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We have approached the mid point of the 2018-19 European football season, with lots of surprises and enthralling football along the way.
While some major heavyweights like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich have flattered to deceive, it has been smooth sailing for the likes of PSG, Liverpool, and Juventus who are all yet to lose.
The league races are gradually beginning to take shape in a lot of countries, as the major contenders have distanced themselves from the rest of the pack, with the title race still being open in leagues like the EPL and LaLiga, while in the Serie A and Ligue 1, it is all but a foregone conclusion, owing to the very healthy lead held by Juventus and PSG respectively.
Every year offers an opportunity for us to witness the birth of a new superstar, as a previously unheralded player grabs his opportunity, catapulting himself to global stardom with his displays on the field, and this season has been no different.
In this piece, we profile five hitherto unrated players who have put in spectacular displays in each of Europe's top five leagues.
#1 Premier League 2018-19
Breakout star - Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
The 26-year-old has been one of the revelations of the season, with his performances for Bournemouth in this campaign earning him widespread plaudits.
Having been just another Premier League striker for the last 4 seasons, Wilson has exploded during this campaign, and already boasts 8 goals (matching his best ever season tally), as well as 6 assists from just 18 PL matches.
His impressive form for Eddie Howe's men led to him getting his maiden England call-up in November, and he repaid Gareth Southgate's faith by grabbing a goal on his international debut for the Three Lions.
Indeed, such has been Wilson's form that there have been officially confirmed reports that a number of big Premier League clubs (including Chelsea) are interested in his services, and if the former Coventry man can keep up this pace, then we can expect that he won't be at the Vitality Stadium for much longer.
Honorable mention - Richarlison (Everton)
All stats via transfermarkt
#2 France Ligue 1
Breakout star - Nicolas Pepe (OSC Lille)
One of the most in-demand Ligue 1 players at the moment, Pepe made a name for himself last season when he scored 13 goals and laid on 5 assists in 36 Ligue 1 matches, but the 23-year-old seems set to surpass that mark this term.
In 19 French league matches this season, the Ivorian has scored 12 goals, while providing 7 assists to help Lille sit second on the Ligue 1 table, while on an individual level, he is second only to Mbappe in the race for the French League Golden Boot, which is no mean feat, considering the fact that he is ahead of established world beaters like Neymar Jr, Edinson Cavani, and Radamel Falcao.
On the back of his strong performances this season, Arsenal have reportedly classified him as their priority signing, with Emery keen to complete a deal as soon as this winter window opens. With the form he is in, he would be a great addition to any club he finds himself.
Honorable mention - Lebo Mothiba (Strasbourg)
#3 Germany Bundesliga
Breakout star - Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Having gotten a bit into the limelight following his exploits with the England U17 team which won the U17 World Cup in 2017, big things were expected of Sancho, due to Guardiola's history of developing young players.
Sancho continued to impress in the City academy, leading to billionaire chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak earmarking him as one of a trio of academy players upon whom City's future would be built.
However, owing to the plethora of world class options ahead of him, Guardiola could not guarantee Sancho the playing time he sought when he was about to sign his first professional contract ahead of last season, leading the then 17-year-old to make the decision to move to the Bundesliga, which was a rarity for English players (who rarely stray far from the comforts of home) especially given that he is so young.
That move has proven to be beneficial to every party involved. Sancho got a taste of first team football last season, making 12 Bundesliga appearances. But it is this season where he has really blossomed.
Under the guidance of Lucien Favre (who is not afraid to give youth a chance), Sancho has shone like a million stars. Playing in all 17 Bundesliga matches this season, and weighing in with 6 goals and 8 assists to help Dortmund stay 6 points clear at the top of the standings in Germany.
His form for BVB did not go unnoticed, and he became the first player born in the 2000's to win a cap for the Three Lions.
With Sancho's progress, he is bound to grow from strength to strength, and for every record he sets at such a tender age, City can only look on in awe and wonder what might have been.
Honorable mention - Javairo Dilrosun (Hertha Berlin)
#4 Italy Serie A
Breakout star - Krzysztof Piątek (Genoa)
He's perhaps the biggest revelation of the season in all of Europe. Piatek is a 23-year-old Polish international who had spent all of his previous professional career in Poland.
After scoring 21 goals during the 2017-18 Ekstraklasa in Poland which saw him finish as the third highest goalscorer in the Polish top division, Genoa paid €4 million for his services at the start of June.
Owing to his relatively obscure past, not much was expected from Piatek on his arrival in Serie A, but he has absolutely shocked everyone with his performances thus far, and currently sits top of the Serie A scorers chart, higher than established superstars such as Mauro Icardi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Dzeko, and Ciro Immobile.
Earlier this season, he became the first man since the legendary Gabriel Batistuta to score in each of his first 7 Serie A matches, and he is surely looking like a bargain for the price he was bought.
The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals in 18 Serie A matches, while also scoring an incredible 6 goals from just 2 Coppa Italia fixtures, in displays which were largely unexpected at the start of the season.
Piatek has scored almost half of Genoa's goals in Serie A this season, and if he is to keep up with this form, you can expect one of Europe's bigger teams to start making inquiries over his services soon enough.
Honorable mention - Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
#5 Spain LaLiga
Breakout star - Arthur Melo (Barcelona)
After impressing for 3 seasons with his native Gremio whom he led to the 2017 Copa Libertadores, Barcelona shelled out €31 million for his signature in the summer of 2018.
Not much was known about the diminutive Brazilian prior to his arrival, but everyone knows all about him now.
Having initially struggled for playing time, Arthur found himself in the spotlight, with Valverde needing drastic measures following a slump in form by Barcelona, and that drastic measure was thrusting the untested midfielder in from the start against Tottenham away at Wembley in the Champions League.
It was supposed to be a baptism of fire for the 22-year-old, instead Arthur won widespread praise for his calmness on the ball, and the way he dictated the midfield ahead of more seasoned and experienced campaigners.
Melo's displays were so exceptional that he grabbed a lot of headlines, and has firmly become established as a mainstay in the Barca line-up since then.
His style of play has inevitably drawn comparisons with former Barcelona great Xavi - who also had a penchant for short passing and dictating the tempo, and this is a comparison which has been sanctioned by the midfield legend himself, with the Barca icon giving Arthur his endorsement.
Barcelona have long sought for a replacement to Xavi since he departed the Nou Camp, and while Arthur still has some way to go before matching the illustrious Spaniard's achievements, if he is to continue at this trajectory, then he would undoubtedly become a Barca midfield legend in the years to come.
Honorable mention - Marcos Llorente (Real Madrid)
