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The 2022-23 edition of La Liga has come to a close after producing some brilliant footballing action over the past year. The middle of the season witnessed an intense title race with the league's three big names involved, but Barcelona kept their calm at the business end of the season to win their 27th La Liga title.
Real Madrid are in the midst of a transition at the moment, and the uncertainty in their ranks hampered their progress over the course of their campaign. Los Blancos did have their moments but were unable to make up a hefty 10-point deficit.
Atletico Madrid did well for themselves in the second half of the season and pulled off their fair share of excellent results. Real Sociedad, Girona, and Osasuna also punched above their weight and enjoyed successful campaigns.
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La Liga is arguably the most technical league in Europe and consistently produces unique profiles and talents. Here is Sportskeeda's team of the season for the 2022-23 La Liga campaign.
Goalkeeper - Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)
While Thibaut Courtois did pull off some breathtaking saves for Real Madrid over the course of the season, Marc-Andre ter Stegen achieved a string of milestones as Barcelona stormed their way to the league title. The German keeper's resurgence was crucial to the Blaugrana's success this season.
Playing behind a robust defence, Ter Stegen spared Barcelona's blushes on multiple occasions and kept 26 clean sheets in 38 matches. While the Barcelona goalkeeper fell narrowly short of a clean-sheet record this season, his heroics between the sticks helped the Catalans to their first league title in four years.
Left-Back - Jose Gaya (Valencia)
With his team fighting relegation towards the end of the season, Valencia captain Jose Gaya stepped up admirably and has earned himself plenty of interest in the transfer market. The Spanish left-back is particularly adept at progressing the ball up the pitch and has emerged on the wishlists of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Gaya has led his team to important successes in the past and stepped up to guide them away from the relegation zone this season. With Valencia in the midst of a transition, however, the transfer window could witness Los Che parting ways with their inspirational captain.
Honourable Mentions: Fran Garcia, Alejandro Balde
Centre-Back - Ronald Araujo (Barcelona)
With only 20 goals conceded in 38 matches, Barcelona were La Liga's best defense this season by a country mile. Ronald Araujo has been the Blaugrana's most impressive defender over the past year and has grown into a man-marking behemoth.
Araujo's impressive physique and brute pace make him a unique profile in the Blaugrana squad. The Uruguayan defender proved his mettle time and again against some of the best forwards in the league and has come of age for Barcelona.
Centre-Back - Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
While Real Madrid have been defensively inconsistent at best over the past year, Eder Militao's unstinted progress remains a crucial positive. The Brazilian defender is one of the most complete players in his position in the league and has improved considerably in recent months.
Militao made 33 appearances for Real Madrid in La Liga and was regularly preferred to the likes of David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger. Los Blancos are currently building for their future and will likely place their faith in the 25-year-old centre-back.
Honourable Mentions: Andreas Christensen, Jose Gimenez
Right-Back - Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
Atletico Madrid's league season was a campaign of two halves, and Nahuel Molina's form seemed to mirror their fortunes. The Argentine defender took his time to get up to speed at the start of the season and hit his peak during Atletico Madrid's purple patch after the World Cup.
Molina was excellent for Argentina at the World Cup and carried his form into the second half of the season, linking up brilliantly with Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo de Paul. The right-back was also a threat in the final third, bagging four goals and two assists for Los Colchoneros.
Honourable Mentions: Arnau Martinez, Jules Kounde
Defensive Midfielder - Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Martin Zubimendi has been turning heads for several years with Real Sociedad and has now managed to attract comparisons with some of the best in the business. The Spaniard's midfield exploits have propelled Real Sociedad to the Champions League and have made him hot property on the transfer market.
Touted as the natural heir to Sergio Busquets, Zubimendi's style and poise in midfield have made Barcelona his prime suitor. In addition to his passing skills, the 24-year-old star is deceptively powerful in a duel and was arguably Spain's best defensive midfielder this season.
Central Midfielder - Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
Frenkie de Jong had Barcelona's massive midfield legacy to live up to and endured two difficult seasons after he joined the club. Under Xavi's tutelage this season, however, the Dutchman seemed to rediscover the form that made him a force of nature at Ajax.
Xavi's decision to set up a box midfield worked wonders for De Jong, giving him the license to make incisive runs into the final third. The former Ajax star also served as the ideal foil for the likes of Pedri and Gavi and played a crucial role in Barcelona's dominance.
Central Midfielder - Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)
Mikel Merino has been one of Real Sociedad's most understated players in recent years and took it up a notch this season. The Spanish midfielder has been consistently impressive for his side and has barely put a foot wrong over the past year.
With two goals and nine assists to his name in La Liga, Merino was effective with his progressive passing. The midfielder missed only five league games in the campaign and could potentially find himself at a European giant next season.
Honourable Mentions: Pedri, Aleix Garcia
Left Winger - Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Arguably the best winger in the world at the moment, Vinicius Junior's place in this lineup remains virtually uncontested. The Brazilian star was at the heart of everything positive that Real Madrid managed to achieve in the recently concluded season.
Vinicius secured nine assists in La Liga and was his side's best dribbler by a country mile. The winger was also brilliant in the Copa del Rey final and propelled Real Madrid to their only trophy of the season.
Right Winger - Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)
Without Antoine Griezmann, it is unlikely that Atletico Madrid would have made it to the top four. The former Barcelona man contributed an exceptional 15 goals and 16 assists to Diego Simeone's cause and had a transformative impact on his side's fortunes.
Griezmann was in exceptional form towards the end of the season and was virtually unplayable in his free role. The Frenchman has thrived under Diego Simeone and is enjoying a new lease of life at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Honourable Mentions: Abde Ezzalzouli, Takefusa Kubo
Striker - Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
Robert Lewandowski was brought to Barcelona for the sole purpose of scoring goals, and he did it in some style. The Polish striker found the back of the net at crucial moments during the season and gave the Blaugrana a new-found cutting edge.
Lewandowski scored 23 goals in La Liga and stormed his way to his first Pichichi trophy. With his poacher's instinct still intact, the former Bayern Munich man will look to take his form into the Champions League next season.
