The best starting XI made up of the best players from across Europe this term.
It’s been another fantastic year across Europe’s top five leagues, with Bayern Munich having won the Bundesliga and Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain on course to retain their titles.
However, in the Premier League and La Liga things are a lot tighter, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City battling out in England and Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid taking it to the wire in Spain.
There have also been some superb individual performances from across those divisions and CaughtOffside has picked out the best of the bunch to put together the best starting XI.
GK – Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Borussia Monchengladbach
At just 21-years-old this young German has shown that he can cut it among the very best with a brilliant campaign with Gladbach, in which they are fighting for a Champions League spot for next term.
There were strong reports linking the ‘keeper with Barcelona in the summer, but their transfer ban until the end of the 2014/15 season has put an end to that and there could be several sides on alert as a result.
RB – Dani Alves, Barcelona
By the standards of the all-conquering Barca in recent years this has been a disappointing campaign and unless they win the league title will probably cost head coach Gerardo Martino his job.
However, they still have a squad brimming with world-class talent and Alves remains arguably the best attacking full-back in all of world football.
LB – Ricardo Rodriguez, Wolfsburg
It has been a good year for Wolfsburg – although not quite their title winning antics of 2009 – and in Rodriguez they possess one of the most promising talents in the game.
At just 21-years-old this Switzerland international has even outshone David Alaba in the German top tier and could well be on the move in the summer.
CB – Gerard Pique, Barcelona
Another star from the Nou Camp now and with the continued absence of club captain Carles Puyol – who is said to be leaving Catalonia in the summer – Pique has really had to step up.
With Javier Mascherano looking weak as a centre-back, the Spain international will be hoping that national compatriot Marc Bartra can step up to what is required and work alongside this world-class defender.
CB – Naldo, Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg
Completing our all Barca and Wolfsburg back line (it’s just the way it worked out honest) is this impressive Brazilian, who at 31-years-old is still showing fine form.
Naldo has even managed to pop up with a few goals and will be hoping that his displays this term will convince Luiz Felipe Scolari to include the centre-back in his 2014 World Cup squad.
CM – Steven Gerrard, Liverpool
Rolling back the years Gerrard has arguably given his best ever displays in a Reds shirt this campaign as the Merseysiders look to win the English title for the first time since 1990.
Deployed in a new deep-lying role the 33-year-old has dictated play for Brendan Rodgers’ side and could well add the only trophy missing from his domestic cabinet this year.
CM – Ivan Rakitic, Sevilla
As if from nowhere this season – or at least to most people – this Croatia international has been producing brilliant form and could well get his side into the Champions League against the odds.
After losing Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo to Manchester City last summer, Sevilla fans could have been forgiven for thinking this would be a difficult campaign, but 15 goals and 18 assists from Rakitic in all competitions has helped stop that.
RW – Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich
It wouldn’t be quite right if at least one representative from Pep Guardiola’s brilliant Bayern side wasn’t in the XI and for the second year running Ribery has been their standout performer in a superb team.
The Frenchman generally operates from the left flank, but can of course play on the right and for the purpose of our team is moved across to the other wing.
CAM – Lionel Messi, Barcelona
Not strictly Messi’s best position, but the Argentine is good enough to adapt and whilst the 26-year-old hasn’t had the best season by his supremely high standards has still been brilliant.
Again having three Barca players in the team when they could end up with no trophies may seem odd, but the South American’s 38 goals can hardly be argued with.
LW – Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
With Messi slightly off the boil (sort of) this season Ronaldo has taken up the mantle of the best player in the world and 28 league goals and 14 in the Champions League is testament to that.
Madrid are still in with a great chance of completing a treble this year and it will be thanks to the Portugal captain’s great talent if they do so.
ST – Luis Suarez, Liverpool
Yet the absolute standout performer and the second star from Anfield is this brilliant Uruguayan, who has put controversy and criticism behind him to dominate English football.
Despite missing the first six games of the league season to complete a ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, Suarez has still managed to score an impressive 29 goals in just 28 games – and he doesn’t even take penalties.
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