BREAKOUT STARS

As is the case almost every year, 2017 also saw some new faces explode onto the scene in spectacular fashion. From three different sports, the players that stood out the most were French footballer Kylian Mbappe, Pakistan cricketer Hasan Ali and German tennis player Alexander Zverev.

Already showing glimpses of his promise the previous year, Mbappe stole the show in 2017 as Monaco broke up PSG's monopoly on the Ligue 1 title. The then18-year-old also starred in the Champions League, earning a 180-million-euro move to PSG. At the Parc des Princes, he has skyrocketed to new heights, sparing not even Bayern Munich in a Champions League match.

In the cricketing world, Ali finally came of age some four years after his debut. He picked up a fifer against Australia in a ODI series in January, but while that may be the highlight for a bowler's year, Ali was just starting. He stole the show in the Champions Trophy, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 13 as Pakistan stole the prize.

Although tennis was dominated by the old guard of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, 20-year-old Zverev was ranked World No. 3 in November and even drew praise from Federer, who called him the 'full package'.