Top 5 European players from this month's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

#3 Breel Embolo (Switzerland) - 2 goals and 2 assists

Step aside Shaqiri; there's a new hero in town.

Switzerland have an incredibly talented group of players. It was there for all to see that at Euro 2020. The team eliminated reigning world champions France to reach the quarter-finals, and lost only once in the tournament.

Now, the Nati are cruising towards the FIFA World Cup, and the key player behind their fine campaign is Breel Embolo. He has helped them clinch six points from six this month.

The Borussia Monchengladbach star assisted both his team's goals in their 2-0 win over Northern Ireland last week. He then got on the scoresheet against Lithuania with a fine double.

He's currently their top-scorer as well as the top assist-provider in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With three goals and as many assists, the 24-year-old has been an indispensable player for Switzerland.

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#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 3 goals

Ronaldo's ten international hat-tricks is the most by a player in men's international football.

Portugal played only one FIFA World Cup qualifier this month, which saw them emerge victorious by 5-0 victory against minnows Luxembourg. The Euro 2016 winners played an international friendly against Qatar last week,

The key player for Portugal this week? Obviously, Cristiano Ronaldo. The record international scorer in men's football added another feather to his bag. He bagged a hat-trick on the night, the only player to do so in Europe this month.

His first two were a pair of quickfire penalties, the second of which he won himself, as the Manchester United striker gave Portugal early momentum.

After missing a few chances to get his third and watching a spectacular bicycle-kick saved, Ronaldo brought his treble in the 86th minute with a close-range header.

It was a record tenth international hat-trick as he extended his tally in international football to 115.

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#1 Memphis Depay (Netherlands) - 2 goals and 3 assists

Depay has accounted for 15 goals in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, more than any European player.

Memphis Depay continued his blistering run of form in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers with more exploits for The Netherlands this month. He contributed five of their seven goals this month.

In the match in Latvia, the Barcelona striker provided a moment of inspiration by setting up Davy Klaassen for the Netherlands' only goal of the match.

Louis van Gaal's side, though, bounced back in resounding fashion against Gibraltar on home soil on Monday, routing the 197th-ranked minnows 6-0 in Rotterdam.

Depay was the architect of their victory once again, scoring and assisting twice apiece on the night to cap off a fine international week. He could've had a hat-trick if not for a first-half penalty miss.

He's the leading scorer (nine goals) as well as the leading assist-provider (6) in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the UEFA zone. He has also set the record for the most goals in a calendar year by a Dutch player (14).