We have witnessed some of the best goals and sublime assists ever produced, as well as some of the most incredible turnarounds in the history of the game over the course of this season, and a month of League football is still left.
Messi’s panenka free-kick, Manchester United’s incredible turnaround at the Parc des Princes, and underdogs Ajax beating defending champions Real Madrid at their own backyard were some of the highlights of this incredible season. We are hoping that the remaining of the season treats us with some similar moments of magic.
Only the best players in the world are capable of producing incredible moments like these. So we have decided to pick the best XI in Europe so far this season. This list will feature players who have been exceptional for their respective clubs so far this season.
Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
Atletico Madrid has produced some of the best goalkeeping talents and Jan Oblak is continuing that tradition. The 26-year old was bought from Benfica for a reported fee of €16 million, making him the most expensive goalkeeper in La Liga’s history. Oblak has since become one of the best in his position. The Slovenian international has kept an incredible 113 clean sheets in 144 appearances for Atletico Madrid. This season he has kept 16 clean sheets in La Liga, conceding just 19 goals in the process which is the 3rd best record in Europe’s top 5 leagues. He has got incredible reflexes and makes 2.3 saves per game in all competitions for Atletico Madrid.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Joshua Kimmich played as a centre-midfielder but was transformed into a full-back by Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich. Kimmich has got unmatched versatile and can play right-back, left-back, centre-defence and as a defensive midfielder and a lot of comparisons has been drawn between him and Bayern Munich legend Philip Lahm, who possessed similar flexibility on the pitch.
Kimmich has fared as a right-back in the Bayern Munich shirt and is one of the best in his position. The 24-year old German international has 2 goals and 12 assists for Bayern Munich across all competitions this season. He is a brilliant passer of the ball and completes 90.5% of his attempted passes. The full-back is a brilliant crosser of the ball and averages 2 crosses per game. In defence, he wins 1.3 tackles per game and averages 1.3 interceptions per game.
Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
Jordi Alba was bought by Barcelona from Valencia back in 2012 for a reported fee of €14 million. He has been brilliant since his arrival and has thus far made 189 appearances for the club. Since then the Spaniard has turned into one of the best full-backs in the world.
He is perpetual throughout the game on the left flank and possesses great quality in the final third as well as in the defensive third of the pitch. He is a great passer of the ball and averages 1.5 key passes per game and completes 87% of his attempted passes.
The 30-year-old has 2 goals and 10 assists across all competitions for Barcelona this season. Defensively, he wins 1.2 tackles per game and completes 1.6 interceptions per game which shows how defensively astute he is. The 30-year old has been brilliant this season and has been a key part of Ernesto Valverde’s side this season.
Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool splashed a whopping £75 million back during last season’s winter transfer window to secure the signing of Dutch Centre-back Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton.
But it turned out to be the best bit of business they have done in years. The centre-back has turned Liverpool into title contenders. Van Dijk has got great ability on the ball and completes 89.2% of his attempted passes.
The 6'4" centre-back is almost impossible to beat in the air and wins 4.5 aerial duels per game. He also averages 1 tackle and 1.1 interceptions per game. Van Dijk has transformed Liverpool into one of the best defensive units in Europe this season.
Liverpool has conceded just 18 goals in the Premier League, which is the second-best record after PSG in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season.
Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique has been amongst the best defenders in the world for a very long time now. The 32-year old has been a long-term servant for Barcelona and has made 305 appearances for them, winning everything there is to win.
The Spaniard has been solid at the back for Barcelona this season, helping his side keep 16 clean sheets across all competition this season. He has scored 7 goals and contributed another 2 assists this season.
The 32-year old is brilliant on the ball and has the ability to play passes that can break the opposition lines. He completes 91% of his attempted passes which exhibits his passing ability. The 6'4’’ is dominant in the air and wins 3.3 aerial duels per game across all competitions.
The centre-back is at the peak of his career at the moment and is producing brilliant defensive displays week after week for his beloved club.
Fernandinho (Manchester City)
The 33-year old is in his final years as a player but is still performing at his highest level for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this season. Manchester City is still competing in all 4 competitions and is eyeing the unprecedented quadruple this season, and Fernandinho can play a key role in order to help them achieve the unthinkable.
The Brazilian is not the most skilful player on the pitch but does his job of protecting the back 4 and dictating the play in the middle of the park perfectly. His presence in the team means that City can play ultra-attacking, high-pressing football Pep Guardiola wants his sides to play.
Fernandinho wins 2.7 aerial duels per game, wins 1.7 tackles per game, and averages 1.7 interceptions per game. The defensive midfielder also possesses the ability to bury the ball into the top corner from long distances.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva is one of the most underrated players in the Premier League this season. He was bought by Manchester City for a reported fee of £45 million after a brilliant campaign with AS Monaco.
The 24-year old has been brilliant for Manchester City in midfield and has covered well in the absence of their talisman Kevin De Bruyne. The Portuguese international is very versatile and can play as a number 6, a number 8, a number 10 or even as a winger. He has scored 12 goals and has 8 assists across all competition for Manchester City.
The midfielder has the ability to twist and turn defenders around and get past them. He has got the ability to create great opportunities and averages 1.6 key passes per game in all competitions. Pep Guardiola has admitted that the midfielder is undroppable at the moment with the performances he is delivering on the pitch for him this season.
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
What a year the 20-year old has had. He lifted the Fifa World Cup with France last summer and played a key role for them throughout the journey. And now the boy wonder has taken the Ligue 1 by storm this season.
The Frenchman has thus far scored an incredible 39 goals and provided 11 assists so far this season. Only Lionel Messi has a better goal contribution than the French wonder-kid He averages 3.5 shots and 1.6 key passes per game. The speedster is a nightmare for defenders and has got quick feet to get past his man easily, averaging 2.6 dribbles per game.
The 20-year-old is the hottest prospect in Europe right now. He has overshadowed Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain with his performances this season. He will surely be in contention for the Balon d’Or alongside some elite company.
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
The 24-year old has been a butt of criticism for the English media, but he has been one of the best players in the Premier League for the past couple of years now. The England international has greatly improved under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and has turned into one of the most feared attackers in the league.
He has been brilliant for Manchester City this season and has scored 19 goals and contributed another 12 across all competitions this season. The attacker is lightning quick and can ease past defenders, averaging almost 3 dribbles per game.
His finishing has certainly improved from last season and so has his confidence in front of goal. He is shooting much more in front of goal and averages 2.2 shots per game. He also averages 2.5 key passes per game, exhibiting his creative influence on the game.
The winger has been performing at his best every week and its time he gets the respect he deserves from the media and the fans.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Many argue that Lionel Messi is not human and they might have a point. He does things that nobody can do and we must be blessed to be born in his era. The little magician cannot stop scoring and assisting at the moment. He has so far scored an incredible 43 goals and created another 17 in all competitions for Barcelona this season. The 31-year old has the ability to play anywhere on the pitch and prefers the number 10 role where he can roam around freely across the whole pitch.
The Argentine averages 5.3 shots per game and only Cristiano Ronaldo averages more shots per game in Europe’s top 5 leagues. The attacker possesses the ability to dribble past opponents like they are not even there and averages a stellar 4 dribbles per game. He also averages 3.1 key passes per game across all competition. The 31-year old is carrying Barcelona towards the league title once again and is looking to bring back the Champions League back at the Camp Nou.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Cristiano Ronaldo is silencing his doubters once again this season and proving that age is just a number. The 34-year old left Real Madrid for Juventus last summer and has been brilliant in the Serie A this season. The 5 times Balon d’Or winner has scored 29 goals and has 10 assists in all competitions for Juventus this season. He averages an incredible 5.9 shots per game. No other player in Europe’s top 5 even comes close to that number. The Portuguese averages 1.6 key passes per game and wins 1.2 aerial duels per game.
The 34-year old is still the best footballer in the world alongside Lionel Messi and his fitness levels prove that he can stay at that level for the next 3-4 years. He will be the catalyst to help Juventus win the Champions League, the trophy they have been craving for a very long time now.
Best XI
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