5 BEST Players in the World Outside of the Top 5 Leagues

While the global spotlight usually falls on the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A, a cluster of elite performers are quietly thriving beyond those borders. From the Saudi Pro League to the Portuguese Primeira Liga and Turkey’s Super Lig, these five names are proving that top-tier talent is no longer confined to Europe’s traditional powerhouses.

Ivan Toney has taken the Saudi Pro League by storm since swapping west London for the Middle East. In 22 league matches the former Brentford striker has fired 23 goals and laid on five assists, propelling Al-Ahli to second place in the standings—above heavyweights Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad. Toney’s ruthless form has reignited debate over whether the 28-year-old is operating below his true ceiling, especially after earlier career stops at Northampton Town, Peterborough United and Newcastle United.

Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paquetá, meanwhile, returned home in January after citing homesickness and securing a transfer from West Ham United. The 26-year-old is back at boyhood club Flamengo, where his versatility—attacking midfielder, winger or even emergency striker—has already added a fresh dimension to the Rio giants. Paquetá previously sampled Europe’s upper tier with AC Milan in Serie A and Lyon in Ligue 1, but his immediate future now lies in the Brasileirão.

Sporting CP winger Francisco Trincão is another Primeira Liga headline act. Once deemed surplus to requirements at Barcelona, the 24-year-old has rediscovered his swagger in Lisbon, registering five goals and 11 assists domestically while adding four goals in seven Champions League outings. Sporting’s surge into the top eight of Europe’s premier competition owes much to Trincao’s direct running and end product, and a place in Portugal’s star-studded 2026 World Cup squad is no longer out of reach.

Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis has been every bit as prolific. The Greek international has struck 20 goals in 23 league fixtures, dragging a third-placed Eagles side that has otherwise underwhelmed. Add two Champions League goals in 2025/26 and Pavlidis, 27, is fast emerging as one of the most attractive striking prospects for Europe’s heavyweight clubs heading into the summer window.

Finally, Victor Osimhen continues to defy expectations in Turkey. The Nigerian’s loan switch to Galatasaray raised eyebrows when Europe’s elite came calling, yet the 25-year-old has responded with nine goals in 16 Super Lig games and seven in eight Champions League appearances. The Turkish league may lack the cachet of the traditional top five, but Osimhen’s predatory instincts remain undimmed.

Together, these five players are a timely reminder that world-class quality can surface anywhere—and that the next global superstar may already be starring beyond the familiar confines of Europe’s grandest stages.