Showcase cards: 17 Czech players chosen by six selection rules, and the 2025/26 pool
17 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 17 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 (Schick, Patrak, Chorý).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↓change−0.20G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 1684 min → 1988 min)
Historical analogs at age 30 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Serhou GuirassyGUI
GER-Bundesliga 2025/26 · 2337 min · 0.48 ·
d = 0.47
Ihlas BebouTOG
GER-Bundesliga 2023/24 · 1636 min · 0.46 ·
d = 0.50
Pere MillaESP
ESP-La Liga 2021/22 · 1644 min · 0.44 ·
d = 0.62
2024–25 Nations League · 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 (Provod, Vlkanova, Ladra).
Historical analogs at age 29 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Efkan Bekiroğlu
TUR-Süper Lig 2023/24 · 2126 min · 0.22 ·
d = 0.18
TrézéguetEGY
TUR-Süper Lig 2022/23 · 2127 min · 0.21 ·
d = 0.23
João NovaisPOR
TUR-Süper Lig 2021/22 · 1835 min · 0.21 ·
d = 0.23
2026 World Cup qualification · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: highest goals + assists per 90, league-adjusted among MF.
Style mapHigh-assist defenders with high playing timeQuality mapHigh-assist defenders in top-five leagues
Author’s reading (not computed)
Attacking full-backs — assist rate seven times the DF median on starter minutes (65 %). The wide defender whose job ends in the final third (Coufal, Icha, Hadaš).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↑change+0.15G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 1067 min → 3012 min)
Historical analogs at age 34 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Óscar de MarcosESP
ESP-La Liga 2022/23 · 2819 min · 0.14 ·
d = 0.41
Leandro CabreraURU
ESP-La Liga 2024/25 · 2869 min · 0.12 ·
d = 0.53
Jeffrey GouweleeuwNED
GER-Bundesliga 2024/25 · 2944 min · 0.10 ·
d = 0.63
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: highest goals + assists per 90, league-adjusted among DF.
National-team core — 2026 FIFA World Cup squad: most top-9 minutes, most home-league minutes
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 (Schick, Patrak, Chorý).
Historical analogs at age 26 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Amine GouiriALG
FRA-Ligue 1 2025/26 · 1326 min · 0.43 ·
d = 0.41
Randal Kolo MuaniFRA
FRA-Ligue 1 2023/24 · 1268 min · 0.43 ·
d = 0.50
Bamba DiengSEN
FRA-Ligue 1 2025/26 · 1212 min · 0.43 ·
d = 0.56
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most top-9 minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad FW.
MF · 31 · West Ham United (latest known) · NT 2024–26
2025/26 · West Ham · ENG-Premier League
G+A / 90 adj.
0.21
Non-penalty goals / assists per 90
0.20 / 0.00
Minutes
2200 (64 %)
Style mapOlder rotation midfieldersQuality mapProductive midfielders in top-five leagues
Author’s reading (not computed)
Veteran rotation midfielders — median age 30 on managed minutes (40 %), output at median, card rate above it. Experience kept in the squad rather than on the pitch every week (Souček, Trávník, Daníček).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↓change−0.11G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2567 min → 2200 min)
Historical analogs at age 31 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
John McGinnSCO
ENG-Premier League 2024/25 · 2223 min · 0.21 ·
d = 0.03
RodrigoESP
ENG-Premier League 2021/22 · 2265 min · 0.22 ·
d = 0.14
Mateusz KlichPOL
ENG-Premier League 2020/21 · 2393 min · 0.23 ·
d = 0.33
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most top-9 minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad MF.
Style mapEveryday starting defendersQuality mapGoal-scoring 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 (Hůlka, Halinský, Cedidla).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change+0.05G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2440 min → 2356 min)
Historical analogs at age 27 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Pau TorresESP
ENG-Premier League 2023/24 · 2464 min · 0.08 ·
d = 0.23
Pervis EstupiñánECU
ENG-Premier League 2024/25 · 2402 min · 0.07 ·
d = 0.26
Oleksandr ZinchenkoUKR
ENG-Premier League 2022/23 · 2118 min · 0.09 ·
d = 0.32
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most top-9 minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad DF.
Primary scorers — non-penalty goal rate nearly double the forward median on starter minutes (56 %). The finishing forward of a first-choice line (Schick, Patrak, Chorý).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
↑change+0.07G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2123 min → 1838 min)
Historical analogs at age 31 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Serdar DursunTUR
TUR-Süper Lig 2021/22 · 1869 min · 0.29 ·
d = 0.25
IviESP
POL-Ekstraklasa 2024/25 · 1759 min · 0.27 ·
d = 0.27
Mats SeuntjensNED
NED-Eredivisie 2022/23 · 1564 min · 0.31 ·
d = 0.54
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most domestic minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad FW.
Goal-scoring attacking midfielders — non-penalty goal rate three times the midfield median on starter minutes (56 %). The number 8/10 who arrives in the box (Darida, Ševčík, Višinský).
Historical analogs at age 36 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Alexandru MaximROU
TUR-Süper Lig 2025/26 · 2680 min · 0.12 ·
d = 0.42
Jesús ImazESP
POL-Ekstraklasa 2025/26 · 2784 min · 0.23 ·
d = 0.60
Lucas BigliaARG
TUR-Süper Lig 2021/22 · 2795 min · 0.08 ·
d = 0.67
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: most domestic minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad MF.
Experienced defenders on managed minutes — median age 31, 44 % of minutes, output at the floor. Leadership and cover rather than a starting role (Novák, Brabec, Fleišman).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change0.00G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2454 min → 2003 min)
Historical analogs at age 33 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Piotr MrozińskiPOL
POL-Ekstraklasa 2024/25 · 1979 min · 0.05 ·
d = 0.07
Jakub JugasCZE
POL-Ekstraklasa 2024/25 · 2030 min · 0.05 ·
d = 0.08
Zeki YavruTUR
TUR-Süper Lig 2023/24 · 2017 min · 0.05 ·
d = 0.25
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most domestic minutes among 2026 FIFA World Cup squad DF.
Rotation forwards whose signature is physical engagement — card rate roughly three times the forward median, a third of minutes, output at median. Pressing and duel-heavy roles rather than finishing (Mašek, Vojta, Kozak).
Historical analogs at age 23 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Hierman BarkoŭskiBLR
POL-Ekstraklasa 2024/25 · 962 min · 0.21 ·
d = 0.36
Christian RasmussenDEN
GER-2. Bundesliga 2025/26 · 1054 min · 0.24 ·
d = 0.40
Tadeáš VachoušekCZE
CZE-First League 2026/27 · 502 min · 0.24 ·
d = 0.40
2026 World Cup qualification
Selected as: youngest national-team call-up among FW.
Development midfielders — the home pool's largest midfield group: median age 22, under a third of minutes, output at median. The pipeline's waiting room (Daněk, Křišťan, Mikulenka).
Historical analogs at age 18 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Alexander Røssing-LelesiitNOR
NOR-Eliteserien 2024/25 · 547 min · 0.10 ·
d = 0.30
Emirhan İlkhanTUR
TUR-Süper Lig 2021/22 · 635 min · 0.09 ·
d = 0.32
Luis EngelnsGER
GER-2. Bundesliga 2024/25 · 542 min · 0.06 ·
d = 0.45
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup
Selected as: youngest national-team call-up among MF.
The engine room — nearly 80 % of minutes with median output: holding and box-to-box midfielders whose value is continuity and structure, not numbers (Hellebrand, Horák, Čermák).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change−0.04G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2733 min → 2545 min)
Historical analogs at age 29 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Nicolas RommensBEL
BEL-Pro League 2022/23 · 2398 min · 0.13 ·
d = 0.29
Siebe SchrijversBEL
BEL-Pro League 2024/25 · 2719 min · 0.13 ·
d = 0.31
Thom HayeIDN
NED-Eredivisie 2023/24 · 2610 min · 0.10 ·
d = 0.32
The defensive core — 85 % of minutes, output at the DF floor. Availability and continuity are the signal; production is not (Hůlka, Halinský, Cedidla).
Historical analogs at age 26 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Jonjoe KennyENG
GER-Bundesliga 2022/23 · 2244 min · 0.04 ·
d = 0.03
Marco FriedlAUT
GER-Bundesliga 2023/24 · 2197 min · 0.03 ·
d = 0.10
Ferland MendyFRA
ESP-La Liga 2020/21 · 2208 min · 0.03 ·
d = 0.14
2024–25 Nations League · 2026 FIFA World Cup · UEFA Euro 2024
Selected as: most top-9 league minutes among DF.
Most domestic minutes under 23, no top-9 season yet
Rotation forwards whose signature is physical engagement — card rate roughly three times the forward median, a third of minutes, output at median. Pressing and duel-heavy roles rather than finishing (Mašek, Vojta, Kozak).
Historical analogs at age 22 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Isak JensenDEN
DEN-Superliga 2024/25 · 1953 min · 0.16 ·
d = 0.36
Mustapha IsahNGA
NOR-Eliteserien 2025/26 · 1653 min · 0.17 ·
d = 0.37
Mbaye Jacques NdiayeSEN
POL-Ekstraklasa 2024/25 · 1574 min · 0.13 ·
d = 0.39
Selected as: most domestic-league minutes among under-23 FW without a top-9 season.
The engine room — nearly 80 % of minutes with median output: holding and box-to-box midfielders whose value is continuity and structure, not numbers (Hellebrand, Horák, Čermák).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change0.00G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 2017 min → 2634 min)
Historical analogs at age 23 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Tomas RigoSVK
CZE-First League 2024/25 · 2528 min · 0.10 ·
d = 0.25
Eric MartelGER
GER-2. Bundesliga 2024/25 · 2740 min · 0.06 ·
d = 0.28
Jonas TherkelsenNOR
GER-2. Bundesliga 2025/26 · 2722 min · 0.10 ·
d = 0.30
UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025
Selected as: most domestic-league minutes among under-23 MF without a top-9 season.
The defensive core — 85 % of minutes, output at the DF floor. Availability and continuity are the signal; production is not (Hůlka, Halinský, Cedidla).
Trajectory 2024/25 → 2025/26
→change−0.03G+A / 90 adj.(one season, 1752 min → 2790 min)
Historical analogs at age 23 (d = distance on three standardised features: league-adjusted goals + assists per 90, minutes, league multiplier)
Oskar WójcikPOL
POL-Ekstraklasa 2025/26 · 2749 min · 0.01 ·
d = 0.08
Furkan BayırTUR
TUR-Süper Lig 2022/23 · 2789 min · 0.02 ·
d = 0.25
Marcel BeifusGER
GER-2. Bundesliga 2024/25 · 2668 min · 0.01 ·
d = 0.25
UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025
Selected as: most domestic-league minutes among under-23 DF without a top-9 season.
Goalkeepers — most top-9 minutes · youngest in the top-9
Tottenham (ENG-Premier League) · 42 % of the league's goals scored
2026 World Cup qualification
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 Czech-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 Czech-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 Czech-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 217, searchable
The cards above pick by rule. This is everyone with a 2025/26 season in the data: 31 forwards, 102 midfielders, 59 defenders and 25 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.
217 of 217
PlayerAgePosClubMinutesRank
No player matches. The pool is every Czech-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: 17 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