WHAT is the best possible Dream Team XI using no more than one player from each team?
It’s a question one only ponders during the throes of an international break.
Wrap it up, ThomasCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
We have analysed the top performers at this stage of the season, crunched the numbers, and figured out the optimal combination so that 11 Premier League clubs are represented.
No players from Bournemouth, Brighton, Burnley, Everton, Fulham, Leeds, Sunderland, West Ham or Wolves made the final cut as a high bar was set.
Without further ado…
Best in class!Credit: Dream Team
Guglielmo Vicario (£2.1m) is perhaps a tad fortunate to be among such esteemed company as Tottenham have descended deeper into farce as the campaign has progressed.
However, the Italian has kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions (it’s easy to forget Spurs did well in the league phase of the Champions League) and no goalkeeper has made more saves at the time of writing.
David Raya (£4.2m), Gigi Donnarumma (£4.2m) and Robert Sanchez (£3.3m) are above Vicario in the rankings but they were overlooked in favour of Jurrien Timber (£3.7m), Erling Haaland (£6.6m) and Joao Pedro (£4.8m).
Arsenal’s Dutch defender is the outright best performer in his position right now having racked up 260 points.
Bukayo Saka (£6.1m) is actually the Gunners’ leader after 29 Gameweeks with 264 points but it’s relatively tight in the upper bracket of midfielders whereas Timber and team-mate Gabriel (£5m) are comfortably clear among defenders at present.
This XI shines the spotlight on two deserving assets in Neco Williams (£4.2m) and Tyrick Mitchell (£3.9m).
Both full-backs have been underrated by Dream Team bosses this season but this exercise highlights their tremendous efforts.
Not to be underestimatedCredit: Getty
Dominik Szoboszlai (£5.5m) and Anthony Gordon (£4.4m) are easy inclusions as the two best midfielders in the game.
The former is 63 points clear of Liverpool’s next best player, Hugo Ekitike (£4.8m), while Newcastle’s No10 set himself apart from his peers with ten goals in the Champions League before Barcelona ended the Magpies’ campaign in brutal fashion.
Bruno Fernandes (£6.6m) ranks joint-sixth in his position overall but that doesn’t do justice to his form.
Manchester United’s captain averages 8.1 points-per-game in 2025/26 — only the aforementioned Haaland boasts a better average (8.4).
Our methodology means Enzo Fernandez (£4.5m), Antoine Semenyo (£4.5m) and Harvey Barnes (£4.4m) miss out and their loss is Fernandes’ gain.
Morgan Rogers (£5m) also benefits as Aston Villa’s main man with ten goals and eight assists.
Only one team-mate of the England playmaker is within 50 points of him, Matty Cash (£3.5m) on 202.
Deserving of high praiseCredit: Getty
Up front, Igor Thiago (£4m) is fully deserving of his place having plundered 22 goals this season.
The Brazilian No9 is 79 points ahead of Brentford’s second-best performer, Michael Kayode (£3.9m).
And last but not least, it’s Joao Pedro (£4.8m) with 18 goals and ten assists in all competitions.
The Chelsea striker is second only to Haaland in his position and he edged out Fernandez to represent the Blues as while 19 midfielders have reached the 200-point mark, just seven forwards can call themselves double centurions.
How many of these players will keep their place come the end of the season?
Only time will tell.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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