Top ten all-round U23 players in the Top Five leagues

Being an all-rounded player has become a desirable skillset in modern football and these are some of the best players out there.

The crop of talent of young players in today's game sees some truly fantastic players with incredible ability, playing at a level far higher than that of what we have known for years, yet they are able to handle themselves like they've been doing it forever.

Here are some perfect examples, the top 10 players from Europe's 'Big Five' leagues that are true all-rounders, capable of doing the job on the attack and defense.

 

Nico Gonzalez

npxG+xA per90: 0.69

Pressures attempted per90: 22.58

 

Barcelona youngster Nico Gonzalez is topping the rankings here with his underlying offensive and defensive numbers. The versatile Spanish youngster has been earning rave reviews with his displays for Xavi’s Barcelona in midfield and further up as well. He excels in a number of areas for his side and is undoubtedly one of the most exciting talents of this generation for Barcelona.

 

Jesper Lindstrom

npxG+xA per90: 0.57

Pressures attempted per90: 23.08

 

Eintracht Frankfurt’s bargain purchase of Jesper Lindstrom may have gone unnoticed from mainstream media in the summer, however, he is certainly a player who is keeping Eintracht Frankfurt fans on their feet with his mesmerizing performances and his creativity on and off the ball. The Swede has been influential in his first year and is well set to achieve greater things in German football and beyond.

 

Florian Wirtz

npxG+xA per90: 0.63

Pressures per90: 20.53

 

Another Bundesliga youngster makes the list and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is quite simply the best of the lot. Although currently out with a long-term injury, Wirtz was fast making himself the hottest property in German football with his displays in European competitions as well as on the domestic front. No surprise that he is one of the most all-round talents across Europe.

 

Joao Pedro

npxG+xA per90: 0.71

Pressures per90: 18.14

 

Watford may be destined for relegation from the Premier League once again, but Brazilian youngster has been a spark in an otherwise dull season for the Hornets. Alongside Emmanuel Dennis in the squad, Joao Pedro has been an exciting watch for Watford fans and no doubt, other teams will look to snatch him up if given the chance.

 

Phil Foden

npxG+xA: 0.66

Pressures per90:17.81

 

Quite likely the most recognizable name on the Manchester City side at the moment, it seems as though Phil Foden can do no wrong on the football pitch. The Englishman remains a firm favorite of Pep Guardiola’s and is slowly making a return into the national team fold as well. Foden’s combination of technique with his intense work-rate makes him a devastating attacker to mark.

 

Lukas Nmecha

npxG+xA: 0.74

Pressures per90: 18.50

 

Wolfsburg youngster Lukas Nmecha exploded onto the scene in the early parts of the season with his goals and displays up front in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg. The German is described as one of the more instinctive all-round forwards across Europe and it is not difficult to see why. With 10 goals in all competitions, it has been a successful domestic campaign for the Manchester City youth product.

 

Vinicius Jr.

npxG+xA per90: 0.62

Pressures per90: 18.72

 

If there is one player at Real Madrid apart from Karim Benzema whose performances deserve all the plaudits in the world, it is Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian forward has taken his game to different levels this season and alongside the veteran Frenchman has been world-class in his displays as well as output for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Whether Los Blancos choose to sign Haaland or Mbappe in the summer, the attack is in safe hands with Vinicius there at the club.

 

Dominik Szoboszlai

npxG+xA: 0.54

Pressures per90: 21.51

 

Since moving to RB Leipzig, Szoboszlai has shown why he is so highly rated back in Hungary as well as amongst Austrian football circles. He has taken to the Bundesliga very well and the transition has been almost seamless. Szoboszlai is one of the brightest attacking midfielders around and it should be no surprise to see him dominate the league in the seasons to come.

 

Jamal Musiala

npxG+xA: 0.54

Pressures per90: 21.10

 

Another young attacking midfielder making a big name for himself is Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala. Though he has been used in a variety of roles by Julian Nagelsmann, it’s clear that he does his best work further up the pitch in a central attacking midfield role and given his all-round strengths, his future likely lies there as well.

 

Mason Mount

npxG+xA: 0.58

Pressures per90: 19.26

 

Lastly, Chelsea’s Mason Mount makes the list. For a few years now, Mount has established a reputation for being one of England’s finest young attacking midfielders and under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance, Mount has grown in quality as well as his consistency in all areas of the pitch. Sooner or later, he too will be revered much like other Stamford Bridge legends of the past.

 

All figures from Statsbomb via Fbref | Comparing U23 midfielders with 1000+ mins played.