Best XIs from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1
• Teams are picked on ratings from players with at least 20 appearances
Heurelho Gomes: goalkeeper – 7.07
While Watford’s season may have ended in a disappointing fashion, they secured their goal of survival with months to spare. No player contributed in a more significant way throughout the campaign for Quique Sanchez Flores’ side than Heurelho Gomes, who produced more saves than any other goalkeeper in the league (120), boasting the fourth best save success rate of those to make at least 20 appearances (71.6%).
Cédric Soares: right-back – 7.27
He may not have drawn too many plaudits but Cédric Soares enjoyed a fine debut season with Southampton to just pip Héctor Bellerín to a place in our team of the season. The Portugal international ranked among the league’s top 20 players in terms of tackles per game (three) and, of the full-backs to make at least 20 appearances, he was fourth for chances created per game (1.1) and third for accurate crosses per game (1.3).
Virgil van Dijk: centre-back – 7.56
Another real hit on the south coast, Virgil van Dijk made the switch from north of the border with consummate ease and became a colossus for Southampton for much of the season. The Dutchman placed fourth in the entire league in terms of total clearances (260) and third for aerial duels won, with his tally of 163 making him the highest placed centre-back. He also scored three goals in a superb first season with Southampton.
Laurent Koscielny: centre-back DC - 7.48
Going one better than Van Dijk in terms of hitting the back of the net from defence, Koscielny scored four and was behind only Scott Dann in terms of goalscoring centre-backs. The Frenchman’s tally of 127 interceptions ranked third in the league and was much higher than any other player in his position. Arsenal struggled during his five-game absence, winning just two of those matches.
Christian Fuchs: left-back – 7.50
Another defender who proved to be an outstanding acquisition last summer, Christian Fuchs had to wait for his chance in the Leicester team but boy did he grab it with both hands. The Austrian created the third most chances of any defender in the league in their title winning campaign (45), registering four assists, as well as ranking among the top 10 players in the division for interceptions per game (1.3).
Riyad Mahrez: right midfield – 7.84
Securing the highest rating of any player, Riyad Mahrez was a worthy winner of the PFA Player of the Year award. The Algerian placed among the league’s top five players for both goals (17) and assists (11), ending the campaign as the only player to register double figures in both. With the 25-year old also topping the league in terms of successful dribbles (131), he may well be in high demand this summer.
Mousa Dembélé: central midfield – 7.69
Although his season ended in disgrace when he received a six-game ban for poking Diego Costa’s eye, Mousa Dembélé was at his very best in Spurs’ title bid. The Belgian ended the campaign on the losing side just once in his 29 appearances, with that defeat coming on the opening day of the season when fielded on the right against Manchester United. Of all players the players in the league who attempted at least 50 dribbles, Dembélé boasted the best success rate in any of Europe’s top five leagues (92.2%). He also excelled defensively, placing fourth in the Premier League for tackles per game (3.6).
Mesut Özil: central midfield – 7.66
His form tailed off in the second half of the season, but Özil was at his creative best to register 19 assists – the most of any player in Europe’s top five leagues. His tally of 146 chances created was 27 more than any other player in the Premier League, while the 27-year-old delivered the second most accurate crosses (92), meaning he just edged out N’Golo Kanté (7.61 rating) in our best XI.
Dimitri Payet: left midfield – 7.74
Trading places with Ozil for key passes and crosses, Payet ranked first in the league for the latter (94) and was the German’s closest challenger in terms of the former, creating 119 chances. His ability to pick out a teammate saw the Frenchman finish the campaign with the joint-third most assists (12), with 9 goals and 2.2 dribbles per game helping Payet become an instant icon for West Ham, undoubtedly in the running for signing of the season.
Harry Kane: forward - 7.53
Although the season ended in heartache for Spurs, Harry Kane will no doubt have been delighted to end the 2015-16 campaign as the Premier League’s top scorer with 25 goals. The England international tested the opposition keeper with at least 22 more shots than any other player in the top flight (75) and was one of only five outfield players to start every league game for his club.
Jamie Vardy: forward – 7.51
He may have finished second in the scoring charts – just one behind his England team-mate Harry Kane – but Jamie Vardy ends the campaign as the happiest striker in the land without question. The 29-year-old had a simply remarkable season, with six assists meaning he had a direct hand in more goals than any other player (30), with his rise through the leagues seemingly proving to be the stuff of which Hollywood films are made.
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