Top 5 Players from Around the World This Weekend Hundreds of thousands of players to pick from in every corner of the globe and here we boil it down to just the top five performers from this weekend’s football offering. Taking into account factors such as quality of opposition, individual contribution as well as quality of the players around them, the following five have managed to eclipse all others in just how strong their display was this weekend. Disagree with any of the picks or feel as if there’s a standout omission or five? Let us know in the forum below. 1. Pedro Essentially winning his team’s encounter almost single-handedly this weekend, Pedro’s hat-trick contribution against Rayo Vallecano provided the foundation for Barcelona’s eventual 4-0 trouncing on Saturday. The Spaniard showed off his superb poaching instincts, getting on the end of Barca’s forward movements time and again to poke home from inside the box each time he scored. However, Pedro also put on display some of his impressive defensive talents, making two clearances, an interception and winning one of his two attempted tackles, proving there’s more to the speedster than meets the eye. 2. Mesut Ozil From a hat-trick of goals to a hat-trick of assists as Mesut Ozil had a direct hand in every single goal his Arsenal side put past Stoke City this weekend. Bearing in mind this was the same Potters side that left Manchester City’s attack scratching their heads just a week ago, the ease with which Ozil unlocked Stoke’s back line was nothing short of mesmerising. What’s even more incredible about the German’s return is that he’s barely been at the club for three weeks, one of which was spent with his international team. Regardless, Ozil hasn’t taken long to settle into his North London surroundings, managing to complete 88 percent of his passes in Sunday’s outing and being generally omnipresent for Arsene Wenger’s side. 3. Danny While Cristiano Ronaldo was busy impressing in the Spanish capital, the Real Madrid star’s international compatriot Danny was putting in a shift during Zenit St. Petersburg’s impressive 4-0 victory at Rostov. The Russian big spenders are once again challenging for top honours in the Russia Premier League and it’s largely thanks to their talents of their attack and Danny more specifically. As well as netting his side’s opener in the 51st minute, the Portuguese attacker snatched two assists in the routing. Winning six of his nine dribbles down the left flank and more centrally as well as finding his man with 45 of 60 passes, Danny made another sublime impact for Zenit this weekend. 4. Feijao With two games in just three days, Bahia’s Feijao had the advantage of twice as much opportunity to impress as most of his European counterparts this weekend, but took the opportunity well in the Brasileirao. Most impressive was the midfielder’s performance in Friday’s 2-0 win over Internacional where he provided a stubborn anchor for the hosts and provided the visiting side from unleashing what’s potentially a very threatening forward line. Three interceptions, 100 percent of his attempted tackles completed and a goal for his troubles all spell out a close-to-perfect display from the 19-year-old. What’s more, Feijao managed to complete all his attempted passes against Internacional before going on to maintain 85 percent pass completion in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Botafogo to wrap up a superb weekend for the teenager. 5. Toni Kroos While far from the most glamorous of performers in the Bayern Munich cast, Toni Kroos lends an essential and understated hand in Pep Guardiola’s setup. The German international liberates others in their pursuits of far more attractive wares, something that was all but too evident in the 4-0 win Schalke’s Veltins-Arena. Like last season, Kroos was succinct and to the point in the way he goes about his business, completing 91 percent of 92 attempted passes and involving himself in just about every aspect of the visitors’ play. Two interceptions, two successful dribbles, three tackles and a generally disruptive presence as far as the Miners midfielders were concerned, Kroos consistently makes things so much easier for the superstars around him. While the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Mandzukic were undoubtedly impressive in their own ways, it’s diminutive Kroos that keeps things ticking for the reigning Champions League title-holders.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 08:55:02 +0000
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