theScore's Top 20 footballers of 2015: No. 15-11

With 2015 coming to an end, theScore is reflecting on the year that was by counting down the top 20 players in world football over the past 12 months.

The rankings have been compiled after tallying votes from theScore's contingent of footy editors: Armen Bedakian, Gord Brunt, Carlo Campo, Michael J. Chandler, Anthony Lopopolo, Daniel Rouse, and Gianluca Nesci. Each was asked to produce their own top-20 list for the calendar year, with a point system used to create the cumulative rankings. Players were awarded 20 points for a first-place vote, 19 for second place, all the way down to a solitary point for being ranked 20th. In the event of a tie on points, the player with more total votes was awarded the higher ranking.

Top 20 footballers of 2015: The Countdown

• No. 20 - 16

Our list continues with arguably the most eccentric character in the game today ...

15. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain)

Perhaps not at the otherworldly, acrobatic goalscoring level of years past, Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to prove that he is still in contention for the crown as the world's most electrifying player. Even at 34 years old. Coming off a 2014-15 campaign in which the outspoken Swede found the net 19 times in 24 Ligue 1 matches, the imposing attacker has already scored 15 goals this season - most in the league. Sure, his total may be bloated by the fact that he assumes the penalty-taking duties in the French capital, but his other numbers - 6 assists (tied for second in the league); 5.3 shots per 90 minutes (best in the division) - suggest Zlatan is not just a passenger for France's best side. Much like with Sweden, whom he single-handedly dragged to Euro 2016, he's the catalyst.

14. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)

Injuries scuppered his year to a large extent, but the world's most expensive footballer showed, both with Real Madrid and, to a far greater degree with Wales, that he is easily one of the most devastating attackers on the planet. Asked last season to put in a ridiculous amount of defensive work in order to bring balance to Carlo Ancelotti's team, Bale sacrificed what could have been a far more impressive statistical campaign (and still recorded 13 goals to go with 9 assists). When given the freedom to run the show with Wales, any naysayers were reminded just how dominant the former Tottenham superstar can be, as Bale netted seven of his team's 11 goals in qualifying, leading his compatriots to a Euro 2016 berth.

13. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

Though questions can - and should - be raised over just how influential any goalkeeper can be over the course of a season, there is one widely accepted fact about the men who wear the gloves: nobody does it better than Manuel Neuer. The Bayern Munich shot-stopper, who helped his side capture the Bundesliga title in 2014-15 (and looks to be on track for yet another this season) is a behemoth between the sticks. His role as an extra defender, though far from revolutionary, is vital to Bayern's success - the club's pressing system requires a high defensive line, forcing Neuer to sweep away the danger when passes get behind his defenders. There's also the issue of actually getting the ball beyond him when teams get a (rare) scoring opportunity against the German juggernaut. His combination of size and razor-sharp reflexes make that a near impossible feat. As a goalkeeper, his numbers are almost irrelevant - such is the nature of the position, aided by the team he plays for - but his status as the best at his job is undeniable.

12. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

Injuries, man. Sergio Aguero has long been in the conversation as the world's best player not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, which makes his consistent battle with the seemingly insatiable injury bug all the more aggravating for Manchester City supporters - and fans of the sport in general. Felled by knee and hamstring problems in 2015, the Argentine superstar still managed to lead the Premier League with 26 goals last season, and was responsible for one of the most incredible sporting achievements of the calendar year when, in October, he found the net five times in 20 minutes against Newcastle. Quick, powerful, skilful and ruthless, Aguero is arguably the very best the Premier League has to offer.

11. Paul Pogba (Juventus)

At only 22 years old, Paul Pogba has already wrestled away the title as the best box-to-box midfielder in the game, stealing it from a legion of competitors thanks to his unrivaled combination of sheer athleticism, outrageous skill on the ball, passing vision and scoring exploits. Quite simply, the sinewy Frenchman does it all - and does most of it better than anybody else. Juventus placed a lot of faith in the youngster when allowing Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo to depart the club in the summer, giving him the keys to run the show - along with the vaunted No. 10 kit. After a slow start, Pogba has begun to prove that he is more than capable of handling it all. Gonzalo Higuain is scoring all the goals in Serie A this season, but there should be no question over who the league's brightest superstar is.