Showcase cards: 14 Spanish players chosen by six selection rules, and the 2025/26 pool
14 cards, one player per position group under each of six selection rules.
How to read it: each card shows one player’s 2025/26 numbers, his cluster in the style and quality maps, the change since the previous season and his nearest historical analogs; the rule that chose him is at the foot. The atlas below plots every player-season of 2025/26.
How the 14 cards were chosen
Why these cards: one card per position group per rule, applied in this order — (a) highest goals + assists per 90, league-adjusted, (b) youngest national-team call-up, (c) most top-9 minutes among the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, (d) most domestic-league minutes among the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, (e) most top-9 minutes, (f) most domestic minutes under 23 without a top-9 season. A player already chosen by an earlier rule falls through to the next name, so a later row can show the second name by its measure. Rows group the six rules; the national-team core row holds two of them.
Style mapPrimary scorersQuality mapHigh-volume scorers in top-five leagues
Author’s reading (not computed)
Primary scorers — non-penalty goal rate nearly double the forward median on starter minutes (56 %). The finishing forward of a first-choice line (Duro, Torres, Jutglà).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↓change−0.16G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 1106 min → 1965 min)
Historical analogs at age 26 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Christopher NkunkuFRA
GER-Bundesliga 2022/23 · 1897 min · 0.56 ·
d = 0.16
Georges MikautadzeGEO
ESP-La Liga 2025/26 · 2109 min · 0.56 ·
d = 0.19
Ademola LookmanNGA
ITA-Serie A 2022/23 · 1729 min · 0.57 ·
d = 0.39
2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: highest goals + assists per 90, league-adjusted among FW.
Style mapHigh-minutes creative midfieldersQuality mapProductive midfielders in top-five leagues
Author’s reading (not computed)
Starting playmakers — assist rate three times the midfield median on 62 % of minutes, scoring nearly double. The creative hub of the middle third (Milla, García, Grimaldo).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↑change+0.13G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2856 min → 2262 min)
Historical analogs at age 19 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Florian WirtzGER
GER-Bundesliga 2021/22 · 1851 min · 0.49 ·
d = 1.01
Mathys TelFRA
GER-Bundesliga 2023/24 · 1050 min · 0.52 ·
d = 1.72
Jamal MusialaGER
GER-Bundesliga 2021/22 · 1465 min · 0.36 ·
d = 2.22
2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: highest goals + assists per 90, league-adjusted among MF.
Every-week starters — three quarters of the season's minutes, assist rate about 1.5 times the forward median, scoring at median. Mostly a top-five-league footprint: the first-choice forward who links play as much as he finishes (Ferri, Martínez, Oyarzabal).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↑change+0.05G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2250 min → 2710 min)
Historical analogs at age 29 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Iñaki WilliamsGHA
ESP-La Liga 2022/23 · 2836 min · 0.31 ·
d = 0.21
Tim KleindienstGER
GER-Bundesliga 2023/24 · 2869 min · 0.33 ·
d = 0.23
Ché AdamsSCO
ITA-Serie A 2024/25 · 2652 min · 0.35 ·
d = 0.29
2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most top-9 minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad FW.
The engine room — nearly 80 % of minutes with median output: holding and box-to-box midfielders whose value is continuity and structure, not numbers (Febas, Blanco, Moncayola).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↑change+0.10G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2962 min → 2992 min)
Historical analogs at age 27 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Tomáš SoučekCZE
ENG-Premier League 2021/22 · 3062 min · 0.18 ·
d = 0.14
Josh BrownhillENG
ENG-Premier League 2021/22 · 2955 min · 0.16 ·
d = 0.27
RodriESP
ENG-Premier League 2022/23 · 2911 min · 0.24 ·
d = 0.43
2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most top-9 minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad MF.
Style mapEveryday starting defendersQuality mapHigh-assist defenders in top-five leagues
Author’s reading (not computed)
The defensive core — 85 % of minutes, output at the DF floor. Availability and continuity are the signal; production is not (Iglesias, Catena, Sadick).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↓change−0.13G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2610 min → 2796 min)
Historical analogs at age 27 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Trevoh ChalobahENG
ENG-Premier League 2025/26 · 2783 min · 0.09 ·
d = 0.02
Matt TargettENG
ENG-Premier League 2021/22 · 2871 min · 0.06 ·
d = 0.23
James JustinENG
ENG-Premier League 2024/25 · 2912 min · 0.11 ·
d = 0.23
2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: most top-9 minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad DF.
Style mapOlder forwards with moderate playing timeQuality mapHigh-volume scorers in top-five leagues
Author’s reading (not computed)
Experienced forwards on managed minutes — median age 31, about 40 % of minutes, output at median. The impact or target forward used in rotation (Iglesias, Félix, Mir).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change−0.03G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 1952 min → 1900 min)
Historical analogs at age 33 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Max KruseGER
GER-Bundesliga 2020/21 · 1629 min · 0.45 ·
d = 0.41
Marius BülterGER
GER-Bundesliga 2025/26 · 1597 min · 0.39 ·
d = 0.50
Ciro ImmobileITA
ITA-Serie A 2022/23 · 2219 min · 0.41 ·
d = 0.51
2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: most domestic minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad FW.
The engine room — nearly 80 % of minutes with median output: holding and box-to-box midfielders whose value is continuity and structure, not numbers (Febas, Blanco, Moncayola).
Historical analogs at age 23 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Nathaniel BrownGER
GER-Bundesliga 2025/26 · 2656 min · 0.20 ·
d = 0.10
Ritsu DoanJPN
GER-Bundesliga 2020/21 · 2768 min · 0.17 ·
d = 0.28
Arthur AttaFRA
ITA-Serie A 2025/26 · 2557 min · 0.22 ·
d = 0.30
2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: most domestic minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad MF.
The defensive core — 85 % of minutes, output at the DF floor. Availability and continuity are the signal; production is not (Iglesias, Catena, Sadick).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↓change−0.10G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 1566 min → 2721 min)
Historical analogs at age 25 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Loïc BadeFRA
ESP-La Liga 2024/25 · 2686 min · 0.05 ·
d = 0.08
Sergi CardonaESP
ESP-La Liga 2023/24 · 2814 min · 0.07 ·
d = 0.20
Nico SchlotterbeckGER
GER-Bundesliga 2023/24 · 2859 min · 0.06 ·
d = 0.22
2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: most domestic minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad DF.
Every-week starters — three quarters of the season's minutes, assist rate about 1.5 times the forward median, scoring at median. Mostly a top-five-league footprint: the first-choice forward who links play as much as he finishes (Ferri, Martínez, Oyarzabal).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change+0.01G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2002 min → 2382 min)
Historical analogs at age 24 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Benedict HollerbachGER
GER-Bundesliga 2024/25 · 2540 min · 0.31 ·
d = 0.25
Samuel ChukwuezeNGA
ESP-La Liga 2022/23 · 2339 min · 0.34 ·
d = 0.37
Lorenzo ColomboITA
ITA-Serie A 2025/26 · 2326 min · 0.25 ·
d = 0.44
UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025
Selected as: youngest national-team call-up among FW.
The defensive core — 85 % of minutes, output at the DF floor. Availability and continuity are the signal; production is not (Iglesias, Catena, Sadick).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change−0.03G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2618 min → 2703 min)
Historical analogs at age 19 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Leny YoroFRA
FRA-Ligue 1 2023/24 · 2673 min · 0.04 ·
d = 0.69
Abdoul CoulibalyGER
GER-Bundesliga 2025/26 · 2120 min · 0.04 ·
d = 0.78
Luka VuškovićCRO
GER-Bundesliga 2025/26 · 2442 min · 0.12 ·
d = 0.84
2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: youngest national-team call-up among DF.
Every-week starters — three quarters of the season's minutes, assist rate about 1.5 times the forward median, scoring at median. Mostly a top-five-league footprint: the first-choice forward who links play as much as he finishes (Ferri, Martínez, Oyarzabal).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change+0.01G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2287 min → 2891 min)
Historical analogs at age 22 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Thom van BergenNED
NED-Eredivisie 2025/26 · 2966 min · 0.20 ·
d = 0.39
Hélio VarelaCPV
POR-Primeira Liga 2023/24 · 2743 min · 0.20 ·
d = 0.40
Matthis AblineFRA
FRA-Ligue 1 2024/25 · 2768 min · 0.25 ·
d = 0.50
Starting playmakers — assist rate three times the midfield median on 62 % of minutes, scoring nearly double. The creative hub of the middle third (Milla, García, Grimaldo).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↑change+0.11G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2875 min → 3271 min)
Historical analogs at age 32 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Daniel ParejoESP
ESP-La Liga 2020/21 · 3112 min · 0.17 ·
d = 0.48
Sergi DarderESP
ESP-La Liga 2024/25 · 2744 min · 0.20 ·
d = 0.73
Darko LazovićSRB
ITA-Serie A 2021/22 · 2766 min · 0.20 ·
d = 0.73
Barcelona (ESP-La Liga) · 100 % of the league's goals scored
2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: youngest home goalkeeper with minimum top-9 minutes.
* Each card renders the existing dataset; no computation beyond the join. Age on the name line is the 2026/27 season-start age (start year − birth year); the club is from the 2026/27 tables, or — labelled "latest known" — from FBref's country page where the player has no 2026/27 row. Age on the analog line follows the analog finder's convention (season start year + 1 − birth year).
The atlas: every player-season of 2025/26, one dot each
How to read it: every dot is the 2025/26 season of one of the forwards in the leagues this report covers. The two axes are the first two principal components of his five per-90 numbers (goals, assists, minutes share, age, cards) — dots that sit close together had similar seasons. The style projection uses the raw numbers, the quality projection the league-adjusted ones, so switching shows who moves when the strength of his league is counted. Colours are the clusters named below; green dots are Spanish-eligible players, a black ring marks a national-team call-up. Hover a dot for the player, click to pin, scroll to zoom, type a name to find him.How to read it: every dot is the 2025/26 season of one of the midfielders in the leagues this report covers. The two axes are the first two principal components of his five per-90 numbers (goals, assists, minutes share, age, cards) — dots that sit close together had similar seasons. The style projection uses the raw numbers, the quality projection the league-adjusted ones, so switching shows who moves when the strength of his league is counted. Colours are the clusters named below; green dots are Spanish-eligible players, a black ring marks a national-team call-up. Hover a dot for the player, click to pin, scroll to zoom, type a name to find him.How to read it: every dot is the 2025/26 season of one of the defenders in the leagues this report covers. The two axes are the first two principal components of his five per-90 numbers (goals, assists, minutes share, age, cards) — dots that sit close together had similar seasons. The style projection uses the raw numbers, the quality projection the league-adjusted ones, so switching shows who moves when the strength of his league is counted. Colours are the clusters named below; green dots are Spanish-eligible players, a black ring marks a national-team call-up. Hover a dot for the player, click to pin, scroll to zoom, type a name to find him.
Every player in the 2025/26 pool — all 381, searchable
The cards above pick by rule. This is everyone with a 2025/26 season in the data: 46 forwards, 178 midfielders, 129 defenders and 28 goalkeepers. Open a name for what the report measures about him, in plain words. Rank is within his own position group on quality-adjusted production; the two arrows mark a mid-season move.
381 of 381
PlayerAgePosClubMinutesRank
No player matches. The pool is every Spanish-eligible player with a season row in the leagues this report covers; a player in a league it does not cover is not here.
How we know
As an analytics question In numbers: 14 showcase cards chosen from the 2025/26 pool by six selection rules, one per position group per rule.
What we did We matched each player's season to his national-team call-ups and photo, then picked one player per position group under each of six rules.
Sources 2025/26 FBref, Wikipedia and Wikidata rows joined by name and birth year; six selection rules, applied in order — see below.
What this means
The cards are examples chosen by rule, not a ranking or a selection: a player appears because he comes first under a rule, and a later rule skips anyone already chosen. A card’s numbers are one season’s; the analogs show what followed for similar player-seasons, not what will follow for this player.
What this does not show
Players the rules did not pick (the full pool is in the list below), anything beyond the five season numbers, and any prediction for a player.
Data snapshot: FBref tables fetched 14 September 2026, snapshot commit ef7dbd4 · code: src/historical_analogs.py, src/render.py (_build_cards), src/pool_table.py · status: exploratory, not pre-registered · all limitations
