Raphinha and Stuart Dallas have been included in FourFourTwo Magazine’s list of the Premier League Top 100 players this season.
The Leeds United pair have been the two shining lights in what has been a very underwhelming season so far.
The Brazilian, in particular, has shown just how good he is by often carrying the rest of his team mates to important results.
However, in line with Leeds’ recent poor form, the Brazilian’s performances have not been anywhere the standard he set for himself especially in the first half of the season.
As for Dallas, he has highlighted his ever-growing importance to the team at Elland Road by playing in pretty much every position at one stage or another.
He only just snuck inside the 100 and was ranked number 96 in the most recent edition of the well-revered football magazine.
The justification for selecting the 30-year-old read as follows:
“Right-back, left-back, holding midfield, attacking midfield: Dallas is Marcelo Bielsa’s very own Pollyfilla, and invariably he does an excellent job. The all-action Northern Irishman was Leeds’s Player of the Year in 2020-21, and Elland Road continues to adore him.”
Regardless of where he is tasked with playing, Dallas always turns in at least a 6/10 performance and that is extremely impressive considering how rarely he stays in the same position.
It will be interesting to see where Jesse Marsch plans to use him after getting to grips with his new squad.
Meanwhile, the other Leeds representative in the list has managed to sneak inside the top 10.
Raphinha’s performances, especially prior to the new year, make him fully deserving of such praise and the write-up he was given more than justified his selection.
It read: “Where would Leeds be without Raphinha? It’s a question that more pessimistic Whites fans idly ponder – but one which could yet become especially prescient by the summer.
“By the Premier League’s winter break, the Brazilian winger – a £17m arrival from Rennes in 2020 – had scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in his first 18 months in English football.
“In a team mired in the relegation mix and missing a swathe of first-teamers, including last season’s top goalscorer Patrick Bamford, Raphinha’s eight goals by February were vital.
“Over the same period, he had also created the fourth-highest haul of chances in the division. “He’s our best – physically, technically and with the interpretation he has,” said Marcelo Bielsa after a superb Raphinha display in January’s 3-2 defeat of West Ham.
“The Hammers bid £50m themselves in January, but with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and even Manchester United all linked too, Raphinha seems destined for Champions League football eventually.
“That’s not even mentioning how good he’s been for Brazil – the Whites man is already thrilling fans as a Selecao regular, having only debuted with a game-changing cameo in October.
“I’ve got a contract here until 2024, my head is totally here and focused on Leeds,” the Brazilian said recently. “I just focus on playing my football and making the Leeds fans happy, scoring goals, providing assists and getting victories for the team.”
“Whites fan should get their kicks while they can – even if a new deal is signed."
For Raphinha to be recognised with such high praise in a season where the rest of his team have really struggled, it is testament to his character and to his ability.
It would be scary to witness what the 25-year-old would be able to produce if he had a fully fit, fully firing squad around him.
His contract situation, along with Kalvin Phillips’, will be top of the agenda at the club looking ahead to the summer. If Leeds are able to secure their Premier League status, everything must be done to ensure that both players extend their futures.
It will, of course, be easier with Phillips due to his history with the club but Raphinha is clearly enjoying himself at Elland Road and he will be more than aware of how highly rated he is by the fans.
Although, being recognised as one of the Premier League’s stand-out performers will only enforce his desire to play at the very top level, something no Leeds supporter could begrudge him.
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