Raphinha and Yamal Top Europe's Player Ratings for 2026

Brazilian forward Raphinha and his young Spanish teammate Lamine Yamal have emerged as the highest-rated players across Europe’s five major leagues during the 2026-2027 season. Their exceptional start with Barcelona has placed the duo at the summit of player evaluations, drawing comparisons to the golden era performances of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the Catalan club.

Planet Football Analysis Reveals Rankings

A report by British outlet Planet Football, utilizing data from statistics platform WhoScored, identified the top ten performers in the continent's primary competitions. The list features a significant presence of stars from Barcelona and the German Bundesliga, while Premier League players are notably absent from the upper echelons of the ranking.

Raphinha Leads With High Impact

Raphinha secured the first position with an average rating of 8.95 out of 10. The Brazilian regained his form at Barcelona after struggling with injuries in the latter half of the previous season. His transition to a striker role amplified his influence on the pitch, resulting in 12 goals and three assists in La Liga. This performance equates to a goal contribution every 37 minutes.

Beyond scoring, Raphinha demonstrated playmaking ability by providing two key passes in Barcelona’s 4-2 victory over Levante. He continued his strong start by netting hat-tricks in consecutive matches, solidifying his status among Europe’s elite talents early in the campaign.

Yamal Follows Closely Behind

Lamine Yamal occupies the second spot with an average score of 8.69. The young Spanish winger continues his notable development, reinforcing his reputation as one of world football’s rising stars. Yamal recorded seven goals and five assists in La Liga. He achieved a perfect 10/10 rating during Barcelona’s emphatic win against Feyenoord in the Champions League.

Despite his youth, Yamal delivers exceptional dribbling and chance creation, forming a potent attacking partnership with Raphinha that echoes aspects of Barcelona’s historic dominance under Messi and Suarez.

Bundesliga Stars Dominate Mid-Ranks

Norwegian Antonio Nusa of RB Leipzig ranks third with an average rating of 8.16. Nusa delivered strong performances, including a goal and two assists against Hamburg, earning a 9.66 match rating. He also contributed a goal and an assist in a fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Frenchman Michael Olise of Bayern Munich sits fourth with a score of 8.12. Although his league start was relatively quiet, his Champions League impact and a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Union Berlin highlighted his offensive capability. Stuttgart’s Maximilian Mittelstadt follows in fifth place with the same 8.12 rating, having been named man of the match in two consecutive losses for his team.

Top Ten Completes With Global Icons

Croatian Igor Matanovic of Freiburg takes sixth place with an average of 8.08. His strong beginning included two goals against Borussia Monchengladbach, following a goal and an assist in his season opener versus Werder Bremen. Austrian Marco Grull of Werder Bremen ranks seventh with 8.05, contributing a goal and an assist in victories over Leipzig and Augsburg.

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid holds eighth place with a 7.99 average, driven by a hat-trick against Real Sociedad and other early La Liga strikes. Harry Kane completes the ninth spot, while Joao Pedro rounds out the top ten.