'%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)
The Premier League is the richest football league in the world and arguably the most competitive as well.
The lure of the competition has been such that some of the finest players in the world have plied their trade in the Premier League over the years. In this respect, many players from reigning European champions Portugal have graced the competition, with many of them going on to carve out a niche for themselves.
5 best Portuguese players in the Premier League at the moment
A bevy of talented Portuguese players - Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and Ricardo Carvalho, to name a few - have played in the Premier League over the years.
Trending
Even in more recent times, multiple top-class Portuguese players have found success in the Premier League. On that note, let us have a look at the five best Portuguese players in the competition at the moment.
#5 Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Pedro Neto arrived in the Premier League last summer when he signed up with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 20-year-old striker had a difficult debut campaign in the competition, managing only three goals and as many assists in 29 games. However, this season, Neto has three goals and two assists in only ten Premier League games.
Neto, who idolises his illustrious compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, has scored against Fulham, Southampton and Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
The exploits of the former Lazio player, who has also notched up assists in the wins against Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, have helped Wolves to a creditable sixth place in the Premier League table, above the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City.
#4 Rui Patricio (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Another Portuguese player who has impressed for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this season is goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper, who has made quite a name for himself for his penalty-saving prowess in the Premier League, has kept four clean sheets in the competition this season.
The Wolves number one has managed to shut out Crystal Palace, Leeds, Fulham and Sheffield United, while conceding more than two goals just twice in ten Premier League games this season.
Patricio played all 38 Premier League games last season and kept 13 clean sheets as Wolves finished a creditable seventh in the competition to narrowly miss out on the Europa League.
#3 Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Portuguese centre-back Ruben Dias has impressed at Manchester City since his arrival at the Premier League club this summer.
The 23-year-old has been one of the few bright sparks for a dismal City team who are languishing at a lowly tenth place in the 2020-21 Premier League table.
Dias, who has played seven games in the Premier League this season, particularly impressed in City's hard-fought solitary goal win against Arsenal. He completed the most touches, passes and aerial duels in that game, as a goal-shy City barely managed to keep their citadel intact and take all three points.
Dias expressed his delight at being able to hit the ground running at the Premier League club, saying in this regard:
"The one thing I would say is my mentality is to be as complete as I can be in every part of the game. I have been doing my best since now. I will keep doing it. Obviously it is a big part of the deal to have good people around you to learn and to learn the right way.’
#2 Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Diogo Jota has hit the ground running since arriving at defending Premier League champions Liverpool in the summer.
In what has been a difficult title defence for Liverpool exacerbated by long-term injuries to key players like Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip, Jota has been like a breath of fresh air at the beleaguered club.
The 23-year-old winger marked his debut in the Premier League by scoring in Liverpool's 3-1 win against Arsenal. Jota has since found the net in three more games in the competition, having done so against Sheffield United, Leicester City and Brighton.
Jota has also flourished in the Champions League. He has scored four goals in as many games this season, including a hat-trick in Liverpool's 5-0 win at Atalanta.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is understandably euphoric at the impact Diogo Jota has had since his arrival at Anfield, saying in this regard:
“I liked the discipline he showed, plus the creativity he showed, plus the desire he showed. And his skills are pretty good anyway, so I got a lot of good signs before we signed him that it could work out.”
#1 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes is arguably the finest Portuguese player in the Premier League at the moment.
Since arriving at Manchester United in January this year, the 26-year-old midfielder has averaged almost a goal contribution per game (35 in 36 games, with 22 goals and 13 assists).
After almost singlehandedly helping the club to a creditable third place in the Premier League last season, Bruno Fernandes has started the season in blistering form. He has already scored ten times in 14 games in all competitions for the club while also providing four assists.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has compared Bruno Fernades to his illustrious national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo for the impact he has had at the club, saying:
"He does definitely have that presence (like Ronaldo). He has that influence and impact on his teammates. We can just look at the results since he's come in. He's got lots of energy, leadership; he's a team player, which is a key here now for us going forward."
