La Liga Best XI: Messi joined by Real Madrid ace in team of the month

Here we round up the five highest WhoScored rated players from our La Liga team of the month for February.

5. Jose Gaya (Valencia) - 7.78 rating

Jose Gaya’s WhoScored rating never dipped below 7.50 across his three league appearances last month and he even won the WhoScored Man of the Match in Valencia’s 0-0 draw with Espanyol. The Spaniard made 14 tackles and interceptions combined in that time, while also completing nine dribbles and registering four key passes.

4. Enric Gallego (SD Huesca) - 7.80 rating

Veteran striker Enric Gallego has made a really positive impact on La Liga strugglers SD Huesca since arriving in January and has played a key role in late bid to beat the drop. The 32-year-old scored or assisted in successive February appearances and won the WhoScored Man of the Match award in a 4-0 thumping of Real Valladolid. Furthermore, only one player won more aerial duels than Gallego in La Liga last month (27).

3. Youssef En-Nesyri (Leganes) - 8.04 rating

Youssef En-Nesyri has announced himself as one of the brightest young prospects in La Liga this season and Leganes will struggle to retain his services over the summer. En-Nesyri scored four goals in four league appearances last month, including a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Real Betis. En-Nesyri also started the month with back-to-back WhoScored Man of the Match awards.

2. Casemiro (Real Madrid) - 8.27 rating

Casemiro has scored three league goals all season and two of them came in the month of February, including the winning goal in the Madrid derby. The defensive midfielder won the WhoScored Man of the Match award in two of his four league appearances last month and won at least seven more tackles and interceptions combined (32) than any other player in the league.

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 8.45 rating

Lionel Messi takes the WhoScored Player of the Month award for February. The Barcelona superstar played a direct hand in seven goals in four league games. Messi brought up his 50th career hat-trick to close the month, inspiring Barcelona to a stunning comeback victory over Sevilla. Messi had more shots than any other player in La Liga in February (32), while only one player registered more key passes (14).