Welcome to Calcio Square, an email newsletter dedicated to Serie A and Italian football. Every Thursday, I dedicate my entire post to one specific theme or trend. In today's issue, I list off the five best Serie A players of the calendar year. I evaluated performances across all competitions between January and December, excluding any players who left the league and those who arrived in the summer window.

5. Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)

Pulisic showed up on occasions big and small, finishing the year as the most consistent player on an inconsistent Milan side. He had 26 goals and assists in 2024 and famously set up Milan's unexpected win over Inter in September. He has also stayed relatively healthy despite criss-crossing the world as captain of the United States. No American has ever had this kind of success in Europe. He's not just a marketing asset for Milan. He's arguably their most important player. Without him, the Rossoneri struggle to attack with the same intensity.

4. Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino and Napoli)

Napoli spent around €35 million to sign Buongiorno from Napoli. Frankly, he could've gone for more. The 25-year-old is one of the cleanest defenders in Serie A, with an incredible sense of timing. He doesn't rush into tackles or concede silly fouls. Buongiorno stays close to his man and strikes when he finds an opening. He limited himself to just five yellow cards throughout the year. It's a shame we didn't see more of him at Euro 2024. While Riccardo Calafiori took most of the plaudits, Buongiorno is arguably the superior defender.

3. Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta)

With 29 goal involvements across all competitions in 2024 — the second most among all Serie A players — the Belgian midfielder finally showed the playmaking ability that compelled Milan to sign him in the first place. He just needed the right environment to shine. Now, De Ketelaere has the license to attack from all angles. He isn't as isolated up top as he was at Milan. He enjoys a great partnership with Ademola Lookman and can play off of center-forward Mateo Retegui. After helping Atalanta win the Europa League, De Ketelaere has elevated their title challenge this season.

2. Nicolo Barella (Inter)

Barella doesn't dominate any particular statistical category. That's because he does everything so well. He recovers possession, tackles, intercepts, scores, and creates with equal success and dedication. He's quite easily the most well-rounded midfielder in Serie A. Barella also saves his best performances for the biggest games. He scored in blowout wins over Atalanta and Lazio, and only missed a handful of games this year. Inter won the Scudetto thanks in part to Barella's all-action play in the middle of the park.

1. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)

Lookman tops all Serie A players with 30 goals and assists in 2024. He made history, too, becoming the first African player to score a hat-trick in a major European final when he put three past Bayer Leverkusen to win Atalanta the Europa League title. The Nigerian was also named Africa's player of the year after leading his country to the Africa Cup of Nations final. A stealthy forward who can beat his marker with a single step, he's one of the most entertaining players to watch in Serie A and the reason Atalanta are so difficult to contain. All he needs is a bit of a room and he'll find a way to score.

Disagree with any of my picks? That's OK! Write in with your thoughts, and I'll include the best entries in my next issue.