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#7 MARQUINHOS, PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
With the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the squad, players like Marquinhos tend to go unnoticed. However, there is no denying his importance for Paris Saint-Germain.
The Brazil international joined Paris Saint-Germain from Roma for a fee of €31.4 million in 2013. Although predominantly a centre-back, the arrival of Thomas Tuchel has seen him operate as a defensive midfielder, where he has excelled.
The 26-year old played 19 games in the league this season, mostly as a central midfielder. He had an impressive pass accuracy of 93.4%, highlighting why he has been termed as one of the best ball-playing defenders in the world. He also managed 3.8 long balls per game from midfield.
#6 DAVID ALABA, BAYERN MUNICH
Arguably the best utility player in the world. David Alaba is an excellent left-back, centre-back, left-winger and a central midfielder, all rolled into one.
A Bayern Munich academy product, the arrival of Pep Guardiola made Alaba into who he is today. The Austria international is now regarded as one of the best players in the world, with his passing ability and match intelligence well-renowned.
Now 28 years of age, Alaba played 28 games in the league, scoring one goal and providing one assist. A centre-back for large stretches of the season under Hansi Flick, he averaged 86.7 passes per game, the best in Europe, with a pass accuracy of 90.7%. He only has one year left in his contract, with Manchester City, Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona all keeping a close eye.
#5 VIRGIL VAN DIJK, LIVERPOOL
The best centre-back in the world, Virgil van Dijk's rise has been impressive.
The 29-year old joined Liverpool from Southampton for a fee of £75 million in 2018, and is already a fan favourite at his club. A looming defensive presence, his ability to play out from the back has often eased the pressure on the Liverpool backline as well as on the midfield.
The Netherlands international has made 37 appearances in the league this season. He averaged 85.1 passes per game, the third-highest in Europe with a pass accuracy of 88.9%. As he averaged 5.4 long balls per game, his pass accuracy has been slightly affected.
#4 TONI KROOS, REAL MADRID
There is no denying the quality and class Toni Kroos possesses. He is one of the best midfielders of the modern generation, as his performances for Real Madrid have shown.
Kroos joined Los Blancos from Bayern Munich in 2014 for a fee of €25 million. The Germany international formed a world-class partnership in Spain with Luka Modric, as they ran teams ragged with their control in midfield.
The 30-year old made 35 appearances in the league as Real Madrid won the league title. He came fifth in Europe for pass accuracy, with 93.5%. A player with excellent vision and technical ability, he came second in the Real Madrid squad for key passes per game.
