Ranking the Top 20 Players in Europe Outside the Top 5 Leagues
There are very few secrets left in football.
Gone are the days where European competition brings sides few have heard of and even fewer can spell the name of; a wealth of knowledge, analysis and footage has taken its place.
But there are still some areas scarcely covered—at least in the mainstream media, anyway. There's a general focus on Europe's "top 5 leagues"—defined by UEFA's coefficient as La Liga, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1—but what about the others? What talents have they to offer?
We've compiled a list of the top 20 players playing in Europe, but outside of UEFA's top five leagues. Players who are on loan from clubs inside those top five leagues (such as Bertrand Traore at Ajax) are not eligible.
Honourable Mentions
1 of 21
Ricardo Quaresma, Besiktas
Has Quaresma finally found consistency at age 33? He has reached double figures for league assists already and has been consistently superb since Euro 2016.
Kasper Dolberg, Ajax
Dolberg came so close to joining the top 20 despite being just 19 years of age. What a talent he is; that Ajax-Danish connection just keeps on producing.
Serdar Azmoun, FC Rostov
Azmoun has been tagged as the "Iranian Messi" after some remarkable performances for FC Rostov over the last 12 months.
Simon Kjaer, Fenerbahce
Kjaer recovered from a severe mid-carer slump in style. Still just 27 and now performing to a high level again, it's a matter of time before Fenerbahce lose him.
Domagoj Vida, Dynamo Kiev
An uncompromising, physical centre-half with a knack of scoring from set pieces, Vida is entering the prime of his career.
20. Marlos, AM, Shakhtar Donetsk
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Marlos is one of those left-footed playmakers that certain footballing nostalgists instantaneously fall for. He boasts craft, balance, dribbling ability and an eye for a pass that makes managers swoon.
He hasn't built the sort of reputation he deserves due to the fact he a) spent too long in Brazil, and b) has spent the rest of his career in Ukraine, and at 28 years of age, the window for a big move might be closing.
But with the qualities he possesses and the swagger he brings to attacks, there are many top European outfits who should welcome him with open arms.
Perfect for: AC Milan
More: Watch a scouting profile of Marlos
19. Mario Fernandes, RB, CSKA Moscow
3 of 21
Mario Fernandes is something of a throw-back defender; he oozes very little of the natural Brazilian qualities of a Dani Alves or Marcelo, resembling someone such as Branislav Ivanovic in his prime more closely.
He's all-action and a bit frenetic, spending all game smashing his way up and down the right flank to support attacks and break opponents' down. He's big for a full-back—around 6 foot—and CSKA Moscow use his height well, often launching cross-field balls into the path of his runs for him to knock down to midfielders and strikers.
Perfect for: Atletico Madrid
More: Watch a scouting profile of Fernandes
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18. Lukasz Teodorczyk, ST, Anderlecht
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Lukasz Teodorczyk has been a force for Anderlecht in 2016-17. Having signed on loan last summer from Dynamo Kiev, he's enhanced his reputation tenfold with some remarkable goalscoring feats.
It's come as a surprise to most, as he's never been so consistently brilliant at any point before. Fuelled with the confidence of a player clearly enjoying the best period of his career, his combination of quick feet and rocket finishes are drawing admirers in Belgium.
Averaging a league goal every 120 minutes, per Transfermarkt, and having totalled 18 so far, it's clear Poland suddenly have a third great striking option behind Robert Lewandowski and Arkadiusz Milik. Lucky devils.
Perfect for: Everton
17. Quincy Promes, Wing, Spartak Moscow
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Quincy Promes has been an absolute machine for Spartak Moscow since joining in 2014, netting 37 league goals from the wing in two-and-a-half seasons.
He's a source of constant creativity from the flank, generally playing off the left side and dipping inside to work the centre of the pitch. He dribbles, he instigates one-twos and has the speed to beat full-backs in a foot race.
There are so many sides in need of a goalscoring winger it's ridiculous, but Liverpool, who The Mirror's Neil Moxley linked Promes to in January, seems like a great destination for him.
Perfect for: Liverpool
16. Moussa Dembele, ST, Celtic
6 of 21
The scrabble for Moussa Dembele's signature come the summer will be quite something.
He's already scored 29 goals in all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt, and although there will be some truth in the comments that the Scottish Premiership isn't a true test of a striker's capabilities, the 20-year-old has scored five in the Champions League (including two against Manchester City) this term to prove his mettle.
He's not the finished the article by any means—he boasts physical attributes to die for, but his understanding of movement, his timing of runs and, to an extent, his finishing can still be seriously improved—but a move to an elite club really is just around the corner.
Perfect for: Paris Saint-Germain
15. Youri Tielemans, CM, Anderlecht
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Youri Tielemans is finally coming of age. Projected for stardom from the age of 16, having made his debut soon after signing his first contract and becoming the youngest-ever Belgian to play in the UEFA Champions League, he is now, three years later, fulfilling that vast potential.
This season, he's made waves on social media by scoring thunderbolts from distance on a near-weekly basis. The fact he's been doing it with both feet has made the feat even more remarkable, and his eight league assists, per Transfermarkt, prove he's a creator and a finisher, too.
Perfect for: Pretty much everyone
14. Fred, CM, Shakhtar Donetsk
8 of 21
Fred is arguably the best Brazilian left at Shakhtar Donetsk. Admittedly the collection isn't what it was, but he still represents a complete solution for anyone searching for a ball-playing central midfielder.
His passing style is metronomic, but he mixes in bursts forward with the ball in order to keep his markers on their toes. You wouldn't employ him in a box-to-box role, but he's shown he has a more vertical side to his game if it turns out he's unable to pass through you.
Comfortable on the ball, happy to take it in tight areas and always to looking to spread it or pass it forward, he's like a left-footed, slightly more limited Toni Kroos.
Perfect for: Real Madrid
More: Watch a scouting profile of Fred
13. Iker Casillas, GK, FC Porto
9 of 21
Iker Casillas' first season at FC Porto may have been a little rocky, but in 2016-17, he seems to have finally recaptured the type of form that made him one of the finest goalkeepers in world football.
So often the Spaniard has bailed FCP out of tight situations, frequently producing miraculous saves late in games to preserve leads or draws. The Santiago Bernabeu may have had their fill of "San Iker" back in 2015, but the Dragao simply can't get enough right now.
It's pleasing to see him rediscover confidence and form; that "throw in" against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League semi-final threatened to be his final act and therefore a lasting memory, but he's battled back and proved his greatness.
Perfect for: FC Porto
12. Bruma, Wing, Galatasaray
10 of 21
Bleacher Report's Dean Jones reported during January that Bruma is starting to interest Premier League clubs, and a quick glance at his season's work shows you why.
With seven goals and six assists from 20 league appearances this season, Bruma has firmly instated himself as the finest left winger on display on the Turkish Super Lig this term.
It's about time he realised his scintillating potential: He starred at the 2013 Under-20 World Cup, showcasing speed, power and incredibly dribbling ability, but a bad injury and a premature transfer ruined the early stages of his career.
Still only 22, it's heartwarming to see him firmly on the right track again.
Perfect for: Sevilla
11. Hakim Ziyech, CM/AM, Ajax
11 of 21
Despite the fact Ajax are trailing an imperious Feyenoord side by five points in the Eredivisie title race, there have been plenty of positives for fans to appreciate.
Bertrand Traore, on loan from Chelsea, has been great; Lasse Schone has signed a new deal and continues to make up part of the club's furniture; Patrick Kluivert's emergence has been particularly pleasing; and, finally, Hakim Ziyech is doing some remarkable things with a football.
Signed from FC Twente last summer, where he was a creative force, he's supplied six goals and eight assists from 20 Eredivisie starts for his new club this season. Technique, quick feet, clever dribbling and some eye-popping set pieces are his calling cards, with his only weakness being his light frame.
Perfect for: Barcelona
10. Andre Silva, ST, FC Porto
12 of 21
It's been a hell of a breakout season for Andre Silva, who has stepped in to claim the first-choice striker's role at FC Porto. He had shown glimpses of his excellence in 2015-16, but he wasn't fully trusted until Nuno Espirito Santo arrived in the summer and those ahead of him in the pecking order were sold.
There are still plenty of questions to be answered with regard to how good Silva becomes (he's 21), but for now, he's shown an incredible poacher's instinct, some good speed over the top, and an acrobatic ability that allows him to score goals others can't.
The FCP fans have predictably taken well to him given he's a youth product, and it could well cost in excess of £30 million to prise him away from the Dragao.
Perfect for: Real Madrid
9. Andriy Yarmolenko, Wing, Dynamo Kiev
13 of 21
Now 27 years of age, it's becoming apparent Andriy Yarmolenko may never leave his beloved Dynamo Kiev. He's had offers in the past, with Everton supposedly coming close not long ago, per The Mirror's Greg O'Keeffe, but so far he's proved loyal to his boyhood club.
Yarmolenko is an atypical, interesting player: He's a shade over 6-foot tall yet plays on the flank for club and country. He's quicker across the ground than you'd initially expect, so it works for him, and he also gives his teams a wide target option for aerial balls.
His frame allows him to deputise up front when required, and his goalscoring record has been strong throughout his career. The only issue? Consistency. There are, sadly, days when Yarmolenko looks a shadow of his usual self and no one really knows why.
Perfect for: Tottenham Hotspur
8. Anderson Talisca, AM, Besiktas
14 of 21
Benfica appear to have made a number of errors with Anderson Talisca this season.
Not only did they let him leave on loan—a decision questioned given how incredible he's been for Besiktas—but they also allowed him to play against them in the UEFA Champions League. He promptly scored an amazing free-kick to grab the Turkish outfit a point at the Estadio da Luz.
On raw talent alone, he might just be the best player in the Super Lig, and Benfica will surely bring him back into the fold for 2017/18.
Perfect for: His parent club, Benfica
7. William Carvalho, DM, Sporting CP
15 of 21
William Carvalho has been linked to the Premier League in every transfer window since about 2015, and yet he remains a Sporting CP soldier.
An imperious sight trundling forward in midfield, there are some slight concerns over his mobility, but his physical presence and tone-setting ability in the middle is unquestioned.
Some may have likened him to Victor Wanyama due to the intangible influence he can have on a game solely because players fear his physique, but he's a better passer than the Kenyan and a bigger goal threat, too.
Perfect for: Roma
6. Viktor Kovalenko, AM, Shakhtar Donetsk
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The apple of Shakhtar Donetsk's eye, Viktor Kovalenko has completed the transition from prospect to star quicker than almost anyone in recent history.
It was just two years ago he was starring for the Miners in the UEFA Youth League—a campaign in which they reached the final—and now he's a playmaker worth at least £30 million in the current market.
Dynamic and creative, he covers every blade of grass in search for space and takes up good shooting positions outside the box. His passing range is stellar; he can find a runner over the top from 60 yards with ease, and it's frequently he who releases Shakhtar's glut of willing runners on counters.
Perfect for: Man City
More: Watch a scouting profile of Kovalenko
5. Jonas, ST, Benfica
17 of 21
Jonas has been something of a late bloomer in Europe. Moving over from Brazil at age 26, he had a nondescript spell with Valencia before finally exploding with Benfica.
Last season he scored so many goals he was in the running for the European Golden Boot, and this season the only thing that's been able to slow him down has been injuries. Five goals and three assists from only seven league starts so far prove that when he's on the pitch, he's a wrecking ball.
Although not particularly fast and not particularly strong, he's built his reputation on sharp-shooting prowess and intelligent movement in the box.
Perfect for: Benfica! He signed a new deal on Wednesday, per UEFA.
4. Darijo Srna, RB, Croatia
18 of 21
Darijo Srna will turn 35 in May, but he's still performing at a level many young players never even reach. There's a touch of the Zlatan Ibrahimovic about the way he self-preserves and conditions.
The Croatian is a renowned leader and captain and has led both club and country for a long, long time. The last few years have seen him get progressively slower, but his high football IQ has allowed him to retain his effectiveness bombing forward from right-back.
He's still one of the finest crossers of the ball in Europe—not that it's a crowded field—and a durable defensive presence, too.
Perfect for: Barcelona
3. Nelson Semedo, RB, Benfica
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Nelson Semedo has been one of Benfica's finest players this season, providing six assists in the league from right-back and raiding down the flank with effectiveness against every opponent.
His positivity when passing and understanding of how to get in behind a defence to crack it open with a cutback really stick out when you watch him, making him the ideal full-back for an attack-minded, dominant team.
There are still a few issues for him to sort on the defensive side of things—namely his aggression, which sometimes sees him rush out of position only to be left behind—but you can either coach that out of him, or use a system that masks the weakness.
Perfect for: Chelsea
More: Read a full scouting profile of Nelson Semedo
2. Danilo Pereira, DM, FC Porto
20 of 21
Euro 2016 winner Danilo Pereira has transferred his dominant 2015-16 form into 2016-17, suggesting he is indeed the real deal. Add that to the fact that he was a true midfield enforcer over the summer as Portugal were crowned kings of the continent, and it's easy to understand why he's attracting flirtatious glances from top teams.
One of the hallmarks of Nuno's FC Porto side this season is that they've been incredibly hard to break down, with Danilo one of key cogs in a defensively conscious system. He's averaged 2.2 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per league game this season (strong numbers for a dominant team), breaking up play in front of the defence.
His high passing accuracy of 87.1 percent is indicative of a player keeping it simple once he's won it back.
Perfect for: Arsenal
1. Victor Lindelof, CB, Benfica
21 of 21
Barely a day went by in December and January without "Victor Lindelof" and "Manchester United" being uttered in the same breath, and although no agreement was eventually struck, it's testament to his ability that a club such as this were interested in his services.
A colleague of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's at international level, Lindelof would have been the perfect purchase during the winter and will still be so in the summer. He's great on the ball, often embarking on mazy runs forward, but he marries that with a defensive solidity that has earned him the nickname "Iceman."
It was an tough call to order the top five in this list—they're all superb and could feature for most top sides in Europe—but Lindelof comes out No. 1 due to the fact he could improve so many sides so substantially with immediate effect.
Perfect for: Manchester United
All statistics via WhoScored.com unless noted otherwise.
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