Every Major European Team's Player of the Season so Far
We're around the halfway mark in the traditional European season, and that means we can drum up some half-term reports.
With the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and more in full flow, we've made our picks for every major European team's Player of the Season so far.
Our definition of "major" is that the club is one of the traditional powerhouses in football, but such is the highly competitive nature of European football this season, we've honoured those pushing the boundaries, too. We've also stuck to Opta's top five and added in some bonus balls before we start.
Do you agree with our selections? Read on to find out!
Honourable Mentions
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Athletic Club: Ander Iturraspe
Benat signed for Athletic this summer while Ander Herrera was linked with a high-profile move to Manchester United, but what about the guy who stitches it all together defensively? Iturraspe has been brilliant.
Benfica: Enzo Perez
Nemanja Matic moving to Chelsea is a blow for Benfica, but Perez has been playing arguably even better football in his box-to-box role.
Everton: Gareth Barry
This was a tough, tough choice with many potential selections, but Barry—like Iturraspe—has been the consistent gel that holds a free-flowing attack together.
Fiorentina: Giuseppe Rossi
Before his injury, Rossi was in magnificent shape and averaged just under a goal a game. Now that he's out for three months, Borja Valero assumes control.
Real Sociedad: Antoine Griezmann
The Frenchman has been La Real's undoubted star of the show this season. He recently bagged three goals and an assist over three straight league matches to affirm his burgeoning form.
Porto: Jackson Martinez
Paulo Fonseca is way out of his depth and this Porto side look shambolic, but Martinez's goal haul has masked that fact by keeping them within reach of the top spot in the Liga Sagres.
Sporting: William Carvalho
Sporting's all-Portuguese midfield is the best in the Liga Sagres, with William the most impressive of the three.
Villarreal: Bruno
Bruno has kept up his incredibly consistent form this season and continues to gel this Submarino Amarillo side together. Slick passing, wonderful positional sense.
Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey
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Aaron Ramsey's resurgence this season has matched that of Arsenal: once a struggler, oft-berated, now king of the castle looking down upon those who once scoffed.
The Gunners have held a consistent position at the top of the Premier League table so far, and the Welshman's scintillating performances have been a huge factor in this.
He's shoved Jack Wilshere aside and now stands as the golden boy of the club.
Alternative: Per Mertesacker
Atletico Madrid: Diego Costa
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Atletico Madrid have had a plethora of strong performances benefit them this season, but those crucial one-goal victories that keep their title aspirations afloat wouldn't be possible without Diego Costa.
The soon-to-be Spaniard has been finding the back of the net with extreme regularity, scoring 23 goals from 21 starts in La Liga and Champions League play. He continues to lead Diego Simeone's charge from the front.
In truth, we could have picked any one of six players.
Alternative: Miranda
Barcelona: Neymar
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Gerardo Martino's subtle changes to Barcelona's system may not suit everyone, but certain players are enjoying the vertical nature of his football.
One such player is Neymar, who has excelled in his first half season of European football. It's arguable Lionel Messi's injury even helped him settle—where they were insistent on passing to each other beforehand, the Brazilian can now be more decisive and selfish in front of goal.
His tally stands at 11 goals and 10 assists overall.
Alternative: Alexis Sanchez
Bayer Leverkusen: Sidney Sam
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Sidney Sam has signed his future away to Schalke for the 2014-15 season, but for now he remains the main electric spark in Bayer Leverkusen's attack.
His €2.5 million buyout fee stands solely because of his injury-prone past, but when he's on the pitch, there are few who can rival his pacey counterattacks.
As he continues to get better in the decision-making department, Sami Hyypia's charges continue to improve.
Alternative: Lars Bender
Bayern Munich: Franck Ribery
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Bayern Munich have been magnificent under Pep Guardiola thus far, and Franck Ribery has picked up right where he left off under Jupp Heynckes.
The Frenchman has been a constant goal threat from the left. He's linked up with his midfield and David Alaba superbly and had right-backs running for the hills all season long.
Another tough choice, but the man who came so close to winning the Ballon d'Or is our selection.
Alternative: Philipp Lahm
Borussia Dortmund: Robert Lewandowski
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Any questions surrounding Robert Lewandowski's appetite for helping Borussia Dortmund this season have vanished.
At the halfway mark in the Bundesliga season, the Polish hitman has scored 16 goals in 24 starts in all competitions to spearhead Die Schwarzgelben into the Champions League knockout stages.
He's expected to continue at the same rate for the second half of the season, despite pledging his future to Bayern Munich for the 2014-15 campaign.
Alternative: Marco Reus
Chelsea: Eden Hazard
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Eden Hazard has been unstoppable this season. Jose Mourinho's coaching has taken his game to the next level.
He was always a menace, but the way he moves and his decision-making has gotten visibly better. Those suggesting Mou would attempt to make the Belgian his next Cristiano Ronaldo have been proven correct.
He's a world-class game-winner and the first name on the teamsheet.
Alternative: Oscar
Internazionale: Ricky Alvarez
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What a transformation this has been.
Seven months ago, it looked as if Ricky Alvarez had wandered onto a football pitch by accident every weekend, but under Walter Mazzarri, he's been in demonic form.
He consistently tears defences apart with his quick feet and renewed eye for goal—a far cry from the man who couldn't control a ball at White Hart Lane last season.
Alternative: Rodrigo Palacio
Juventus: Arturo Vidal
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Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal has been a consistent menace for the last four years. He epitomises the role of the modern box-to-box midfielder.
How he manages to make such a significant impact in every area of the pitch is borderline unfathomable, and he's well on his way to becoming the best central midfielder in the game—if he isn't already there.
Alternative: Carlos Tevez
Lille: Vincent Enyeama
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Vincent Enyeama came agonisingly close to breaking Gaetan Huard's record of 1,176 minutes without conceding a Ligue 1 goal (set in 1993), managing 1,062 minutes.
He and his impressive back line are the sole reason LOSC look set for a third-placed finish in Ligue 1 this season. Despite their meagre attack stacked with shortcomings, they're near impossible to beat.
Alternative: Marko Basa
Liverpool: Luis Suarez
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Who else was it going to be?
There have been plus points all over the pitch for Brendan Rodgers—Mamadou Sakho's form and Jordan Henderson's resurgence among them—but no one has lit up the crowd like Luis Suarez.
Despite missing the first five games via suspension, the Uruguayan has knocked 22 Premier League goals home from 16 showings—an unfathomable, godlike record.
Alternative: Jordan Henderson
Manchester City: Sergio Aguero
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Manchester City have been getting along just fine without Sergio Aguero for the last month, but he's still been their best player of the season so far.
Before hurting his calf, he was on fire, scoring 13 league goals in 14 starts and totalling 19 in 19 overall. His array of strikes has extended to headers this season, while his movement is only getting better thanks to the presence of Alvaro Negredo.
Alternative: Fernandinho
Manchester United: Wayne Rooney
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If it weren't for Wayne Rooney, where would Manchester United be in the table?
David Moyes has experienced some genuine rough patches in his first half season in charge, but Rooney has been able to guide them through with superlative, all-action performances.
You see him head a corner clear at the near post, then 10 seconds later he's on the end of a return ball for a finish. His recent absence has underlined just how good he is.
Alternative: Jonny Evans
Milan: Kaka
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Despite a niggling injury, Kaka has been a godsend to Milan since rejoining from Real Madrid.
He's injected spark, belief and drive into a team bereft of confidence, and he still has an incredible amount to offer from a technical standpoint.
He's rediscovered his niche as a surging No. 10, the sort of player on which Henrikh Mkhitaryan has modelled himself, and he's the sort of man upon whom new manager Clarence Seedorf can lean.
Alternative: Nigel de Jong
Monaco: James Rodriguez
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Following an early dressing-down in public by manager Claudio Ranieri, James Rodriguez has come alive in Ligue 1 for Monaco.
He's now at home in the No. 10 role—the position he played at Banfield before switching out wide for Colombia—and has tied Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the top of the league assist chart with eight as it stands.
He's the lifeblood of this Monegasque attack in a very defensive league.
Alternative: Layvin Kurzawa
Napoli: Gonzalo Higuain
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The impact Gonzalo Higuain has made in Naples since joining is incredible. While there have been plenty of impressive performers for the Partenopei this season, the former Real Madrid man wins our vote.
He's bagged 13 goals and eight assists since joining the club, helping Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens settle quickly and bringing the best out of main man Marek Hamsik.
He's loved at Napoli, and it's making him tick.
Alternative: Jose Callejon
Paris Saint-Germain: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic sits top of the goalscoring charts in Ligue 1 with 15, is tied with James Rodriguez for most assists with eight and has added eight more goals in the Champions League.
It is simply impossible to question the Swede's dominance yet again this season, and his ability to adapt to playing alongside a number of different players is impressive.
Alternative: Thiago Motta
Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo
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This one's as obvious as the Liverpool-Luis Suarez selection.
Cristiano Ronaldo crowned a golden 2013 by winning the Ballon d'Or earlier this week, landing the trophy for the first time in its current incarnation.
Real Madrid have been a little suspect at times this season, but CR7 has always carried them through by simply outscoring the opposing team. He has 20 goals in 18 La Liga appearances and 30 in 25 overall.
Alternative: Luka Modric
Roma: Mehdi Benatia
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Mehdi Benatia has been one of the finest centre-backs in world football this season. He has marshalled an impressive Roma defence through an incredible campaign so far.
Their solidity at the back was a major factor in the Giallorossi winning their first 10 games in a row, and while they're no longer an unbeaten force, the back line is still the bragging point.
They've conceded a league-low 10, with three coming against the Bianconeri.
Alternative: Kevin Strootman
Tottenham Hotspur: Kyle Walker
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Kyle Walker has enjoyed a best-ever season so far, marauding down the flank with pace and menace.
He's been a consistent outlet on the right side and brings great balance to a team that's had its fair share of injuries. In a side that lacked movement under Andre Villas-Boas, he was the exception.
With Glen Johnson declining at an alarming rate, Walker could well be on course to start for England at right-back.
Alternative: Vlad Chiriches
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