'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Lionel Messi's return from injury didn't pan out the way we had expected. With him in the starting XI, Barcelona suffered a shocking 4-3 defeat at the hands of Real Betis at the Nou Camp. Yet, the Argentine carried out his job to perfection as he netted a brace in the game.
Trending
Messi bagged the Player of the Month award in September and looks set to boss the league as always. He has scored 9 goals and assisted another 5 in 10 league games for Ernesto Valverde's men. He also has 5 Man of the Match awards already under his belt this season.
Leo Messi has taken 4.6 shots per game, more than any other player in the Spanish top flight. His presence will definitely help Barcelona shake off the pressure from the teams that have been tailing them closely as they maintain their spot atop the table.
With Ronaldo gone, there are hardly any players who can challenge Messi's claim to the crown of the league's best footballer.
All Stats Courtesy: Whoscored.com
