Soccer Power Rankings: Breakout stars for Europe's top teams
On the first Tuesday of every month during the 2024-25 season, we'll debate which clubs are among Europe's elite in our Soccer Power Rankings. In our March edition, we're celebrating one breakout star for each team on our list.
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ARS | ATA | ATH | ATM | BAR | BHA | FB | FCB | INT | LAZ | LEV | LIV | MAR | MCI | NAP | NEW | PSG | PSV | RMA | SLB
1. Paris Saint-Germain 🇫🇷
Previous: 5 📈
Bradley Barcola. At long last, Ousmane Dembele has taken his game to another level this season, but he's flashed that ability for years at multiple clubs before. Barcola, though, is equally vital, helping Paris Saint-Germain win all nine of their matches in February by a combined score of 36-6 while firmly establishing himself as France's latest attacking gem.
2. Liverpool 🏴
Previous: 1 📉
Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool started to wobble ever so slightly in recent weeks, but their brilliant start to the campaign afforded them room to drop some points and still be in complete control of the Premier League title race. Gravenberch has been a key reason, providing a steady presence in midfield for Arne Slot's team. Maybe they don't need a new No. 6 after all.
3. Barcelona 🇪🇸
Previous: 10 📈
Marc Casado. The 21-year-old is a breakout performer in the truest sense of the term. Prior to this season, the Spanish midfielder played only 15 minutes in La Liga in his fledgling career. He's now over 1,500 minutes, providing energy, bite, and quality in the center of the pitch. In case anyone was wondering, La Masia continues to churn out fabulous young players.
4. Bayern Munich 🇩🇪
Previous: 6 📈
Aleksandar Pavlovic. The 20-year-old got his big break last season, but he's gone from strength to strength in 2024-25, beating out veteran names to become Joshua Kimmich's primary partner in Vincent Kompany's two-man midfield pivot. Bayern are reportedly willing to let Kimmich walk this summer, which speaks to their faith in Pavlovic.
5. Atletico Madrid 🇪🇸
Previous: 9 📈
Giuliano Simeone. Diego Simeone's 22-year-old son has suddenly become a vital member of an Atletico side fighting for silverware on three fronts. "He's in a very good moment; the fans recognize it. They will demand a lot more from him, and he has to maintain this level," the manager said after Giuliano scored twice in a Copa del Rey win in February. Classic dad.
6. Real Madrid 🇪🇸
Previous: 7 📈
Raul Asencio. Real Madrid could've been in serious trouble - by their lofty standards - after various injuries left them scrambling to field a makeshift backline for portions of the season. Asencio stepped up when the club needed him most, providing a steady, calming presence in central defense for Carlo Ancelotti and the Champions League holders.
7. Inter Milan 🇮🇹
Previous: 4 📉
Yann Bisseck. Simone Inzaghi fields one of the most grizzled teams in Europe, relying heavily on a decorated group of familiar stalwarts. That makes it challenging to find a true "breakout" contender. Still, Bisseck has earned more opportunities this season - particularly while Francesco Acerbi was sidelined - and performed admirably for the Serie A leaders.
8. Bayer Leverkusen 🇩🇪
Previous: 8 ⚖️
Piero Hincapie. After the historic campaign Leverkusen put together last season, there's no such thing as flying under the radar. With Xabi Alonso returning virtually the same squad for 2024-25, we have to move the goalposts slightly. Hincapie continues to make big strides, ironing out the more reckless side of his game without sacrificing his aggressive style.
9. Arsenal 🏴
Previous: 3 📉
Ethan Nwaneri. In an ideal world, Mikel Arteta would've preferred to use Nwaneri more sparingly this season - the same is true of fellow teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly. But injuries, particularly to star winger Bukayo Saka, forced his hand. In his extended absence, Nwaneri has shown the world why Arsenal supporters are so excited about the 17-year-old's future. The inverted winger is one of the game's brightest prospects.
10. Napoli 🇮🇹
Previous: 2 📉
Alessandro Buongiorno. Napoli's left-footed center-back was one of the standout defenders in Serie A while at Torino last season. Still, there's no debating that more eyeballs scrutinize your every move when you're the defensive lynchpin for a title-chasing squad as opposed to a midtable one. Buongiorno has made that transition look seamless under Antonio Conte.
11. Benfica 🇵🇹
Previous: N/A 📈
Alvaro Carreras. The 21-year-old already had an interesting career path, spending time at Real Madrid and Manchester United. He's blossomed this season at Benfica, though. The left-back has played more league minutes than any outfield player for a surging side in the Champions League last 16, with Benfica fighting for another title after an almost flawless February.
12. Marseille 🇫🇷
Previous: 18 📈
Amine Gouiri. The Algerian international hit the ground running after joining Marseille during the January transfer window. He has six goal involvements (three goals, three assists) in his first five matches for Roberto De Zerbi's team, providing a focal point up front. Marseille's only loss in the last month came in a game in which Gouiri didn't score. Probably not a coincidence.
13. Athletic Bilbao 🇪🇸
Previous: 16 📈
Oihan Sancet. The Spanish midfielder has made steady progress since breaking through the club's acclaimed academy and making his senior debut as a 19-year-old. Now 24, Sancet is enjoying the most productive spell of his career. His 13 La Liga goals, procured in just 21 appearances, lead Bilbao, and only three players have scored more in Spain's top flight this season.
14. Manchester City 🏴
Previous: 15 📈
Savinho. The Brazilian winger hasn't hit the same heights in his first season at Manchester City as he did during Girona's magical campaign last year. In fairness, the raw numbers haven't been kind to anyone other than Erling Haaland during City's tumultuous season. But Savinho, who leads the club in assists, has been one of the very few bright spots for Pep Guardiola's team.
15. Atalanta 🇮🇹
Previous: 13 📉
Mateo Retegui. Retegui has rapidly risen from a relative unknown in Argentina to a prolific hitman in Italy. Although he's more of a late bloomer than others on this list, he was decent enough in his first European season, notching seven league goals at Genoa. However, his stock has skyrocketed since joining Atalanta. The Italian international is the top scorer in Serie A with 21 tallies on the campaign.
16. Lazio 🇮🇹
Previous: N/A 📈
Nuno Tavares. The powerful left-back has played for some marquee clubs in his career - Benfica, Arsenal, and Marseille - and has always had the raw physical tools to be a dominant force. But he's put it all together at Lazio, providing the most assists in Serie A this season while thundering up and down the flank, as helpless opponents try, and fail, to slow him down.
17. Newcastle United 🏴
Previous: 17 ⚖️
Lewis Hall. After a difficult first season at St. James' Park and struggling to get on the field, Hall has locked down the left-back spot for Newcastle and cracked the England squad in 2024-25. It feels like he's been around forever after making his Premier League debut for Chelsea at 17, but he's still only 20 years old and rapidly becoming indispensable for Eddie Howe.
18. Brighton & Hove Albion 🏴
Previous: N/A 📈
Carlos Baleba. Brighton's vaunted scouting department has done it again. The Seagulls, who rebounded after a midseason slump and beat Chelsea twice in back-to-back matches in February, sold Moises Caicedo for a small fortune and replaced him with Baleba. The midfield dynamo is now being linked with a similarly expensive transfer.
19. PSV Eindhoven 🇳🇱
Previous: 19 ⚖️
Noa Lang. PSV struggled domestically over the last month and would've tumbled off this list if not for a spirited Champions League win over Juventus in the knockout playoffs. Lang was the main protagonist of that upset, tormenting the Italian side with his speed and trickery on the ball. He's one of many PSV players likely to join one of Europe's top leagues soon.
20. Fenerbahce 🇹🇷
Previous: N/A 📈
Oguz Aydin. Fenerbahce aren't exactly constructed for the future; their top three scorers this season - Youssef En-Nesyri, Edin Dzeko, and Dusan Tadic - have a combined age of 101. Right behind that trio on the scoring chart is Aydin, the 24-year-old wide midfielder who's quickly becoming an important contributor for the Turkish giants in his first season at the club.
Dropped out: Lille, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Sporting CP
On the cusp: Ajax, Juventus, Freiburg