Ranking the 5 best players in Europe this month - October 2021

#3 Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF - La Liga Santander

Karim Benzema has clawed his way into the 2021 Ballon d'Or race after a string of mesmerizing performances for both club and country in the new season. After impressing at Euro 2020, Benzema came up clutch for France at the UEFA Nations League.

He scored a goal each in the semi-final and the final as France won the title. The 33-year-old also scored a goal and bagged an assist in Real Madrid's 5-0 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Benzema is one of the most well-rounded strikers in the world and he has turned it up a notch this term. The Frenchman has been in excellent form this season and seems to be playing some of the best football of his career. Benzema has scored 13 goals and provided eight assists in 14 appearances across all competitions this term.

#2 Thomas Muller (Germany/Bayern Munich)

FC Bayern München v Dinamo Kiev: Group E - UEFA Champions League

One of the most consistent footballers of his generation, Thomas Muller has been at his creative best in the new season. When he is on song, it is difficult to find players who can impose themselves on a game as much as the German international can.

Save for the humiliation in the DFB Pokal at the hands of Borussia Monchengladbach, Muller has had a great month. He provided a hat-trick of assists and scored a goal as Bayern Munich bounced back from their cup loss to win 5-2 against Union Berlin.

In the month of October, Muller scored three goals and provided seven assists in eight appearances across all competitions for club and country. The 32-year-old has shown us why he is almost as important as Robert Lewandowski is to the Bavarians.

#1 Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)

Manchester United v Liverpool - Premier League

It's not even up for debate. Mohamed Salah is very clear of the competition in the new season and particularly in October. He was unstoppable and even capped it off with a sensational hat-trick against bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford. This was the first time a player has scored a hat-trick against United at Old Trafford.

The best thing about Salah's October was that the hat-trick on enemy turf was just the icing on the cake. He scored seven goals and provided four assists in just five appearances across all competitions for Liverpool last month.

He scored wonderful solo goals against Manchester City and Watford. The Egyptian international also produced an exceptional performance against Atletico Madrid and bagged a brace as Liverpool beat them 3-2 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Salah has been on a different level this season and if he can keep this up and win a few trophies, he will be the frontrunner for next year's Ballon d'Or.