Rodriguez, Mbappe and Grealish among strongest starters in Europe

With the international break in full swing, now is the ideal opportunity to take stock of the 2020/21 campaign so far. There have been plenty of shocks across Europe already, though perhaps none more so than in the Premier League with Everton, Aston Villa, Leicester and Arsenal making up the top four at this early stage. 

There are also a few shocks and surprises in our rankings for Europe's top five leagues, with Leo Messi down in 52nd and Kevin De Bruyne only in 39th. Starting in reverse order, it's time to reveal the top 10 WhoScored rated players of the season so far...

10. Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim) - 8.18 rating

Former Leicester forward Kramaric has excelled since making the move to Germany and has started the 2020/21 campaign in scintillating form. The Croatian has scored in all three of his Bundesliga appearances, including a hat-trick in a season opener at Koln and a brace in a memorable 4-1 win over Bayern.

9. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 8.24 rating

Despite turning 32, Lewandowski is showing no signs of slowing. The Bayern striker was in remarkable touch last season and has continued that form into the new campaign with five goals in two starts. Likely disappointed only to score once in an 8-0 thrashing of Schalke, he took out any frustration against Hertha Berlin with a four-goal haul.

8. Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) - 8.30 rating

AC Milan have started the new campaign with three straight wins and are yet to concede a goal. Unsurprisingly, Hernandez has been ey at both ends. In addition to a return of one goal and one assist in three appearances, the Frenchman has produced nine tackles and completed six dribbles.

7. Harry Kane (Tottenham) - 8.31 rating

After missing some of last season through injury, Kane looks determined to make up for lost time. The Tottenham striker has remarkably already returned six assists, one shy of his best ever return in a single league campaign, in just four appearances! The England skipper has also scored three times himself.

6. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) - 8.32 rating

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the early frontrunner for the Premier League Golde Boot after scoring in each of Everton's first four Premier League matches this season. Rewarded with his first ever senior England call-up, Calvert-Lewin is in the form of his life and has scored six times from just nine shots on target.

5. James Rodriguez (Everton) - 8.41 rating

Rodriguez has already proved his sceptics wrong inside four Premier League appearances for Everton following his surprise move from Real Madrid in the summer. Having scored or assisted five times already, it's safe to say the Colombian has hit the ground running. Everton supporters are even talking up a shock title challenge.

4. Heung-Min Son (Tottenham) - 8.43 rating

Son has already scored six Premier League goals so far this season and they have all fallen in just two matches. The Tottenham striker scored four against Southampton before capping his early return from injury against Manchester United with a brace just before the international break. Five of his goals have been set up by Harry Kane!

3. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) - 8.54 rating

Grealish's decision to extend his Villa contract is looking vindicated already having captained a new-look side to three straight wins. Having opened his account at Fulham, the England international became the first player in Premier League history to have a hand in five goals against Liverpool in a Premier League game, scoring two and assisting three.

2. Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) - 8.70 rating

Atalanta have scored 13 goals in their first three league matches with Alejandro Gomez playing a direct hand in six. Gomez has found the back of the net in all three games and notched a brace against Lazio. With a further two assists against Torino, the 32-year-old is giving these young stars a run for their money as the best in Europe.

1. Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 8.84 rating

Kylian Mbappe's return to fitness was a welcome boost for PSG after their disasterous start to the season and the 21-year-old is the top rated player in Europe's top five leagues. Mbappe has scored two goals and provided three assists in three appearances, while completing 15 dribbles and creating seven chances in said outings.