The best players in each of Europe's top 5 League

The Premier League has kicked off and we are awaiting the others to start. Let us have a look on who is going to be the focus of all discussions this season, in each of Europe's top 5 league. The top 5 players in focus from each league are -

Premier League

1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

2. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

3. Harry Kane (Tottenham)

4. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

5. Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

La Liga

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

2. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona)

3. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

4. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

5. Isco ( Real Madrid)

Serie A

1. Cristiano Ronaldo ( Juventus)

2. Gonzalo Higuain (AC Milan)

3. Paulo Dybala (Juventus)

4. Mauro Icardi (Inter)

5. Radja Nainggolan (Inter)

Ligue 1

1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

2. Neymar (PSG)

3. Edinson Cavani (PSG)

4. Florian Thauvin (Marseille)

5. Houssem Aouar (Lyon)

Bundesliga

1. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

2. Marco Reus (Borrusia Dortmund)

3. James Rodriguez (Bayern Munich)

4. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

5. Mario Gotze (Borrusia Dortmund)

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Bundesliga

Bundesliga players did not have a good World Cup campaign this time around. Hence, they will try to forget the past and start the new season on a positive note. Poland were relying heavily on Robert Lewandowski and he has not delivered in the World Cup. With declining fortunes, he will have to upgrade himself and compensate for the rest of this season.

It was hard to believe that a heavyweight German side could be uprooted in the group round in the World Cup. However, It has happened and Manuel Neuer must be keen to make amends. He is the captain of his club and country. Enormous responsibilities are lying on his shoulders with high expectations.

Everyone is waiting to see how this shot-stopper responds, especially after the highlighted moves of Courtois and Kepa to Real and Chelsea respectively. In spite of whatever has happened in the recent past, he is the best in this league.

James Rodriguez, Marco Reus and Mario Gotze will have to rise to the occasion to compete with Neuer in this league. After the fantastic debut of Naby Keita with Liverpool, it could be unarguably said that RB Leipzig and Bundesliga has lost a gem of a player.

La Liga

This is the League that has been devastated by the departure of two greats of Football. One is the iconic midfielder and silent guardian of Barcelona, Andres Iniesta and the other one was the main-man of Madrid and La Liga, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi must have been feeling dejected now after a below-par World Cup. These two departures have added to his woes. For him, Iniesta was the avenger and Ronaldo was the rival motivation. With due respect to everyone, the competition he brought to Messi is not supposed to be paralleled by any other player in La Liga.

However, as we have seen in the last season when things had looked bleak for Barcelona, Lionel rose to the occasion and showcased why he is considered to be a worthy candidate of GOAT. He almost single-handedly clinched the La Liga and Copa del Rey, with of course, some able support from Coutinho, Rakitić, Iniesta and Suarez. He is one of the best of all time in the business in La Liga and other leagues combined.

Luka Modric and Isco will have to do a lot of work with Ron-less Madrid. It is going to be a huge ask for them to catch the levels of Messi. Modric though has a chance to go to the podium for Ballon d'Or. However, the second half of the season will be the decider this time as no one is an outright favourite.

Griezmann will have to carry on his form from the world cup. He is expected to fill the void created by the departure of Ronaldo in La Liga. He has been presented with a golden opportunity and responsibility to be the best after Messi in the league.

We have one addition to the list of great players in the League, Thibaut Courtois. He is a tough nut to crack in front of the goal. Messi - Courtois duel will make the El Classico more intriguing.

Serie A

With his shocking move to Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo has brought the attention of the footballing fraternity back to the land of romance, once known for its charisma in 80s and 90s. At an age of 33, not many would have taken a risk of this magnitude to go to a challenging league like Serie A. Once the watchful protector of Madrid, now has assigned himself with the task of taking the Old Lady to Champions League glory.

Higuain has now found strong competition in goal scoring front. He will have to raise his game with AC Milan. Dybala has got an ideal mentor to guide him to the podium of FIFA awards.

Defenders across teams in Serie A must be having nightmares, thinking about the competition. They will have to amplify their preparation. It is evident that Serie A is not going to be the same League anymore. Well done, Andrea Agnelli. Call of the Century!!!

As Ron has not played a single minute in the league, therefore, at the moment Higuain and Dybala are the favourites to be considered the best. However, cometh the hour, they might find it difficult to keep the tag with them. Cristiano Ronaldo is here with a mission. Shining!

Premier League

The League is flooded with champion footballers. It has now more players to watch for than ever from different teams. The league boasts to have players like

• Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Sergio Aguero from Manchester City;
• Harry Kane and Son Heung-min from Tottenham;
• Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante from Chelsea;
• Paul Pogba from Manchester United;
• The Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane from Liverpool;
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal.

All the players listed above have more or less a good World Cup outing in Russia, with the exception of Mohamed Salah. He must be itching to roar again in the Premier League.

If injuries do not spoil his run, then he could definitely repeat his last year's feat. And if he could replicate his heroics, he would be a promising candidate for the Ballon d'Or next time. The competition is tough but arguably Salah is the best in the league.

De Bruyne will be a serious threat to Salah for his endeavour. The way Paul Pogba has started he could not be written off that easily. Harry Kane must be looking for his shooting boots.

Overall, it's going to be a season to watch for in this league. We never know if someone from the league could dethrone Messi and Ronaldo, truncating their duopoly at the top. Fingers Crossed!

Ligue 1

There has been a change of fortunes for the league in the last two months. Three seasons ago, they were relying on Zlatan to get the attention of the world. The transfer saga of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe from last year and this year's exploits of Kylian Mbappe in the World Cup has brought the league into focus. PSG must be one of the firm favourites once again for the Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Mbappe has become the first teenager to score in the World Cup final since Pele. He would be the centre of attention this year. And who knows we can see a gigantic transfer next season. The "Roll on the Floor" campaign done by Neymar in the World Cup has raised many eyebrows. He has to prove his worth again. He is still the best bet to dethrone Ronaldo and Messi. Brazilians are not known to be intimidated easily. If Neymar rises, then this season could go on to become one of the best of all time across leagues. After a long time, all the 5 leagues have worthy candidates of Ballon d'Or.

As Bonnie Tyler would have said,

Let the show begin...

Let the orchestra play...

Let the dancers in...

And we'll dance the night away...