Messi the main man in WhoScored’s La Liga best XI

Barcelona appear unstoppable at the moment having dropped just two points in La Liga this season, that coming in a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid. The Blaugrana picked up 10 points of a possible 12 available, in part due to the excellent form of Lionel Messi. The Argentine has earned the WhoScored man of the match in nine of his 11 league appearances this season, more than any other player, and picked up the accolade in all four league outings last month, helping return a WhoScored rating of 8.91. 

Indeed, Messi was on hand to score three goals and register two assists, while the pint-sized Barcelona star also completed more dribbles (29) than any other La Liga player in October. The 30-year-old also ranked second for key passes (29) and successful final third passes (91) as he continues to shine on the back of Neymar’s record breaking move to PSG. Messi is one of three Barcelona representatives to feature in our La Liga team of the month, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen starring between the sticks. 

The German, who is in line to start against England tonight, made 14 saves from 15 shots on target faced in October, with Saul Niguez the only player to find a way past Ter Stegen to keep three clean sheets from four appearances. 25-year-old Sergi Roberto comes in at right-back having made a combined 11 tackles and interceptions. The Spaniard got forward well too as he made five key passes, which included the decisive assist for Luis Suarez’s equaliser against Atletico Madrid, and completed six dribbles to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.61. 

At left-back is former Aston Villa favourite Antonio Luna after he came into the Levante side midway through October. He pressed forward well to register one assist and was defensively sound, making six tackles, six interceptions and seven clearances. Valencia are one of three La Liga teams yet to lose a match this season, with Jeison Murillo solid at the heart of the defence. The former Inter man was impressed in his two appearances, winning nine aerial duels and making 10 tackles and interceptions combined in victories over Seville pair Real Betis and Sevilla. Victor Ruiz rounds off the defence having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.48 in October. The Villarreal man made six tackles, 12 interceptions and 21 clearances last month to ensure the Yellow Submarine conceded only two goals in four matches. 

Gonçalo Guedes has been in flying form for Valencia following his summer switch to the Mestalla and deserves his place in the La Liga team of the month. The Portuguese youngster scored three goals and registered a further two assists to yield a WhoScored rating of 8.21. On top of that, Guedes made nine key passes and completed 12 dribbles to round off an impressive October. Only Cedric Bakambu (6) scored more goals than Iago Aspas (4) in La Liga last month, with the former Liverpool man featuring on the right flank having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.92 from his three league appearances. 

Aspas’ Celta Vigo teammate Pablo Hernandez also makes the cut following a smashing October in the middle of the park as the experienced Chilean scored one and made a combined 14 tackles and interceptions combined. Leganes midfielder Gabriel Pires partners Hernandez in central midfield, with the 24-year-old chipping in with 16 tackles and interceptions in October to pick up a WhoScored rating of 7.77. 

Isco rounds off the XI following a memorable October for the Real Madrid man. Of the four goals he has scored in La Liga this season, three came last month, while two of his three assists were registered in October. The Spain international also made three key passes and eight successful dribbles in three appearances to help Real Madrid to two wins from three.