Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar make European best XI as Messi misses out

It's a rarity that Lionel Messi doesn't make a European team of the month, but the Barcelona star misses out on a place in the XI. That said, there are worthy inclusions for birthday boys Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo of PSG and Juventus, respectively, while Liverpool and Chelsea defenders also make the grade after a series of solid displays in January... 

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan) - 7.45 rating 

Gianluigi Donnarumma was kept busy to start the year. The young goalkeeper has been a pillar of consistency between the AC Milan sticks having kept 16 saves across four appearances in January. Donnarumma conceded just two league goals last month and kept three clean sheets - only Alisson (4) kept more in Europe's top five leagues - with his man of the match performance against Brescia a highlight as the 20-year-old ended January with a WhoScored rating of 7.45. 

Right-back: Ricardo Pereira (Leicester) - 7.72 rating 

Ricardo Pereira is considered one of the best right-backs in the Premier League and he again showcased why he is held in such high regard with a series of fine showings in England's top tier in January. The Portuguese defender boasts a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'tackling' and for good reason as he made more tackles (25) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues last month. That feat in itself contributed towards a WhoScored rating of 7.72. 

Centre-back: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) - 7.61 rating 

Liverpool only conceded one league goal in January, keeping four clean sheets in five matches, with Virgil van Dijk imperious at the heart of the Reds defence. Indeed, the Dutchman makes the European team of the month with a fine WhoScored rating of 7.61, with a standout display coming in their 2-0 home win over Manchester United. The towering centre-back excelled from the back as he made more accurate passes (461) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in January. 

Centre-back: Jose Luis Palomino (Atalanta) - 7.52 rating 

Featuring alongside Van Dijk in defence is Jose Luis Palomino, the defender the first of three Atalanta representatives. Atalanta may have only won two of four league matches, but the 30-year-old was solid enough at the back to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.52. The Argentine made 17 tackles and interceptions combined to partner Van Dijk at the back in this XI. 

Left-back: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) - 7.84 rating 

Rounding off the defence, Cesar Azpilicueta has largely been forced across the defence to left-back to accomodate Reece James on the right, but the versatile Spaniard has taken to the role like a duck to water. The Chelsea captain has had a direct hand in five league goals this season, three of which came in January, as he hit the back of the net against Brighton and Arsenal and provided an assist in the home win over Burnley. Maximising his fine reading of the game, no player made more interceptions than Azpilicueta (12) to make the European team of the month with a WhoScored rating of 7.84. 

Right midfield: Emiliano Buendia (Norwich) - 8.15 rating 

An Argentine winger kicks off the midfield, and it's not Lionel Messi! Rather, compatriot Emiliano Buendia, who has been excellent for Norwich following their promotion, won the WhoScored man of the match award in two of his three league appearances in January. The young wideman provided a vital assist in the Canaries' 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on New Year's Day, that coming from one of 11 key passes, as Buendia returned a fine WhoScored rating of 8.15 last month. 

Central midfield: Neymar (PSG) - 9.18 rating 

With a WhoScored rating of 9.18, Brazilian sensation Neymar is our European player of the month. The PSG ace was on fire in January as he netted five times from 14 shots. Only one player completed more dribbles than Neymar (22), who enjoyed a superb run of form in Ligue 1 last month to make the grade and then some in this XI. 

Central midfield: Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta) - 8.08 rating 

Featuring alongside Neymar in the European team of the month is fellow South American Alejandro Gomez. The pint-sized Argentine returned a WhoScored rating of 8.08 for Atalanta last month as he had a direct hand in four goals in all, assisting three. Those three assists - no player made more in Europe's top five leagues - came from 14 key passes, the second most on the continent in January, and contributed towards his inclusion in the best XI. 

Left midfield: Adama Traore (Wolves) - 8.23 rating 

Finishing the midfield is Wolves dribble machine Adama Traore, who routinely exhibited this statistically calculated WhoScored strength in January. Indeed, the Spaniard completed more dribbles (34) than any other player in Europe's top five leagues last month, while his three assists was level with Gomez as one of the best returns on the continent as Traore earned a fine WhoScored rating of 8.23. 

Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) - 8.43 rating 

Cristiano Ronaldo hit the back of the net for the ninth league game running at the weekend, becoming the first Juventus player to achieve the feat since David Trezeguet in 2005. Having scored seven times in January, the Portuguese star netted more times than any other player in Europe's top five leagues last month. Those seven goals came from 22 shots - only Lionel Messi (25) had more efforts on goal - as Ronaldo earned a superb WhoScored rating of 8.43 in January. 

Striker: Josip Ilicic (Atalanta) - 8.65 rating 

The third and final Atalanta player to feature in the European team of the month, Josip Ilicic started January in fine fettle and ended it with a bang. The striker earned a perfect 10 WhoScored against Parma to kickstart 2020 and repeated the feat with a star man display as Atalanta tore Torino to shreds in a 7-0 win to end the month. Ilicic netted six times in January to partner Ronaldo in the European team of the month as his good goal return saw him make the side with a WhoScored rating of 8.65.