Messi streaks ahead of Ronaldo and the rest in MOTM XI

Having kicked off our Stats XI series with key passes and dribbles, we turn our attention to the WhoScored man of the match award top XI in Europe's top five leagues this season. 

Some big names miss out in this side, with no Liverpool players in particular making the grade, but there remains a number of high profile star men, and some lesser known performers, who feature in this team, where fewest minutes played takes precedence where the number of man of the match awards is level. 

Goalkeeper: Robin Zentner (Mainz 05) - 4 Man of the Match Awards 

Mainz may be struggling at the wrong end of the Bundesliga table, and sat just four points above the relegation playoff spot, but they would be in much greater danger without Robin Zentner's heroics between the sticks. Indeed, the 25-year-old's 77 saves is the fourth most in the Bundesliga this season and four man of the match awards is more than any other goalkeeper in Europe's top five leagues, those coming in wins over Hertha Berlin, Paderborn, FC Koln and Hoffenheim. 

Right-back: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid) - 3 

Right-backs have struggled to land individual gongs in Europe's top five leagues this season, with the most any has player has earned in the role being three. Dani Carvajal edges out Trent Alexander-Arnold in this regard as the former has played fewer minutes than the latter. Carvajal picked the opportune time to land his most recent gong, doing so in Real Madrid's 2-0 Clasico win over Barcelona. 

Centre-back: James Tarkowski (Burnley) - 5 

James Tarkowski's stock may have fallen slightly, but there is no denying that the Burnley centre-back remains one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League. Only Liverpool (12) have kept more clean sheets than the Clarets (11) in England's top tier this term, with Tarkowski's man of the match performance coming in five of those 11 outings, more than any other centre-back. 

Centre-back: Chris Basham (Sheffield United) - 4 

Partnering Tarkowski at the back is Sheffield United star Chris Basham. A fair few centre-backs have won four WhoScored man of the match awards this season, including Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, but having done so in fewer minutes, the 31-year-old makes the cut in this XI, with his most recent star man showing coming in 1-0 win over Norwich prior to the Premier League's suspension. 

Left-back: Hassane Kamara (Reims) - 7 

One the surprise packages in Ligue 1 this season, Hassane Kamara has a whopping seven WhoScored man of the match awards to his name this term, a fine return for any player, let alone a left-back. Reims have conceded fewer goals (21) than any other team in Ligue 1 this season with Kamara evidently key having earned the accolade in positive results against high flying trio Marseille, Lyon and Rennes this term. 

Right midfield: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 13 

Lionel Messi has been named the WhoScored man of the match in 13 of his 22 LaLiga appearances this season (59.1%), with the Argentine in stunning form for Barcelona this term. Home comforts have been crucial for Messi, with nine of his 13 star men showings coming at Camp Nou, but Messi is far and away the leader of this metric in Europe's top five leagues. 

Central midfield: Neymar (PSG) - 8 

Neymar has endured his injury issues this season, but when available, the Brazilian has been exceptional. The PSG star has been named the WhoScored man of the match in eight of his 15 Ligue 1 outings this term (53.3%), which includes two perfect 10 showings. It's likely his man of the match return would have been higher, with Neymar featuring in only 55.6% of PSG's league matches this season, but his fine form in France can't be understated. 

Central midfield: Luis Alberto (Lazio) - 8 

Lazio have had a WhoScored man of the match in 24 of their 26 league matches this season with Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto accounting for 16 of those 24. It's only the latter who makes this XI - more on that later - with the creative Spaniard shining in Italy this season. Indeed, of the eight man of the match awards he has picked up, three have come in his last five outings, with his four goals and 12 assists lending weight to his fine award return. 

Left midfield: Dimitri Payet (Marseille) - 8 

Marseille boss Andre Villas Boas previously spoke of Payetdependencia and with just two wins from their six league matches Dimitri Payet hasn't started, it's easy to see why. The French midfielder has been named the WhoScored man of the match in eight of his 22 league outings this season to occupy the left midfield spot in this XI. 

Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 9 

Earning nine WhoScored man of the match awards this season, Cristiano Ronaldo is second only to Lionel Messi in this metric. Having struggled in the opening weeks of the campaign, the Juventus star really came into his own in recent months, with six of those nine star man gongs coming from December onwards. He may have failed to break the Serie A goalscoring record streak, but an 11-match goal run helped reach his man of the match record. 

Striker: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) - 8 

Partnering Ronaldo on the frontline is RB Leipzig hitman Timo Werner. The German striker, like Ciro Immobile and Joselu, has eight WhoScored man of the match awards to his name this season, but having played fewer minutes than the pair, it's Werner who rounds off this XI. It's not undeserved either. Werner has netted 21 goals and provided seven assists in the Bundesliga this term, with his best performance coming in the 8-0 win over Mainz 05 back in November.