European Team of the Season: RM – Florian Thauvin (Marseille)

Having rounded off the defence, we now turn our attention to midfield and while Mohamed Salah enjoyed a hugely successful season, he was pipped to the right wing spot in the best-rated XI by Marseille sensation Florian Thauvin. 

The France international played a key role in Marseille’s top-4 finish this season, with Thauvin one of three players, along with Memphis Depay and Neymar, to register double figures for both goals (22) and assists (11) in Ligue 1 this term. His splendid form out wide earned the Frenchman an excellent WhoScored.com rating of 7.93, that in turn better than any other player to make more than 20 Ligue 1 appearances this season. 

His return of 22 goals was second only to Edinson Cavani (28) in Ligue 1 this season as Rudi Garcia successfully brought out the best in the 25-year-old. Such was his excellent performances than Thauvin earned more WhoScored.com man of the match awards (13) than any other Ligue 1 player this season. 

On top of that, a return of 117 successful dribbles was the second best in France’s top tier as Thauvin effectively put opponents to the sword and ensured Marseille spent large periods on the frontfoot this season. He formed a commendable attacking partnership with Valere Germain too, with five of his 11 assists coming for his compatriot to score, that one of the league's best assist-to-goalscorer combinations. 

That Germain scored just nine league goals this term highlights just how influential Thauvin was in the final third for his teammates and he was justifiably rewarded with a place in France’s World Cup squad. It’s no wonder that, after such a successful campaign, Marseille president Jacques-Henri Eyraud is adamant that the club’s prized asset will not be sold this summer. 

France fans will certainly hope Thauvin can transfer his fine domestic form to the international stage with the winger enjoying, without a shadow of a doubt, his finest campaign to date.