hero-image

Europe's best football XI based purely on statistics

Do Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez make the team?

While teams like Barcelona and Leicester (whoa!) are running away with the title this season, deservedly, individual players have stood out in those performances ensuring their team have the best platform to ensure all three points are in the bag. 

Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo have done the usual this season by putting in spectacular performances for their teams this season. The Swede already clinched the French title with Paris Saint-Germain and played a massive role in the team to do. 

Likewise, top defenders and midfielders feature on this list for them contribution in making sure they intercept, disrupt, pass and create chances for their forwards. Stalwarts like Thiago Silva – another PSG title-winner this season – has been one of the most consistent ones all season. 

Getting straight to it, here's the best XI in Europe purely based on their stats: (taken from whoscored.com)

Goalkeeper

Keylor Navas has been spectacular for Real Madrid this season

Having almost secured a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, Keylor Navas has been through a lot this year even admitting to crying on deadline day on the transfer window. The Costa Rican has been the best goalkeeper in Europe this season averaging a brilliant 4.8 shared per game with 2.5 games in all his 34 games coming from inside the penalty box. 

The best stat from Keylor Navas' time between the sticks at Real Madrid is that he's saved three penalty shots this season – more than anyone else in the Spanish League. Add to that his save success rate of 75.7% and you have yourself no other candidate who could do a better job. 

While Arsenal's Petr Cech, Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer and Manchester United's David de Gea may often steal the headlines when it comes to being excellent keepers, Kaylor Navas' contribution to Real Madrid is one of the key reasons why they're still in the title race alongside Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. 

 

You may also like