Best players in Europe’s top five leagues right now? Team of the 2024-25 season so far | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal may just be the best young player in the world right now.

Last season was a breakthrough year for Yamal, who just keeps getting better. Any doubts surrounding his abilities were put to rest in Euro 2024 as he starred for Spain en route to winning the trophy, breaking records along the way.

And he’s carried it on this season. The young Spaniard has been directly involved in nine goals in La Liga this season, with only four players directly involved in more across Europe’s top five leagues.

Two of those players join Yamal in Squawka’s Team of the Season so far for Europe’s top five leagues. It’s an XI dominated by Premier League and La Liga sides, with only three players coming from outside those two leagues. The Premier League does have the edge, though, with five players to La Liga’s three.

We’ve used our Squawka Score to determine the 11 picks, based on the statistical leaders for metrics relevant to their positions. And we’ve thrown an honourable mention XI for good measure.

GK: Peter Gulacsi (RB Leipzig)

The best goalkeeper so far this season has been Peter Gulacsi. The RB Leipzig shot-stopper has been named in Kicker magazine’s Bundesliga team of the week three times already this season, having kept five clean sheets in six matches. Gulacsi has averaged 0.54 goals prevented per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga and 3.83 saves per 90, with 3 per 90 coming from inside the box. The Hungarian has also conceded just two goals, in a 3-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Honourable mention: David de Gea (91%) – Recently making headlines for saving two penalties in one game, the former Manchester United goalkeeper has also averaged 4.25 saves per 90 for Fiorentina.

RB: Achraf Hakimi (PSG)

Moving onto the defence, Achraf Hakimi has been the standout right-back statistically. He’s played in six of PSG’s seven Ligue 1 games so far as they sit top of the table. In that time, the Moroccan has averaged 0.17 goals per 90 and 0.34 intentional assists. While all assists count, the intentional assist should be a better barometer of a player’s creativity. To add to that, Hakimi has created 1.01 big chances per 90 in the league this season, the most of any full-back with at least 315 minutes played in one of Europe’s top five leagues. Defensively, Hakimi has averaged 1.69 tackles won and only 0.34 challenges lost.

Honourable mention: Giovanni Di Lorenzo (78%) – The Italian has helped keep 0.57 clean sheets per 90 minutes in Serie A for Napoli this season, facing 2.43 shots on target while Di Lorenzo has been on the pitch.

CB: Eder Militao (Real Madrid)

Our first visit to La Liga brings a Real Madrid centre-back, and one of the best in Eder Militao. The Brazilian has been a rock at the back for Real Madrid, with 0.49 goals conceded per 90 and 0.99 shots blocked. He has also won 1.49 tackles per 90. Militao isn’t just about defending though, he’s key to Real Madrid retaining possession of the ball. He has a retention rate of 89.99% and has completed 4.81 passes per 90 in La Liga this season.

Honourable mention: Diogo Leite (77%) – The Union Berlin centre-back has won 1.83 tackles per 90 minutes and made 0.33 interceptions inside the box per 90 in the Bundesliga this season.

CB: Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton)

Jan Paul van Hecke has been a key part of Brighton‘s defence in the Premier League this season. The Dutchman has helped to keep 0.4 clean sheets and concede just 0.8 goals per 90 minutes under Fabian Hurzeler. Van Hecke is another key passer, with a 92.09% retention rate and 5.4 long passes completed per 90. He was recently ruled out for six weeks through injury, which will be a blow for Brighton.

Honourable mention: Bremer (76%) – Bremer is now out for the season through injury, but Juventus did not concede with him on the pitch, while he also boasted a retention rate of 92.61%.

LB: Josko Gvardiol (Man City)

Josko Gvardiol is thriving in the left-back role for Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola having his man a lot more involved on the ball. For a left-back, Gvardiol has had an impressive 3.4 touches in the opposition box and 0.77 shots on target per 90. He’s also completed 50% of his crosses from open play, which is a generally good return. Defensively, the Croatian has lost just 0.31 challenges per 90, while facing 2.47 shots on target while on the pitch.

Honourable mention: David Raum (73%) – The RB Leipzig defender has completed 2.4 crosses per 90 minutes this season, in the top five among full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues.

CM: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)

Federico Valverde went under the radar at Real Madrid for years, but people are finally starting to realise his quality. This season, the Uruguayan has a retention rate of 90.57% in La Liga, which feels like a must for a team like Real Madrid. He has completed 7.87 passes into the final third and has an open play passing accuracy of 92.23%. Defensively, Valverde has chipped in with 2.17 interceptions retaining possession.

Honourable mention: Frank Anguissa (72%) – The Napoli midfielder has averaged 2.29 interceptions retaining possession in Serie A this season, helping his side sit top of the league.

CM: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)

Ryan Gravenberch is like a new man under Arne Slot. The Dutch midfielder has finally found his feet after a slow first season at Liverpool. And it’s very easy to see. Gravenberch has been part of a team that has conceded just 0.29 goals per 90 minutes in the Premier League, keeping five clean sheets. The man himself has won 1.72 tackles per 90 and has a retention rate of 88.42%. Gravenberch’s open play passing accuracy of 89.34% shouldn’t be ignored either.

“Every player is different and, to be honest, I like a period to adapt. I wasn’t used to the Premier League, of course, and I didn’t play a lot of football before I came here, but I had the time to adapt and I really needed it,” Gravenberch told Liverpool’s website of his time at the club so far.

“It can take time to build relationships on the pitch and, what I said, every player is different. I think if you train a lot with your teammates you adapt to them quicker and adapt to the league quicker.”

Honourable mention: Martin Zubimendi (74%) – The man Liverpool had chased in the summer, Zubimendi has completed 7.76 passes into the final third per 90 this season and has a take-on success rate of 85.71%.

RW: Ousmane Dembele (PSG)

Ousmane Dembele can be a frustrating player to watch, but his statistics are very good in Ligue 1 this season. The Frenchman has averaged 0.83 goals and 0.83 intentional assists per 90 minutes for PSG as they remain unbeaten after seven matches. He’s had 10 touches in the opposition box per 90 and 2.71 shots on target. Dembele is equally as creative, with 1.04 big chances created and an xA of 0.48 per 90. He just needs to work out the kinks with manager Luis Enrique.

Honourable mention: Michael Olise (84%) – The former Crystal Palace man has had a very good start to life at Bayern Munich, with 0.87 goals and 0.43 intentional assists per 90.

No.10: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Cole Palmer has carried on from his excellent first season at Chelsea. The midfielder, who was recently named as England Men’s Player of the Year, has been directly involved in more goals than any other Premier League player this season. He’s averaging 0.91 goals per 90 minutes, and 0.52 non-penalty xG On Target, with an xG over-performance of 0.42. Palmer has also averaged 1.66 shots on target for Chelsea, being the main man in their attack. But Palmer is just as creative, with 0.6 intentional assists and 1.21 big chances per 90.

Honourable mention: Giovani Lo Celso (85%) – The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has 9.8 penalty area entries per 90 minutes for Real Betis in La Liga this season, with 1.37 possessions won in the attacking third.

LW: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

The main man, there is no outfield player with a higher score in their position than Lamine Yamal so far this season. While he does play right wing, Yamal has had 11 minutes on the left, which we’re using to make the star-studded attack. Still only 17, the Spaniard has been dynamic for Barcelona this season, with 0.5 goals an 0.5 intentional assists per 90. He’s created 1.12 big chances per 90 and had 6.99 touches in the opposition box. But Yamal is also integral in Barcelona winning the ball back high up the pitch, with 1.37 possessions won in the attacking third. He also appears to be his own biggest critic. Yamal was recently subbed off by Hansi Flick in Barcelona’s win over Alaves, and looked visibly upset. But the Spaniard later revealed he wasn’t upset with the decision, rather his own performance.

“More than anger it was because I was not happy with how I had played,” he told reporters.

“I think I could have played better. I demand a lot from myself and that’s the line I have to follow to be at 100% when I play.”

Honourable mention: Raphinha (83%) – The Brazilian is another Barcelona man to thrive this season, with 0.6 goals and 0.48 intentional assists per 90 minutes in La Liga.

ST: Erling Haaland (Man City)

Erling Haaland can sometimes go under the radar statistically, spending so little time on the ball. But when he is on the ball, Haaland is the best striker around. Despite the lack of touches overall, Haaland does still average 8.16 touches in the opposition box per 90 in the Premier League this season. Of course, he’s also scored 1.43 goals per 90 from 3.29 shots on target. The Norwegian is primarily a threat from open play too, with 0.82 non-penalty xG per 90, and an xG overperformance of 0.58 per 90.

Honourable mention: Harry Kane (82%) – Harry Kane is as creative as he is deadly in front of goal, with 0.89 goals per 90, 0.71 intentional assists and 0.54 big chances created.