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Europe is the hotbed of world football. Players from all over the world have a hope of making it big in Europe, rightfully considered as the most competitive place to play football. Naturally, the continent is home to some of the best players in the world who have made their name dominating in the European scene.
In this segment, we will take a look at the top seven European players in the world right now who are killing it in their respective leagues and in club football's holy grail - the Champions League. These seven players have been selected on the basis of their performances, influence and effectivity to their sides this season:
#7 Ciro Immobile (Lazio and Italy)
A lot was not expected from the Italian striker when he joined Lazio after his disappointing outing with Borussia Dortmund. A forward not known for his blistering pace, Immobile had his work cut out when he was handed the role of Lazio's top striker this season.
Against all odds, Immobile has managed to not only lead the scoring charts in Serie A but also have the best season of his long career. With 32 goals in as many appearances in all competitions, the 28-year-old has managed to resurrect an image as one of the leading European strikers in the world.
He also leads the way in scoring a goal every 78 minutes and has also produced 10 assists this campaign. Lazio are flying high this season and with Koulibaly in defence and Milinkovic-Savic in midfield, Immobile has done exceedingly well to make his mark in such a well-drilled unit.
#6 Eden Hazard (Chelsea and Belgium)
There aren't many players in the world that can take over the mantle from the Ronaldos and the Messis in the coming future. Eden Hazard is certainly one of those players and is hands down one of the most gifted players to ever play in the Premier League.
Coming in 2012, Hazard has managed to imprint his authority in London and has won two league titles, one league cup and one Europa League title despite playing under as many as five different managers. This Chelsea side revolves around Hazard and in his absence, the Blues certainly lack a punch.
Despite missing a few games through injury this season, Hazard has piled up some impressive numbers. With 15 goals and 6 assists in all competitions, the Belgian may finally reach the coveted 20 goal mark this season. He has also attempted the most dribbles in the Premier League this season, attempting close to 5 dribbles every 90 minutes.
#5 Nabil Fekir (Lyon and France)
When you see the 24-year-old live in action, there is a kind of swagger about Nabil Fekir that is not seen in many players in the world right now. This season has seen Fekir delivering at its very best. Be it his dribbling, his playmaking skills or his composure in front of the goal, Fekir has been one of the best players in Ligue 1 this season and subsequently, one of the best in Europe.
With 16 goals and 6 assists in the league so far, Fekir has been Lyon's saviour in their bid for Champions League qualification. And the attacker has done it in the big games as well. Be it his free-kick goals against Marseille and PSG or his winner in stoppage time against AS Monaco, Fekir has stepped up when it mattered the most.
It says a lot to be the most fouled player in the league which also has a certain forward going by the name of Neymar Jr. He currently gets fouled 3.8 times per 90 minutes but still manages to create 2 chances per game in France. Going by his form this season, Fekir will soon be seen hobnobbing in one of the top clubs in Europe.
Contender for goal of the season.
#4 David De Gea (Manchester United and Spain)
Where would Manchester United be without this man? United's best player by a fair margin, the best goalkeeper in the world on current form, David De Gea is ruling the rooster at the moment. His reflexes and his positional awareness make him stand head and shoulders above his peers.
United have the best defence in the league this season. The biggest contributor in achieving that feat has been De Gea. He has played every minute in the league this season and has accumulated 15 clean sheets in the process. In Europe, De Gea has been influential and his spectacular outing against Sevilla has kept United in the tie.
Also, taking a look at the expected goals (xG) data, De Gea has conceded 10 goals less than what he should have in the league this season. 10 goals is a huge number when you predict the number of points it has saved for the side.
On current form, De Gea is the best person between the sticks and deserves his name to be taken in the higher echelons of world football.
What.A.Save.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal)
One just cannot discard the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo. Bad patch, suspensions and injuries have affected Ronaldo's current campaign but despite all the hurdles, he has still managed 28 goals in all competitions in just 31 appearances and is on course to win the Champions League golden boot award.
The Portuguese hitman has been highly impressive in European games this season and leads the chart with 11 goals in 7 matches. He has been in terrific form since the turn of the year and is expected to again breach the 40 goal mark this campaign. In this term, Ronaldo also became the first player ever to score 100 Champions League goals for a single club.
The most striking aspect of Ronaldo in this season has been his super adaptive nature. He has been impressive with his positioning and spatial awareness in the box and has reaped benefits from his astute game sense. The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi is still going strong and it is just because of the sheer will and strength shown by the great man.
Utter dominance in Europe.
#2 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur and England)
When you score 30+ goals three seasons in a row in the most competitive league in the world, you are destined to be named among the best in the business. Harry Kane is not only one of the best strikers in the Premier League but on current form, the Englishman is one of the best in the world.
In an era of modern strikers and false nines, this traditional no.9 has performed exceedingly well for Tottenham Hotspur. He is prolific in front of the goal and his ability to bring his teammates into play has made him a nightmare to play against. With 35 goals in all competitions this season, Harry Kane is the front-runner for the golden boot in England.
There were apprehensions about Kane keeping up his high levels in the Champions League. Seven goals in as many matches have proved that notion wrong. He has scored against the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus this campaign which has further enhanced his reputation as being the most feared striker in Europe.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Some of the passes that De Bruyne has played this season have been outrageous to say the least. He has been operating on literally God mode this season and is one of the main reasons why Manchester City are flying high in England and in Europe.
Deploying him in a slightly deeper midfield role can be said as Pep Guardiola's second best decision of his career (playing a certain Argentinian as the striker remains the first). With 11 goals and 18 assists coupled with his 2.8 key passes per game, De Bruyne has been inarguably the best player in the Premier League.
Supporters pay a big price to watch a game live in a stadium. Kevin De Bruyne has been that player this season for which the supporters won't think twice before spending a huge amount.
Only second to the great Lionel Messi in terms of creativity and vision, De Bruyne has surely elevated himself among the best in the world through his consistent showings.
