Euro-Star returns this week to take a look at the stats behind the best rated individual performance outside of the Premier League over the weekend. England's top tier is covered in the Premier League team of the week write up, an XI that is dominated by Manchester City following their 4-0 win over Fulham.
There were three perfect WhoScored 10 performances across the continent this weekend, with Ihlas Bebou, Rafa and Sem Steijn all shining for their respective sides. Alexandru Maxim, meanwhile, earned a 9.99 but it's Rafa who claims top spot this week with a 44% share from WhoScored's X followers.
On his final home appearance for Benfica, Rafa put on a show at the Estadio da Luz. The 30-year-old will leave the Eagles at the end of the season and while he was unable to help Benfica defend their Liga Portugal title, with rivals Sporting recently crowned champions, Rafa earned a perfect WhoScored 10 rating over the weekend to bow out on a high.
🗳️ 𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢-𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥: Vote for which of the weekend's highest rated performers across Europe you'd like to see as the subject of our latest player in focus article 👇
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 14, 2024
The forward netted either side of half time in Benfica's 5-0 win over Arouca on Sunday, getting the better of Ignacio de Arruabarrena with two of four shots, and provided the assist for Casper Tengstedt's 77th minute strike, that coming from one of two key passes. In addition, the Portuguese forward also completed five dribbles prior to his 85th minute withdrawal, to which he received a standing ovation.
Rafa has been a consistent performer for the Portuguese powerhouse following his arrival from Braga back in 2016, with his assist for Tengstedt his 12th of the season; no player has more in Liga Portugal this term. In addition, Rafa has scored 14 times in Portugal's top tier this term, that ranking sixth, and he's one of three players to have registered double figures for both goals and assist in the 2023/24 Liga Portugal campaign.
Bowing out in fine fashion, Sunday's showing marked Rafa's best rated performance in a Liga Portugal match this season. His future is undecided but interest in his services is likely to be high with a player of his calibre available for free in the current market.
