WhoScored's 2011 La Liga Player and Young Player of the Year

Following on from yesterday's feature detailing the top rated players according to WhoScored in the Bundesliga for the calendar year of 2011, we analyse the best performers in the other league that is already taking a winter break.

It is now 16 games through Spain's La Liga campaign and Real Madrid lead the way for the first time since Pep Guardiola took the reins at bitter rivals Barcelona. Unsurprisingly, the two teams feature heavily in our leaderboard as we again take an in depth look into the top 3 players according to WhoScored ratings as well as investigating the best youth products in the league.

As in the Bundesliga focus, all players to have played less than 20 games since the start of the year were excluded to ensure that only first team regulars made our leaderboard, so without further a do here is a rundown from 10 to 1;

10. Xabi Alonso - 7.45 (DMC / 30 / Real Madrid); 9. Sergio Ramos - 7.46 (DR / 25 / Real Madrid); 8. Angel Di Maria - 7.51 (AMR / 23 / Real Madrid); 7. Gabi - 7.53 (MC / 28 / Zaragoza & Atletico Madrid); 6. Andres Iniesta - 7.56 (MC / 27 / Barcelona); 5. Dani Alves - 7.61 (DR / 28 / Barcelona); 4. Karim Benzema - 7.66 (FW / 24 / Real Madrid)...

3. Xavi - 7.97 (MC / 31 / Barcelona)

Perhaps the only legitimate question when analysing the best players in La Liga over the course of the year is 'who picks up the bronze?' The dilemma was one that FIFA had to consider when narrowing their Ballon d'Or nominee shortlist to just three and wouldn't you know it, WhoScored’s statistical ratings prove that they plumped for the right man.

If Lionel Messi is the first name on Pep Guardiola's teamsheet you can bank on the fact that Mr. Barcelona, Xavi, is next on without lifting pen from paper. With over 100 international caps to his name the 31-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best players of the generation and is up for FIFA's top individual gong for the third year running. In 30 La Liga games since the start of 2011, Xavi has 5 goals and 8 assists to his name, with 5 and 5 of those respective figures coming since the start of the new season.

The attribute to which Xavi is synonymous, however, and is up there with the best of all time is his passing, and with an accuracy of 94% he is truly one of a kind. Of all of the seemingly infinite passes he plays, 2.47 per game have set up chances for teammates, while his 1.24 shots per game is fairly meagre, leading to his modest goal tally for the year having failed to score in the latter half of last season.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo - 8.48 (AML / 26 / Real Madrid)

So, Messi trumps Ronaldo once again. The former Manchester United-man may well go down as one of the greatest players ever to play in the shadow of another, with WhoScored agreeing that the Argentine just has the edge, for this year at least. Ronaldo's achievements in the calendar year, however, will never be overlooked. A total of 41 goals in 32 La Liga games is nothing short of remarkable, despite attempting significantly more shots than Messi, and any other player in Europe for that fact.

Averaging 7.09 shots per game and at a total of 227, Ronaldo has a chance conversion rate of 18%, just down on Messi's 19%. The Portuguese's tendency to shoot has far from detracted from his ability to set up others though, picking up 12 assists this season from a total of 59 key passes. He therefore picks up an assist with every 20% of the attempts he sets up, compared to Messi's comparative figure of 21% - again marginally down on the Barca-man.

Many might expect Ronaldo to be equally close when it comes to dribbles attempted over the course of the year, but that is not the case. His figure of 4.03 attempted dribbles per game is less than half the average that Messi tries, while he is also beaten by the Argentina international when it comes to pass accuracy and tackles per game.

1. Lionel Messi - 8.71 (FW / 24 / Barcelona)

With Messi leading the way in our standings, many will expect the Ballon d'Or nominees to be unveiled in the same order, and the stats prove that perhaps it should. Though he has 11 fewer goals in the same number of league appearances as Ronaldo, Messi's total is reduced by just 4 when excluding penalties, while Ronaldo's is cut by 10 in comparison (27 and 31). Therefore, when considering Messi has taken 71 less shots over the course of the year, his shots per goal tally (excluding penalties) is far greater (5.59 vs 7).

The 24-year-old's total of 16 assists for the year is only bettered by teammate Dani Alves (17) and countryman Angel Di Maria (20). In comparison to the pair however, Messi has created more chances per game (2.34) as well as boasting a pass accuracy of 85%. Perhaps the most remarkable figure he possesses - one of many since the turn of the year - is the number of dribbles he has attempted.

With an average of 9.72 attempts per game, Messi has tried his luck at rounding an opponent 311 times over 32 appearances. With the most successful dribbles per game in La Liga this season (5.4), the Argentine is only beaten in Europe by Hamburg's Gokhan Tore (6.1), though the next successful dribbler in Spain (Joaquin) has completed 51 less (87 to 36).

Spanish Evolution

As the current holders of the UEFA Under-21 European Championships, it will come as no surprise that La Liga is packed with young prospects. While Barca's Thiago Alcantara perhaps shines brightest, the 20-year-old has not made 20 league appearances since the start of the year and therefore does not make our leaderboard. Here's a rundown from 5 to 1;

5. Koke - 6.43 (MC / 19 / Atletico Madrid); 4. Mario Gaspar - 6.70 (DR / 21 / Villarreal); 3. Mateo Musacchio - 6.74 (DC / 21 / Villarreal); 2. Antoine Griezmann - 6.77 (AML / 20 / Real Sociedad)...

1. Iker Muniain - 6.92 (AML / 19 / Athletic Bilbao)

The fact that 19-year-old Iker Muniain is already such a key player to an Athletic side that finished 6th in La Liga last season is testament to his ability to cut it with the big boys. His importance to the side and maturity at such a high level is highlighted by the fact that he has made more appearances since the turn of the year (35) than any of the top 10 rated players in Spain's top-flight, including Messi and Ronaldo.

Having played for Spain at every youth level possible, the attacking midfielder will have his sights set on breaking into the senior team before long and his versatility certainly won't hamper him. His manger, Marcelo Biesla, has already fielded Muniain in 5 different positions this season, though he does much of his best work in behind a lone striker, be it from wide or in the hole.

A tally of 5 goals and 4 assists have come from fairly low averages of 1.14 shots and 1.17 key passes per game, but if the teenager can up his creativity and confidence in front of goal, he looks set to be one of the stars of tomorrow. A figure of 4.6 dribbles per game certainly proves that he isn't short on confidence when it comes to taking on players, attempting to do so more often that Cristiano Ronaldo this year, while a pass accuracy of 83% is extremely impressive for a player in his position and of his tender age. The only way is up for Iker, who will be hoping for a call from Del Bosque in order to potentially set upon his namesake Casillas' caps record!