Best XI of players outside Europe's top five leagues

There are gem of players playing outside the top five leagues. So we take a look at the Best XI players outside of Europe's top five league.

Away from the continent, there are top class players plying their trade with huge teams in pursuit of silverware that many people within Europe don't know much about. Even within Europe, there are leagues and divisions where players are excelling, while flying under the radar.

Be it Brazilian stars coming in from South America, familiar faces finding their feet once again over in Turkey, or the usual crop of mega talents emerging at Ajax, looking beyond the traditional top five leagues makes for a lot of fun.

You don't actually have to do that much searching to find some of the top talents outside of that top five, with a good chunk of them already still within Europe. Clubs have to move quick to secure the services of these exciting talents, though, with queues often forming quickly, made up of English, German and Spanish sides all wanting in on the excitement.

Goalkeeper – Ugurcan Cakir (Trabzonspor)

Having been linked with a move to the Premier League in previous seasons, Cakir has stayed put in Turkey and won the country's top prize, proving instrumental as Trabzonspor were lifted the 2021/22 Super Lig.

At 26, he's coming into the peak of his powers and is finding new levels of confidence and ability.

Right-back – Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax)

Mazraoui won't be outside of Europe's top five for much longer, with the Moroccan expected to be joining Bayern Munich ahead of the 2022/23 season.

In an age where full-backs are among the most important players on the pitch, Mazraoui has proven one of the most influential, with his creative contributions in a dominant Ajax side. Mazraoui is moving to Bayern Munich in the summer.

Centre back – Jurrien Timber (Ajax)

The fact that Timber – typically a right-back – has been shifted over to centre back and still been able to star for Ajax is testament to just how good he is. At just 20 years old, he reads the game exceptionally well and always looks composed in possession.

Height might not be on his side, but that hasn't stopped Europe's top sides from keeping tabs on him.

Centre back – Lisandro Martinez (Ajax)

An experienced head in Erik ten Hag's glorious Ajax team, Martinez is quietly building a portfolio as an incredibly reliable, well-rounded central defender.

Capable of stepping out into midfield with the ball and holding the ship in a more advanced role, Ajax will struggle to keep hold of him in the near future.

Left-back – Sergio Gomez (Anderlecht)

Gomez already has quite the CV, but after coming up through the ranks at Barcelona, transferring to Borussia Dortmund and playing in La Liga on loan, he's found a permanent home in Belgium.

The 21-year-old has been a machine for Anderlecht, racking up 17 league goal contributions in his debut season. Plenty of big club experience, lots of talent and even more ambition.

Centre midfield – Mohamed Camara (Red Bull Salzburg)

Defensive midfielders who can pass the ball and press well are all the range these days, and Red Bull Salzburg certainly know how to find them.

Camara ticks all of those boxes and, at just 22, is excelling in the Austrian Bundesliga. Don't be surprised to see him make a big move to RB Leipzig soon enough.

Centre midfield – Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax)

The young Dutchman has been freakishly good for Ajax in what has been yet another stellar season. Capable of playing just about any role in the midfield, Gravenberch has found his stride starting deeper but bringing the ball out in Ten Hag's expansive setup, which is an indication of just how high his ceiling is.

Centre midfield – Fabio Vieira (Porto)

Vieira's performances this season have been nothing short of spectacular, and his numbers back it up. For the statistics fans, you'll be delighted to hear that the 21-year-old has delivered six goals and 14 assists from just 27 Primeira Liga games, proving the creative lynchpin for Porto as they won the Portuguese title.

Right wing – Antony (Ajax)

We've tried to not just make this an Ajax XI – we really have – but Antony is yet another player that is too good to ignore. Marvelling from the wide areas all season long, the Brazilian is the name on the lips of every top side right now, dazzling spectators with his absurd dribbling ability and knack for a goal. This guy is too much fun and destined for a big move.

Striker – Darwin Nunez (Benfica)

You simply cannot ignore those goals. 26 goals from 28 league games for Benfica, coupled with four assists, has seen Nunez claim one of the most obscene firing rates in Europe this season.

A tall player with a true poacher's instinct, he's the type of striker that won't give defenders a split second to switch off in the penalty box. Nightmare forward.

Left wing – Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg)

Okay, so we might have cheated a little bit here, considering Adeyemi is more of an out-and-out centre forward. We simply had to get him in the team, though, because a front three like this means unrelenting amounts of goals.

Adeyemi will join Borussia Dortmund for the 2022/23 season, so we had to sneak him in to celebrate his accomplishments outside Europe's top five before it was too late.

So that was the list of Best XI players outside of Europe's top five league.