Messi the star while just one Liverpool player makes European Team of the Season

 

It may have been a delayed season, but Europe's top five leagues drew to a close on Sunday as the Serie A campaign reached its conclusion. Here, we take a look at the WhoScored European team of the season, with Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Manchester City all represented in the best XI... 

 

Goalkeeper: Jesse Joronen (Brescia) - 7.01 rating 

 

Not the household name many would expect to feature in this XI, and while Brescia were relegated, they would have dropped down into Serie B far sooner were it not for Jesse Joronen's heroics between the sticks. The Finnish shotstopper's return of 4.3 saves per 90 was the second best in Europe's top five leagues this season, while no goalkeeper landed more WhoScored man of the match awards than Joronen (4) to secure his spot in this team. 

 

Right-back: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester) - 7.50 rating 

 

The first of four Premier League representatives to make the WhoScored European team of the season, Ricardo Pereira may have missed the final weeks of the Premier League season through injury, but the Portuguese right-back was exceptional prior to his absence. Despite missing the final 10 Premier League games of the campaign, Pereira still made the third most tackles (119) in Europe's top five leagues, 10 off Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who led this particular metric. Three goals and two assists helped the 26-year-old nail down the right-back berth in this XI. 

 

Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.32 rating 

 

The sole Liverpool representative is colossal centre-back Virgil van Dijk. The Reds star was exceptional as the Merseysiders ended their 30-year wait for a top-flight title with their defensive resolve vital. Indeed, Van Dijk played every minute for a Liverpool side that conceded fewer goals (33) than any other Premier League team this season and was a key figure at the other end of the pitch, too, as he scored five times for Jurgen Klopp's side. The 29-year-old routinely display a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'passing' as he made more accurate passes (2903) than any other player to feature at the heart of the defence. 

 

Centre-back: James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 7.19 rating 

 

Partnering Van Dijk at the back in the WhoScored European team of the season is Burnley's James Tarkowski. Like Van Dijk, the Clarets centre-back played every minute of the 2019/20 Premier League season as Sean Dyche's season finished the campaign 10th with Tarkowski evidently central as he made more clearances (200) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this term. The 27-year-old was aerially dominant, too, as he won more aerial duels (198) than any other defender to make the cut. 

 

Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.52 rating 

 

Rounding off the backline is the first of two Bayern Munich representatives. Alphonso Davies enjoyed a stunning breakthrough year for the Bavarian powerhouse as he made the left-back position his own for Hansi Flick's side. The 19-year-old pressed forward well as he scored three and provided five assists for the Bundesliga champions, and completed more dribbles (82) than any other defender in Europe's top five leagues. This is just the beginning for Davies, who'll use 2019/20 as a foundation to continue his development as one of the best left-backs in the game. 

 

 

Right midfield: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 8.71 rating 

 

The first and only LaLiga representative in the European team of the season is Barcelona sensation Lionel Messi. The Argentine supposedly endured a sub-par campaign, but still did enough to land the player of the season award as he yielded a WhoScored rating of 8.71 in LaLiga. Messi scored 25 goals and provided 21 assists for the Blaugrana in 2019/20, those returns ranking fifth and first, respectively, and completed more dribbles per game (5.5) than any other player. The 33-year-old earned the WhoScored man of the match award in 22 of his 32 league starts, at least 12 more than any other player, to occupy the spot on the right. 

 

Central midfield: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.64 rating 

 

A player possibly returning to the Premier League in the not-too-distant future, Jadon Sancho enjoyed a wonderful season for Bundesliga runners' up Borussia Dortmund. The England international was one of a handful of players to register double figures for both goals (17) and assists (16), those returns ranking 22nd and fourth, respectively, in Europe. Only Alphonso Davies (82) completed more dribbles than Sancho (77) of players aged 21 and under in Europe's top five leagues this season, which contributed towards the Borussia Dortmund star's inclusion in this XI. 

 

Central midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 7.97 rating 

 

What could have been for Manchester City had they retained Sancho's services. Kevin De Bruyne joins his former City teammate in the midfield in the European team of the season as one of three players to create in excess of 100 goalscoring chances, laying on 136 key passes, more than any other player. Only Lionel Messi (36) created more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities than De Bruyne (33) in Europe's top five leagues, with his 20 assists more than any other Premier League player as the Belgian again excelled for Pep Guardiola's side. He'll hope to end the campaign with a Champions League winners' medal as City gear up for their second leg tie with Real Madrid on Friday. 

 

Left midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 7.82 rating 

 

The second Serie A representative plies his trade for champions Juventus. Cristiano Ronaldo landed the player of the season award with a WhoScored rating of 7.82 as he scored 31 goals and provided five assists for the Old Lady to land the individual gong for the second time following his arrival from Real Madrid in 2018. The Portuguese star managed more shots (208) than any other player, while his 23 clear-cut chances scored was the second best return in Europe's top five leagues to contribute towards his selection in the team of the season. 

 

Messi the star while just one Liverpool player makes European Team of the Season

 

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 8.13 rating 

 

The second Bayern Munich player to feature in the WhoScored European team of the season, Robert Lewandowski put in a stunning season for the Bundesliga champions as he scored 34 league goals and provided four assists for the Bavarian giants. Of those 34 league goals, 30 were deemed to be clear-cut goalscoring opportunities, that at least seven more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues, and the Polish forward bagged more headed goals (8) than any other player to feature on the frontline. 

 

Striker: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) - 7.60 rating 

 

Partnering Lewandowski in attack to complete the European team of the season is Chelsea summer arrival Timo Werner. The German forward enjoyed a stunning final campaign for RB Leipzig, with his excellent showings culminating in a high profile switch to the Blues. Werner netted 28 times for RB Leipzig and provided an additional eight assists, while his 10 WhoScored man of the match awards was second only to Messi (22) in Europe's top five leagues as the 24-year-old returned a WhoScored rating of 7.60.

Messi the star while just one Liverpool player makes European Team of the Season