Dortmund MVP Sancho still pipped by on fire Mbappe in latest U21 form rankings

There were some outstanding performances across Europe’s top five leagues from youngsters this weekend, and two new qualifiers in our U21 player form rankings, though the top two continue to prove a class apart. The latest leaderboard is as follows…

10. Ibrahim Sangare (Toulouse) - Weighted rating 7.18*

Forcing his way into the top ten following a man of the match performance at Nice at the weekend, Sangare was instrumental without and without the ball for his side. The midfielder fired off five shots at goal as well as completing three dribbles but it was a remarkable 11 tackles that saw him earn the star man award - coming away with the ball himself on nine occasions, which is a Ligue 1 record this season.

9. Maximilian Mittelstadt (Hertha Berlin) - Weighted rating 7.20*

The first of two new qualifiers to this week’s leaderboard, Mittelstadt started for the sixth game of the last eight available for Hertha Berlin as they fell to a narrow defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The winger makes the cut for the first and last time having turned 22 since the game, with his industry out wide the key to his ranking, having made three tackles to take his tally to 16 over his last six appearances.

8. Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace) - Weighted rating 7.21*

A non-mover this week given Palace were in FA Cup duty.

7. Ismaila Sarr (Rennes) - Weighted rating 7.23*

Dropping three places this time around, Sarr couldn’t effect the game from an attacking sense as Rennes shared the spoils with Bordeaux but did chip in with three tackles.

6. Lautaro Martinez (Inter) - Weighted rating 7.23*

The second new qualifier this week, Martinez’s first Milan derby was one to savour as the 21-year-old striker scored the decisive penalty in a 3-2 win. The Argentine had earlier turned provider to Matias Vecino as the Uruguayan gave Inter an early lead and has now scored in three of his last six league appearances.

5. Kevin Danso (Augsburg) - Weighted rating 7.27*

Steaming into the top ten, 20-year-old centre-back Danso is becoming a more prominent figure for Augsburg of late and earned the WhoScored.com man of the match award against Hannover at the weekend. The Austrian won eight aerial duels, three tackles and made four interceptions, as well as registering an assist in a 3-1 win.

4. Ibrahima Konnte (RB Leipzig) - Weighted rating 7.36*

A regular fixture in this leaderboard, Konate’s consistency at the back for Leipzig has been mightily impressive at the tender age of 19. He helped the Bundesliga side to a third consecutive clean sheet at the weekend, winning six aerial duels, three tackles and making eight clearances in victory over Schalke.

3. Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen) - Weighted rating 7.66*

Up three places this week, Bailey could certainly count himself unfortunate to end up on the wrong end of an upset as in form Leverkusen lost at home to Werder Bremen. The winger scored a fantastic free-kick - his third goal in five league appearances, while equalling Thorgan Hazard’s Bundesliga record of ten successful dribbles in a single game this season.

2. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) - Weighted rating 7.88*

The Dortmund winger was the star of the show once more at the weekend as the title hopefuls came from behind to beat Hertha Berlin, registering two assists in a 3-2 victory. That took his tally for the season to 12 - which is something only Lionel Messi can match - while only the Argentine has won more WhoScored.com man of the match awards since the start of December in Europe’s top five leagues than the teenager’s six.

1. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - Weighted rating 8.31*

While it was Angel Di Maria who unquestionably stole the show as PSG beat Marseille at the weekend, Mbappe scored his customary goals to maintain his fantastic streak in Ligue 1. The striker’s opener on the stroke of half-time stretched his league scoring run to six matches - netting eight in total in that time.

QUALIFYING RULES
 
Only ratings taken from each player’s last six league matches are considered, weighted chronologically, with the most recent match carrying greater importance and so on. To qualify each player must have featured in their side’s last league game and started at least six of the last eight available.