Earlier this month, we tapped into the collective football wisdom of our knowledgable community. From who’ll bang in the most goals, provide the most assists, and win the big prizes. Let’s unwrap what Matchday fans from around the world think will happen as the season unfolds.
When it comes to the Champions League, Kylian Mbappé is the clear frontrunner in your eyes, securing over half the votes. It’s easy to see why—you’ve watched him tear defences apart season after season. Erling Haaland, with about a third of the vote, is also expected to be in the thick of the Golden Boot race. And while Lautaro Martínez only grabbed a small portion of the predictions, don’t count him out!
Over in the Premier League, it’s the Haaland show. With nearly 61% of the votes, you’re backing the big man to keep smashing records. The surprise second pick? Cole Palmer. Well, not that much of a surprise after his phenomenal effect in the stingy minutes Southgate gave him at Euro 2024. Our chilly boy captured nearly 19% of the votes. Fresh from a frank discussion with his barber, Mohamed Salah is still very much in the mix, proving he’s not going anywhere 👀.
Spain’s race for top scorer is led by none other than Mbappé again. Over 54% of you think he’ll top the charts, leaving Robert Lewandowski in second with 21%. It’s a battle of the titans, but you’ve placed your faith in the younger legs. Julián Álvarez is the wildcard here, with a small yet significant slice of the votes. Could he be the surprise package?
In Italy, it’s Lautaro Martínez all the way! Considering he smashed in La Liga numbers of goals in Serie A, we believe it! Nearly half of you are confident he’ll outscore the competition, with Victor Osimhen trailing behind at 29%. (Let’s see if a last minute Osimhen trade thwarts this prediction!) Dusan Vlahovic is also in the conversation, but it’s clear who your top pick is.
Ligue 1 sees a tight contest between Gonçalo Ramos and Jonathan David, with Ramos just edging out in your predictions. It’s practically a coin toss, and both are more than capable of taking the top spot. Alexandre Lacazette is also in the hunt, proving there’s plenty of firepower in France this season. Yes they might not be the most well known names outside of wine country, but this trio are lethal in front of goal.
Mbappé, Mbappé, and more Mbappé! You’ve made it clear he’s the one to watch, with nearly half of you backing him as the Champions League’s best player. Vinícius Júnior and Phil Foden also have your support, but it’s the Frenchman who’s the favourite to steal the spotlight.
In the Premier League, it’s a closer contest. Phil Foden leads the pack with around 41% of the vote, followed by Bukayo Saka. These two young stars are set to light up the league, and you’re clearly expecting big things from them. Mohamed Salah remains in the mix, showing that experience still counts for a lot.
Spain is all about the next generation, with Lamine Yamal grabbing nearly half of your votes to be La Liga’s standout player. Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are also in the top three, but Yamal’s rise is the story you’re most excited about. It’s a changing of the guard, and you’re all in on the youth movement.
In Italy, Lautaro Martínez is expected to not only score the most goals but also be the best player overall. Rafael Leão and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also highly rated, but it’s Lautaro who’s your top pick to dominate Serie A this season.
Over in France, Achraf Hakimi takes the crown as your choice for the best player. It’s rare to see a defender get so much love, but Hakimi’s performances have clearly earned respect from our community. Warren Zaïre-Emery is also a strong contender, with many of you backing the young midfielder to make a huge impact. Can he live up to the massive potential he clearly has?
In goalkeeping, Thibaut Courtois and Ederson are neck and neck in your predictions for most clean sheets in the Champions League. Courtois just edges it out, but this one is too close to call. Both are at the top of their game, and it’ll be a fascinating battle to watch unfold.
The Premier League sees Ederson leading the way, with nearly half of you expecting him to keep the most clean sheets (even if he doesn’t, City will probably still score enough to win a 5th in a row). Alisson Becker isn’t far behind, making it another classic Manchester vs. Liverpool showdown.
Spain’s battle for the clean sheets crown is incredibly tight, with Courtois and Marc-André ter Stegen almost evenly split in your votes. It’s clear you see these two as the top keepers in La Liga, and their performances could be crucial to their teams’ title hopes.
In Italy, Mike Maignan is your top pick, with half of you backing him to be the safest pair of hands in Serie A. Yann Sommer is also in the conversation, but it’s clear Maignan is the one you expect to come out on top.
In France, Gianluigi Donnarumma is the overwhelming favourite, with over 85% of you expecting him to dominate between the sticks. There’s no doubt in your minds that he’ll be the top keeper in Ligue 1.
In terms of assists, Vinícius Júnior is your top choice, with almost half of you backing him to lead the way in the Champions League. Phil Foden is close behind, showing that you expect these two to be the creative engines of their teams.
The Premier League’s assist race is razor-thin, with Bernardo Silva just edging out Bukayo Saka and Mohamed Salah. All three are known for their ability to unlock defences, and it’s going to be exciting to see who comes out on top.
In Spain, Lamine Yamal is your favourite to be the assist king, with Nico Williams and Vinícius Júnior also expected to deliver the goods. It’s a young and dynamic group, and you’re banking on them to make a big impact.
Italy’s assist maestro, according to you, will be Paulo Dybala, followed by Rafael Leão and Marcus Thuram. It’s a tight race, but Dybala’s creative flair seems to have won you over.
Finally, in Ligue 1, Ousmane Dembélé is your pick to lead the assist charts, with Warren Zaïre-Emery and Angel Gomes also expected to contribute heavily. It’s a strong lineup of playmakers, and you’re expecting them to shine in France.
What a fantastic set of predictions from our community! From Mbappé’s expected dominance across multiple leagues to the rise of young talents like Yamal and Palmer, you’ve painted a fascinating picture of the upcoming season. Now, all that’s left is to see how it all plays out on the pitch.
Keep your eyes open for all these players in Matchday Champions too. What a squad that would be! And if these players perform as the community predicts, they’ll be enjoying boosts all through the campaign in Matchday Champions.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow these predictions throughout the season. Will you be proven right, or will there be surprises along the way? Only time will tell!
Join the conversation on Discord and let us know your thoughts on these predictions. Do you agree? Or do you think someone else will surprise us all? Let’s keep the discussion going!
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