'%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 most dreaded time of the year for football fans is edging closer by the minute. While the Premier League and the Bundesliga seasons came to an end this weekend, there is only one more matchday in the remaining top European leagues, before it's time to say goodbye to the 2017/18 campaign and move on to the next season.
Admittedly, we have the FIFA World Cup to look forward to this summer, which makes the time of waiting less painful. However, it is still the time to reflect on what has been a wonderful season for all football fans.
While many of the title races were decided early, the dominance of Europe's top teams was still highly impressive and we got to see some of the best players in the world perform at the absolute peak of their abilities.
Trending
Particularly this season, finding the eleven players deemed worthy of being in the European Team of the Season was incredibly hard, as there were so many players to pick from.
And while there are statistics, club success, as well as individual accolades to go by, you can't help but feel that everybody's individual Team of the Season would be different.
Note: Only league performances have been considered.
Goalkeeper: David De Gea (Manchester United)
What David De Gea does with a pair of goalkeeping gloves sometimes seems to defy the laws of physics. His insane reaction time and athletic ability have paved his way into the small elite group of goalkeeper's that may be able to call themselves "the best".
The Spanish International has conceded just 28 goals in 37 matches in the Premier League and has achieved something he has never done before. He has kept 18 clean sheets this season, making him this season's winner of the prestigious Golden Glove Award.
The fact that de Gea has won the award for the first time, despite being voted as Manchester United's best player in three of the past five years, speaks volumes about his defense.
He made 3.1 saves per game this season - in contrast, Manchester City's Ederson has made 1.6 saves per game while conceding one goal less. It is also the highest average on any goalkeeper playing for the Top 6.
With a whoscored.com average rating of 6.83, he is also the highest rated goalkeeper from the top 6, this is not just a testament to his consistency but also to his ability to make the impossible possible.
His most impressive performance of the season undoubtedly came in Manchester United's 3-1 victory at the Emirates in December. He made an incredible 14 saves in one match - the joint-most by a Premier League goalkeeper since 2004.
De Gea's goalkeeping talent, alongside his ability to perform so consistently behind an erratic Manchester United defence, make him one the best in the business and justify his spot as our Goalkeeper of the Season.
Honourable mention: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)
Oblak has been phenomenal this season, conceding just 20 goals, while keeping 22 clean sheets in 36 matches between the posts. However, in this case, his team didn't do him a favour as Atletico's strong defence is what causes his omission from this list.
Left Back: Alex Sandro (Juventus)
25 appearances in the league would normally not qualify a player for our Team of the Season but Alex Sandro is the proverbial exception to the rule. The Brazilian left-back is irreplaceable at Juventus and will be dearly missed should he move clubs in the summer.
Sandro brings everything you wish for in a left back, his attacking play is creative and fast, whilst not forgetting his defensive duties. He has scored four goals and assists to his name this season, earning him a whoscored.com rating of 7.45.
While he does need to work on his discipline, receiving eight yellow cards this season, his pace and consistency have made him the focus of several teams from the other top European leagues.
Alex Sandro's importance to the Bianconeri is further clarified by the fact, that they didn't lose any of the 25 matches he featured in this season.
In an impressive campaign, where the champions have only lost 19 of a possible 111 points, so far, 13 of those points were lost in the absence of the Brazilian international.
It is safe to say, that Juventus will not let go of Sandro willingly, but if they have to, then he will be sold for way more than his €50 Million market value, he could even potentially become the most expensive defender in the world.
However, Alex Sandro's fantastic season with Juventus, along with his importance to the side earn him a well-deserved spot in our European Team of the Season.
Honourable Mention: Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona)
Alba has been fantastic for Barcelona this season and deserves a mention for his contribution to the Blaugrana's fantastic campaign. However, Alex Sandro's impact on Juventus is amazing and he is absolutely irreplaceable for the Italian champions.
Centre Back: Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City)
Perhaps more surprising than Manchester City winning the Premier League title was the fact that they did so by conceding the least number of goals. The Cityzens have fielded extremely strong sides in the past, but none had the defensive stability of this one.
Prior to the season, this was a problem that was raised by many of City's doubters. But contrary to those opinions, Guardiola's defence has played lights out this season and the key figure in this was Nicolas Otamendi.
Besides his strong tackling and heading abilities that got him to Manchester in the first place, the Argentine international's ball skills have been impressive this season. Otamendi has scored four goals during this campaign, but it's his passing that has surprised everyone.
Otamendi has broken the record for most passes by a Premier League player in a season since 2005, when statistics started to be recorded. He has played 3,074 passes in 34 games, surpassing Fabregas old record of 2,829 from 2015/16.
While you could argue that playing passes is easy for a central defender in a team that was as dominant as Manchester City, it obviously isn't, as only one other player from the top 10 passers in history is a defender.
Otamendi's whoscored.com average rating of 7.16 may not be as impressive as some of his international counterparts, but his impact on City's emphatic title campaign simply can't be overlooked.
The Argentinian has proven his value to Pep Guardiola this season and has rightfully earnt his place in the PFA Team of the Year, as well as our European Team of the Season.
Honourable Mention: Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Vertonghen brought stability to Tottenham's defence when they needed it the most. After fellow Belgian defender Tobey Alderweireld fell out of favour with the club, Vertonghen needed to to be rock solid while Davinson Sanchez adapted to the new league.
However, Spurs' disappointing start to the campaign and Otamendi's consistency this season mean that the Belgian international just fell short of a spot in the team.
Centre Back: Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona)
Gerard Pique has had an exceptional season at Barcelona. Throughout all the off-field antics, including controversial comments about the guard of honour and a potential Catalan independence, the centre-back has performed consistently well on the pitch.
Pique may be a bit too outspoken at times, but there is no doubt that he enjoys the respect of his teammates and that will matter the most to him. In a footballing sense, the tall Spaniard continues developing and has become a rock at the heart of Barcelona's defense.
With a solid 7.16 average rating from whoscored.com, the Catalan is among the top 3 central defenders of La Liga and there are several factors beyond ratings to consider, that are not related to statistics.
Pique has what a true defensive leader needs to elevate himself from the rest. He has the aggression, as well as the ability to organize and lift is fellow players. He lives and breathes Barcelona, something that is becoming unique in modern-day football.
Pique may not be the most attractive defender to watch, but he certainly gets his job done and has an infectious passion for football, that his fellow teammates can feed off of.
While Barcelona didn't quite manage the 'invincible' season, Pique has played a huge part in an impressive league campaign by the Catalans, subsequently earning himself a spot in our European Team of the Season.
Honourable Mention: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid)
Another central defender suffering under the heroics of a title-winning rival. Lucas Hernandez is probably the best young defender in Europe right now and, being only 22 years old, he is likely to feature in future teams.
Right Back: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Joshua Kimmich could easily have suffered under the high expectations on him, having to follow the giant footsteps of one the best right-backs to ever play the game - Philipp Lahm.
When he was brought to Bayern as a young, talented player, even the most optimistic fans could not have predicted that he would be able to do it with such ease. The full-back is not only an established player at the German champions but also in the German national team.
The 23-year-old still has a large part of his football career ahead, but this season has shown just how bright his future in the sport is. With an impressive 7.23 average rating from whoscored.com and 10 assists to his name, the sky is the limit for the young German.
With more experience and leadership skills, he could become one of the true Bayern legends, having already cemented his place along the best right-backs in the world.
Unlike many other young players, Kimmich is already capable of dealing with the huge amounts of pressure that go along with being a member of the German powerhouse.
The former RB Leipzig player's importance is not to be under-estimated and he could become one of the undisputed leaders of the team after an upcoming rejuvenation at the Bavarians within the next few years.
Honourable Mention: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Walker has really come into his own under Guardiola, playing fantastically in both, a back-three and a back-four system. Nevertheless, Kimmich's place was never in doubt here as he performed at an entirely different level to his counter-parts this season.
Central Midfield: Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona)
Sergio Busquets is a midfielder who sometimes flies under the radar in Barcelona's star-studded lineup. He is not renowned for spectacular ball skills, he doesn't score a lot of goals, and doesn't assist many either.
However, he allows his teammates to do so by being one of the hardest workers on the pitch. Busquets makes the defensive midfield role look effortless, something that almost no other player in the world can do the way he does.
The position is almost synonymous with battling, which makes Busquets' approach even more impressive. The Spanish international averaged the second most passes per game behind Real Madrid's Toni Kroos and had an average rating 7.26 from whoscored.com throughout this La Liga campaign.
The BT Sports panel, featuring Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, after Barcelona's Champions League match against Chelsea summed up just how highly experts and fellow footballers think of him:
With increasing age and experience the Spaniard only continues to get better and has become one of the first names on the teamsheet at the Catalan outfit and will become increasingly important while they look for Iniesta's replacement.
Busquets has been exceptional in this campaign and his aura on the pitch, paired with the ability to make one of the hardest positions in football look so easy, earn him a spot in our European Team of the Season.
Honourable Mention: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
This was a close call and it pretty much came down to personal preference. Casemiro is a true midfield warrior and he fills the same role as Busquets does at Barcelona's arch-rivals.
The Blaugrana's impressive season, along with his nonchalant style earned Busquets the call-up.
Central Midfield: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Toni Kroos is probably the best passer in the world at this moment. Whether it's the long diagonal ball, the short and secure pass, or the key pass that unhinges an entire defence within the blink of an eye, Kroos can play it and, more importantly, he does.
The German's decision-making is impeccable and his insanely high passing accuracy just underline this fact. From his 76.3 passes per game, 92.9% hit their mark in La Liga. A stat only bettered by his backup Mateo Kovacic, who has played way fewer games than him.
Boasting a whoscored.com average rating of 7.46, he is the second highest rated midfielder behind his teammate Casemiro. However, in comparison to his teammate, Kroos' skill set is much more balanced than the Brazilian's.
Kroos belongs to a breed of players that anybody wants on their team; he's humble, consistent and puts the team above himself. He is a true commander at the heart of the team who doesn't like taking uncalculated risks.
When asked on whether he would rather have perfect passing or perfect shooting, he replied: "I would go for passing because even in our team it's more important that I pass good, because we have more players that shoot good."
The German is the perfect link between the defensive fighter Casemiro and the free-flowing Luka Modric, making him the perfect fit for Zinedine Zidane's side, despite several rumours about his future at the club.
Kroos is a player who would make it into any team in Europe with ease and another outstanding season despite Real Madrid's poor campaign has proven just how good he is. Therefore he is a no-brainer in our European Team of the Season.
Honourable Mention: David Silva (Manchester City)
The Spaniard has been magnificent for the Cityzens this season, contributing 9 goals and 11 assists to the Premier League's best attack. However, Kroos' passing game is on a whole other level, despite Silva proving that he's still world-class.
Central Midfield: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne's start to the season was so incredibly good, that the PFA Player of the Year trophy seemed to already have his name engraved on it. Unfortunately for him, a slight dip towards the end of the season and a magnificent Mohamed Salah made him miss out on the accolade.
The Belgian midfielder is the centre-piece of Manchester City's free-flowing attack and an indispensable player in Pep Guardiola's line-up. The mastermind finished the season as the Premier League's assist king, setting up 16 goals while adding 8 of his own.
He also boasts the second highest whoscored.com rating of all Premier League players, averaging a 7.80 rating per match, only 0.01 less than his teammate Sergio Agüero.
Arguably even more impressive than his statistics are the playmaker's abilities to elevate his teammates' performances. The Belgian's link-up play is second to none, enabling players like Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane to take their game to the next level.
The most notable part of City's attack this season was that when one player was missing, the next one could step up and perform at a similar level. However, when De Bruyne was absent the whole attack seemed to suffer.
While he missed out on being the PFA Player of the Year, De Bruyne was one of the first names on the team-sheet for our European Team of the Season and it most probably won't be his last call-up.
Honourable Mention: Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
One of the very rare positions where the strength of league became a factor, Dybala's impact at Juventus has been similar to De Bruyne's at Manchester City.
While Dybala's specializes more in scoring the goals himself, it is also De Bruyne's undeniable ability to make his entire team play better, that gives him the edge over the Argentine.
Forward: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
There is little more to say about Lionel Messi other than that we're truly blessed to witness such greatness. The Argentina international is capable of doing this that no other player in his generation can do.
When thinking about the best players of all time, names like Pele, Maradona, Beckenbauer, and Cruyff come to mind. Messi will most definitely join this discussion when his career has ended.
Each of the aforementioned players could rightfully call themselves the best player of their generation and Messi will join this list when people reflect on the greatness of his career.
However, a fantastic career and exceptional ability alone, don't warrant a place in Europe's Team of the Season. There is no question about La Pulga's impact on what was almost an invincible season at Barcelona.
The magician scored 34 goals in 35 appearances, adding 12 assists in the process. It speaks volumes that he has been voted 'Man of the Match' 22(!) times this season, whilst boasting an average rating of 8.73 from whoscored.com.
It is no coincidence, that Barcelona's only loss of the season came when Messi wasn't in the squad. While conceding five goals may not have been directly impacted by the Argentine international, it is the fear he strikes into his opponents' eyes before the game even starts that impacts their style of play before the match even starts.
Messi's outstanding season doesn't only justify a spot in our European Team of the Season, but also further cements his place among the footballing legends that will be talked about in decades to come.
Honourable Mention: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Admittedly, nobody could have taken Messi's place in this team, but Eden Hazard has performed extremely well for a struggling Chelsea side.
It remains to be seen whether the Belgian international will stay at the struggling Blues, but if he doesn't then any team in Europe will gladly add him to their squad.
Forward: Ciro Immobile (SS Lazio)
Arguably the most low-profile addition to our Team of the Season, but Ciro Immobile has been absolutely outstanding in less than ideal circumstances this season.
After disappointing stints at Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla, the Italian international has proven that there is no place better than home for him. After last season's impressive tally of 23 goals and four assists, Immobile has taken it to the next level this season.
He has dialed up 29 goals and 9 assists in just 32 league appearances, with an average whoscored.com rating of 7.42 and has single-handedly shot Lazio into Champions League contention. Therefore presumably leaving both ambitious Milan sides behind them.
Lazio's poor defence, conceding 46 goals in 37 matches, meant that they were extremely dependent on their striker finding the net regularly. It is safe to say that he delivered in a manner that not many expected of him.
The Biancocelesti are on the verge of reaching their highest point tally in club history and it's largely Immobile they have to thank for their exhilarating attack play. He is a true 'No. 9', with unique instincts and fantastic finishing, making him the key figure in Lazio's rise to the top.
Due to the massive impact he has had on his team and the consistency with which he has delivered, the Italian hitman has thoroughly deserved his spot as the attacking centre-piece of our Team of the Season.
Honourable Mention: Luis Suarez (FC Barcelona)
Another tough decision - Suarez has been phenomenal for Barcelona and you can't really counter any argument that he should be in the team.
However, Immobile's return to form, along with him doing it for an otherwise average Lazio side has been so impressive, that the Uruguayan striker misses out this year.
Forward: Mohamed Salah (FC Liverpool)
Was there ever any doubt about this one? Mohamed Salah has been the most improved player of this campaign and has even threatened to finally break up the two-horse race between Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi for the Ballon d'Or.
The Egyptian has been a true revelation in Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool side and has helped his team to Champions League qualification by becoming the Premier League's top goalscorer.
For Salah, it has been a record-breaking season that nobody could have expected. The attacker has scored 32 goals, 10 assists and 8 'Man of the Match' awards to his name.
He has also averaged the third-highest whoscored.com rating of all Premier League players, with a rating of 7.69. When joining Liverpool, many thought the Egyptian would do better than during his short Chelsea spell, but little did we know that we would witness something this spectacular.
While Salah still has a huge Champions League final ahead of him on 26 May, his Premier League campaign has earned him the PFA Player of the Year award, an accolade highly contested by the outstanding Kevin De Bruyne.
His performances this season have sparked a lot of interest from La Liga, but Liverpool will not be willing to let their most prized asset leave. It will take a massive transfer fee to convince the Reds to part ways with their best player and subsequently break up their attacking trident.
It is debatable whether Salah is the European Player of the Year, there is too much competition to definitely make a judgment on that. However, his inclusion into our European Team of the Season goes without saying.
Honourable Mention: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
If Ronaldo had performed the entire season, the way he has done since Real's Copa del Rey exit, he would have made the team.
However, a lacklustre start to the season, in which neither he nor his team got going, cost the Portuguese forward a spot in this year's Team of the Season.
