of the three best Chelsea players from the rollercoaster year:
Antonio Rudiger
This one is probably the easiest selection of the lot.
Few defenders in world football have outperformed Antonio Rudiger in the past 365 days, let alone within the confines of Cobham.
The 28-year-old has been something of a revelation under Tuchel, having been previously cast outside by Frank Lampard.
He played a prominent role in the Champions League success and fourth-place Premier League finish last season.
Between Lampard’s departure and the European final in May, the centre-back played all but five of the games.
In that period, Chelsea kept 16 clean sheets with Rudiger guarding the goal.
His displays haven’t decreased this term, even if the team’s general results have.
To think Stamford Bridge might be waving goodbye to the German before long is certainly a sad thought indeed.
Mason Mount
It is difficult to make up a top three list of anything Chelsea-related without including Mason Mount.
The Blues’ golden boy has enjoyed another excellent spell with his boyhood club.
No player made more appearances in the previous campaign (54) for Lampard or Tuchel than the England international.
Only Timo Werner contributed more goals (27) than the marvellous midfield (18) in 2020/21, scoring nine and assisting nine apiece.
Therefore, it was no surprise that Mount was named Chelsea’s Player of the Year, becoming the first Brit to do since Lampard in 2009.
He earned an even grander vote recently, finishing 19th in the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Building upon that noticeable nomination, his form lately has been electric.
Before the 0-0 draw at Wolves, Mount had scored in four successive league games, making him the youngest player to do so in the Blues’ history.
Keep up that momentum Mason and the Ballon d’Or will be yours before too long!
Thiago Silva
This last pick was a toss-up between two men who share the same country of birth.
Jorginho came extremely close, but we’ve placed Thiago Silva on the podium.
Both Brazilian-born stars played a massive part in Chelsea’s success, yet Silva has gone above and beyond what many people expect from him.
Most sportsmen or women start planning for retirement when they reach 37.
Not the ‘classy‘ Brazilian, who has ambitions of featuring at another World Cup before calling time on an illustrious career.
Before he embarks upon Qatar next winter, his focus is solely on winning silverware with Chelsea.
Something he managed in the Champions League, having led the side from the group stages virtually all the way through to the showpiece event against Manchester City.
Injuries have hampered his minutes for the Blues slightly, but whenever he is on the pitch, he generally outshines his junior co-workers.
Silva shows no signs of slowing down any time soon and we are truly grateful for his longevity.