As the 2026/27 European football season begins to take shape, a statistical analysis by WhoScored, has unveiled the top 30 performers across Europe’s five major leagues. With most top-flight divisions having played four league matches, the ranking provides an objective look at who has started the campaign in scintillating form, moving beyond subjective “eye tests.”

Leading the pack is a somewhat surprising name: Igor Matanovic of Freiburg, who boasts an impressive 8.86 WhoScored rating. The German forward has evidently hit the ground running, outperforming some of the continent’s most established stars.

Barcelona and Real Madrid talents dominate the top ten

Barcelona’s attacking duo of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal follow closely behind Matanovic, securing second and third place respectively. Raphinha holds an 8.72 rating, while the prodigious Yamal is just shy with an 8.62. Their strong start underscores Barcelona’s Champions League aspirations this season, with another Blaugrana player, Fermin Lopez, also making the top ten at ninth with an 8.27 rating, having reinvented himself under Hansi Flick.

Arch-rivals Real Madrid also feature prominently near the summit. Kylian Mbappe, now donning the white of Real Madrid, sits in fourth place with an 8.52 rating. The French superstar has wasted no time making an impact, registering:

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• Six goals

• One assist

Three Man of the Match awards in five appearances

His midfield counterpart, Jude Bellingham, who is noted to be closer to his peak form after recovering from a shoulder injury last season and a standout World Cup campaign for the Three Lions, is ranked sixth with an 8.32 rating.

Bundesliga and Serie A stars shine

The Bundesliga sees strong representation beyond Matanovic. Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano (8.34) and Joshua Kimmich (8.30) claim fifth and eighth spots, respectively, highlighting their defensive and midfield prowess. Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen, meanwhile, is seventh with an 8.31 rating, having already established himself as Serie A’s leading goalscorer with five goals, showcasing his prolific start to the season.

Other notable performers include Toulouse’s Cristian Casseres, who rounds out the top ten with an 8.22 rating, contributing three assists in 360 minutes of play. Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki makes an appearance at 13th with an 8.02 rating, despite starting only one league match. His efficiency is remarkable, with four goal contributions and the highest passing success rate (92.4%) among the top 30 players.

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Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, at 37 years old, is defying expectations, finding himself at 26th with a 7.81 rating. Playing for Deportivo, he has netted four goals and provided two assists in four La Liga games, helping his side to sixth in the league standings. Patrik Schick of Bayer Leverkusen, remembered for his Euro 2020 exploits, is also making a strong return to form at 29th, with three goals and one assist after just two starts.

It’s important to note that these rankings reflect early season form after only a handful of matches. While Matanovic, the Barcelona contingent, and the Madrid stars have set a blistering pace, the long and demanding 2026/27 season will ultimately determine who maintains this elite level of performance.

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