2026-07-01, 06:55 AM - Word count:
Minors Rankings Over History
When I posted the Top 10 Major’s rankings article, it seemed to be well received, so I figured I would do the same for Minors!
I’m going to skip all the logic and backstory sections from the previous article, as well as the role definitions and weights.
If you need to read how I get to the roles and rankings, go here:
Majors Top 10s Over History
Top 10 In Roles
Now that we have our roles set up and their stats and stat weights assigned, it’s time to apply those against every player in Minors who has ever played and meets our filter criteria (Not a bot, 450+ mins played).
Scorer Role
The Minors Scorer top ten is packed with elite attacking campaigns that are all remarkably close together. Just 2.3 points separate first from tenth, very similar to the difference in the Majors ranking (which was 2.4 points between first and tenth)
Eric Belmont's s23 season for AS Paris claims the top spot with an exceptional 97.7 score. Looking at the raw numbers, it's easy to understand why. Belmont leads the entire list in both goals per 90 (1.77) and expected goals per 90 (1.39), while also producing over three shots on target per 90. It's the complete package: elite chance generation, elite finishing volume, and an impressive 8.42 xG overperformance that demonstrates just how clinical they were in front of goal.
North Shore United is the clear story of this ranking, placing five seasons in the top ten. Charles-Andrew-Simon Utley-Abara-Lunga (I can’t believe I just had to type all that out) finished tied for second after averaging an incredible four shots on target per 90, the highest figure on the list. Alessandro Del Pirlo appears twice, which is impressive enough on its own, but the two seasons came in very different roles. Their s24 campaign came as an attacking midfielder and striker, while their s15 appearance came from a much deeper midfield position, highlighting just how dangerous they were regardless of where they played.
Perhaps the most fascinating season belongs to Red Panda in eighth place. Unlike virtually every other player here, Red Panda was a wing-back. Despite that, they averaged over a goal per 90 while generating only 0.41 expected goals per 90, by far the lowest xG figure in the top ten. That massive overperformance is backed up by an incredible 81.25% shot accuracy and a league-best 0.31 goals from outside the box per 90. It's one of the most unique scoring profiles in either the Majors or Minors rankings.
As with the Majors rankings, the margins are razor thin. Belmont holds only a 0.6-point advantage over second place, while tenth place sits just 2.3 points behind the leader. Once players reach this level of production, the weighted percentile system rewards complete scoring profiles rather than dominance in a single statistic, making tiny differences in finishing efficiency and shot quality enough to separate the very best.
Playmaker Role
The Minors Playmaker rankings are immediately more diverse than their Majors counterpart. While the Majors list was dominated by a handful of recurring attacking midfielders, this top ten is filled with defenders, wing-backs, wide midfielders, and central midfielders. That speaks to how creativity develops in the Minors. Playmaking often begins deeper on the pitch before players eventually move into more advanced roles. Whether that is caused by Tactics or TPE, we’ll never know.
Claudio Scarpetta's s15 campaign for North Shore United narrowly claims the top spot with a 93.5 score. At first glance, the raw numbers don't jump off the page as much as some of the players below them, but Scarpetta's incredible 93.53% passing accuracy is by far the highest in the top ten. When combined with strong production across every other weighted category, it creates the most complete creative profile in the rankings. Rather than dominating one statistic, Scarpetta simply has no weakness.
North Shore United places the top two players on the list, with George Shaheen finishing only 0.4 points behind Scarpetta. Shaheen actually leads Scarpetta in assists, expected assists, and chances created, producing one of the strongest attacking profiles in the group. The difference ultimately comes down to the weighted percentile system, where Scarpetta's elite passing efficiency offsets Shaheen's superior chance creation.
Perhaps the standout individual season belongs to Angry Lizard in third. Playing primarily as a full-back and wing-back, they produced the highest key pass total (6.77), the most progressive passes (9.55), and the highest chances created rate (2.45) among every player in the top ten. It's one of the most attack-minded defensive seasons in the dataset and demonstrates just how influential full-backs can be in creating opportunities.
Recurring names are still present, although not to the same extent as the Majors. Dina Skovgaard appears twice for Montréal United, while Gastone Poggio and Tyson Núñez also each claim two spots. Rather than one player completely dominating the rankings, this list showcases sustained excellence across multiple seasons from several different players and clubs.
One of the more interesting themes is just how many defenders populate these rankings. Six of the ten seasons belong primarily to defenders or wing-backs, reinforcing that the Playmaker role isn't simply measuring final-third production. Progressive passing, expected assists, and key passes allow deeper players to compete alongside attacking midfielders when they're consistently responsible for moving the ball into dangerous areas.
As with every role we've examined so far, the final margins are incredibly tight. Only 1.9 points separate first place from tenth, meaning every player on this list produced a genuinely elite creative season. The order is determined by small percentile differences across six separate metrics rather than any one player completely outclassing the rest of the field.
Passer Role
The Minors Passer rankings are dominated by midfielders and defenders, much like the Majors, but one club stands out far more than the rest. Seoul MFC placed four seasons in the top ten, including the first and third-ranked campaigns, establishing themselves as the benchmark for possession-based football in the Minors.
Anthony Simmons' s23 season comfortably claims the top spot with an outstanding 89.9 score. Their profile is exactly what this role is designed to reward: high passing volume, excellent efficiency, and meaningful progression. Simmons averages over 67 successful passes per 90 while attempting more than 74, all while maintaining a 90.24% completion rate and producing over seven progressive passes every match. There isn't a glaring weakness anywhere in the profile, which allows them to finish nearly two points clear of second place.
Claudio Scarpetta follows after already appearing atop the Playmaker rankings. While Simmons wins through volume, Scarpetta succeeds through efficiency. Their remarkable 93.53% passing accuracy is the highest among the top contenders, while also contributing an outstanding 4.43 key passes per 90, easily the highest figure in the entire top ten. It's an unusual combination that allows Scarpetta to rank among the league's best in both creative and possession-oriented roles.
Riamel Kloulechad's fourth-place finish is one of the more eye-catching entries. Playing primarily as a left-sided defender, they lead the entire list with an incredible 9.50 progressive passes per 90. That willingness to consistently advance possession makes them one of the most aggressive ball progressors in the dataset, even if slightly lower passing accuracy keeps them just outside the podium.
Athênai F.C. also leaves a significant mark on these rankings with three appearances. Along with Kloulechad, Abdoulaye Camavinga and Hinata Hyuga both make the top ten while producing elite progressive passing numbers from central midfield. Their presence suggests an entire system built around advancing possession through the middle of the pitch rather than relying solely on defensive circulation.
One interesting observation is how differently players arrive at similar scores. Pork Tenderloin posts the highest passing accuracy on the list at an incredible 94.70% while also leading the rankings in successful passes per 90, yet finishes seventh because the role also rewards progression and chance creation. Meanwhile, Harvey Danger climbs into sixth despite completing fewer passes thanks to nearly three key passes per 90 and outstanding overall efficiency. The weighting ensures that simple possession alone isn't enough to reach the very top.
The final margins reinforce a trend we've seen throughout every role. Simmons is a deserving number one, but only 6.1 points separate first from tenth, with most of the list packed within two or three points of one another. Once players reach this level of passing quality, the rankings are determined by finding the best balance between volume, efficiency, progression, and creativity rather than excelling in just one category.
Defender Role
The Defender rankings in the Minors tell a different story than the Majors. Instead of several clubs sharing the spotlight, North Shore United establishes itself as the premier defensive development program, placing three seasons in the top five and claiming both of the top two positions. The list is still diverse overall, but North Shore's presence here is impossible to ignore.
Orlando Mastache Maldonado's s19 campaign tops the rankings with an 88.1 score. While they don't lead every statistical category, they combine strong tackling volume, excellent interceptions, solid clearance numbers, and an outstanding 72.29% aerial success rate into one of the most complete defensive profiles in the dataset. There are players with higher tackle totals or better pressing numbers, but nobody matches Orlando's consistency across every weighted metric.
Chris Warrick finishes just 0.7 points behind in another outstanding North Shore United season. Their profile contrasts nicely with Orlando's. Warrick records fewer tackles but boasts the highest heading percentage in the entire top ten at an incredible 87.50%, while also contributing more blocks and slightly better tackling efficiency. The small gap between the two demonstrates how the weighted system rewards different defensive strengths as long as there are no significant weaknesses elsewhere.
Ask Jeeves earns third place and later appears again in seventh, making Athênai F.C. one of only two clubs with multiple entries. The s15 season is particularly impressive because it combines elite tackling, interceptions, and blocking from the left side of the defense. Meanwhile, the earlier s14 campaign reaches the top ten through a slightly different profile, with stronger clearance numbers and improved aerial success.
Alex Stain's fourth-place finish is built around perhaps the single strongest tackling performance in the rankings. Their 4.50 tackles won per 90 comfortably leads the top ten while being backed by an excellent 85.14% tackle success rate. Those numbers alone are enough to overcome slightly lower interception totals and keep them among the very best defensive seasons.
One of the more unique profiles belongs to Jan Van Doorne. Their remarkable 5.15 successful presses per 90 is by far the highest figure on the list, highlighting an aggressive style of defending that relied on winning the ball high up the pitch rather than dominating in the air. Conversely, Chris Warrick and Thomas Schwarte built much of their value through exceptional aerial ability, illustrating the different paths players can take to elite defensive ratings.
Unlike some of the other roles, there isn't a single overwhelming archetype here. Wing-backs, full-backs, central defenders, and defensive midfielders all find success, suggesting the Defender role effectively captures overall defensive contribution rather than favoring one specific position. The final scores remain tightly packed as well, with only 4.1 points separating first from tenth. Once again, the weighted percentile system rewards complete defensive performances, where consistency across seven metrics ultimately matters more than leading a single category.
Presser Role
The Presser rankings produce one of the most varied top tens in the entire project. Unlike the Defender role, which rewards traditional defensive contributions, the Presser role favors players who constantly disrupt opposition build-up through relentless work rate, intelligent positioning, and winning the ball high up the pitch. The result is a list filled with full-backs, wing-backs, midfielders, and even wide attacking players.
Lucas James edges out the competition with a 91.4 score after an outstanding s23 campaign for AF Masques Sacrés. Their profile is built around exceptional all-around defensive activity. Nearly five successful presses per 90, more than three tackles won, and three interceptions per match create one of the most complete pressing seasons seen in the data collected. The only category where they don't stand out is fouls committed, but that hardly matters when every other metric grades out at an elite level.
The race for first is incredibly close. Lucas Peioxoto finishes only 0.2 points behind after posting the highest pressing success rate among the top contenders at 41.20% while also covering more ground per 90 than anyone above them. F.C. Kaapstad ultimately places four players in the top ten, more than any other club, suggesting their tactical identity revolved around aggressive pressing and defensive intensity.
Several familiar names return from the Defender rankings. Dina Skovgaard appears twice, while Orlando Mastache Maldonado follows up their number-one Defender season with a fourth-place finish here. Orlando's profile is particularly impressive because it combines elite pressing with traditional defending, leading the top five in tackles won while also recording the fewest fouls against per 90. It's the type of disciplined aggression every manager wants from a defender.
One of the more interesting entries belongs to Marian Gorgoń in eighth. Their 5.04 successful presses per 90 is the highest figure in the entire top ten, demonstrating an incredibly active defensive style. Lower pressing efficiency keeps them from climbing higher, but the sheer volume of pressure they apply is unmatched.
Unlike many of the other roles, distance covered per 90 is remarkably consistent across every player, with everyone sitting between roughly 14.3 and 14.9. That means the rankings are largely decided by how effectively players convert that work rate into successful presses, tackles, and interceptions rather than simply running the most. The result is a role that rewards intelligent defensive activity instead of effort alone.
As expected by now, the margins are exceptionally tight. Just 1.6 points separate first from tenth, making the Presser rankings one of the closest competitions in the project. Every player here excelled at disrupting opponents, with the final order determined by subtle differences across six complementary defensive metrics rather than any single dominant statistic.
Aerial Role
Unlike every other role we've looked at, the Aerial rankings are dominated by one player. Cole Mertz claims three of the top four spots, including the number-one season, making this the most one-sided leaderboard in the entire project. Rather than producing a single elite aerial campaign, Mertz maintained an extraordinary standard across multiple consecutive seasons.
The s8 season narrowly takes first place, although the race at the top could hardly be closer. Mike Rup finishes with the exact same overall score of 99.7, illustrating just how compressed these elite performances become once converted into weighted percentiles. Mertz separates himself through an astonishing 95.82% header success rate while still winning 18 headers per 90 and producing 3.57 key headers every match. Rup counters with even higher volumes, leading the list in successful headers, key headers, and clearances, but slightly lower efficiency leaves the two effectively inseparable.
What makes Cole Mertz's achievement even more remarkable is the consistency. Their s7 season ranks third despite averaging the most successful headers per 90 of anyone on the list at 20.71, while their s6 campaign still manages fourth place. It's rare to see one player sustain that level of aerial dominance over multiple seasons, especially when competing against every defender in the database.
The rest of the rankings feature some outstanding specialists in their own right. Sator Freddy and Siegward OfCatarina both combine exceptional heading accuracy with huge clearance numbers, while Spack Jarrow and Claudio Scarpetta rely on outstanding aerial volume to climb into the top ten. Dorian Lexington is perhaps the most efficient player outside the top two, posting a superb 93.96% success rate despite winning fewer headers overall.
One interesting observation is how little positional variety exists compared to some of the other roles. Almost every player here is a central defender or defensive midfielder, exactly the type of player expected to dominate aerial duels. Eirlys Snooks stands out as one of the few wider defenders to crack the list, showing that exceptional aerial ability isn't limited entirely to center-backs.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway, however, is just how extraordinary these numbers are. Every player in the top ten wins at least 90% of their aerial duels while averaging between 14 and 21 successful headers per 90. These aren't simply good aerial defenders—they're historically dominant. Even tenth place sits only 0.8 points behind the leaders, reinforcing the trend we've seen throughout this project: once players reach elite percentile territory, tiny differences in efficiency and volume are all that separate the greatest seasons ever recorded.
Wide Creator Role
The Wide Creator rankings showcase one of the clearest tactical identities in the Minors. Between them, AS Paris and North Shore United account for eight of the ten spots, demonstrating just how consistently those clubs generated chances from wide areas. Whether through overlapping full-backs, attacking wing-backs, or creative wingers, both clubs clearly built their attacks around stretching the pitch and delivering quality service into dangerous areas.
Angry Lizard claims the top spot with an exceptional s23 campaign for AS Paris, while also returning in fourth place with their s22 season. The numbers illustrate why. Their league-leading combination of chance creation and open-play key passes is paired with nearly four successful crosses per 90, creating perhaps the most complete wide creative profile in the rankings. Rather than relying solely on crossing volume, Angry Lizard consistently turned possession into genuine scoring opportunities.
AS Paris nearly sweeps the podium thanks to Silver Tarandus, who finishes second before appearing again in seventh. Tarandus actually records more assists per 90 than Angry Lizard's winning season and combines that with excellent crossing numbers despite operating in more advanced attacking roles. The fact that both a wing-back and a forward can reach nearly identical scores highlights how this role rewards results from wide areas rather than any particular position.
The player who breaks up the AS Paris dominance is Dwayne Pruney of North Shore United. Their 4.80 successful crosses per 90 comfortably lead the entire top ten, illustrating a player whose primary responsibility was delivering dangerous balls into the box. While their chance creation numbers aren't quite as high as the leaders, sheer crossing volume is enough to secure third place.
North Shore United's remaining entries reveal a slightly different creative style. Zizou Lopta appears twice, with the s17 season producing the highest chance creation rate on the list at 3.14 per 90 alongside an incredible 4.36 open-play key passes. Rather than overwhelming opponents with crossing volume, Lopta excelled at creating opportunities through passing and combination play from wide positions.
One interesting observation is how balanced the best seasons are. Dave Oliver and Eden Empire IV both post the highest crossing accuracy in the rankings, exceeding 39%, yet neither finishes above fifth because the role also heavily rewards turning those deliveries into chances and assists. Similarly, Silver Tarandus leads the top ten in assists per 90, but slightly lower crossing volume keeps them just behind Angry Lizard.
The margins are, once again, incredibly narrow. Only 1.6 points separate first from tenth, making the Wide Creator role another example of how the weighted percentile system values complete attacking contribution over any single standout statistic. Whether through relentless crossing, incisive passing, or consistent chance creation, every player on this list represents an elite season from the flanks.
Dribbler Role
If one theme defines the Dribbler rankings, it's that the best ball carriers in the Minors are overwhelmingly defenders and wing-backs. Rather than flashy wingers dominating the category, players who consistently advanced possession from deeper positions occupy nearly every spot in the top ten. The role rewards much more than beating opponents off the dribble; it measures how effectively those carries are turned into progression, chance creation, and assists.
Dina Skovgaard claimed the top spot with a phenomenal s21 campaign for Montréal United while also returning in third place with their s19 season. Averaging more than four successful dribbles per 90 alongside nearly six key passes and almost eight progressive passes every match, Skovgaard produced perhaps the most complete ball-progression profile in the database. The repeated appearance also reinforces something we've seen throughout these rankings: elite players rarely produce just one great season.
The biggest challenger comes from Angry Lizard, who occupies both second and fourth. Their s22 season is particularly remarkable, leading the top contenders with 9.41 progressive passes per 90 while also generating 6.55 key passes and 0.77 assists per match. In many ways, Angry Lizard represents the modern attacking full-back, capable of carrying the ball through pressure before immediately creating opportunities for teammates.
AS Paris dominates the rankings more than any other club, placing four seasons inside the top seven. Alongside Angry Lizard's two appearances, Bob Berendsen and Ashito Aoi both make the list with profiles built around exceptional progression rather than overwhelming dribbling volume. The club clearly emphasized defenders who could advance possession themselves instead of relying solely on midfielders.
Interestingly, the player with the highest chance creation figure isn't one of the top four. Zizou Lopta finished tenth despite creating 3.14 chances per 90 and producing an outstanding 8.36 key passes. Likewise, George Shaheen reaches eighth with the second-highest chance creation rate on the list. The reason both finish lower is that this role rewards balance across every category. Elite creation alone isn't enough without matching the dribbling and progression numbers of the players above them.
One of the more surprising inclusions is Chris Warrick, whose positional listing stretches from defender all the way to striker. Their combination of strong progression, over five key passes per 90, and reliable ball carrying earns a deserved place in the top ten despite recording the fewest dribbles among the group.
The final scores are remarkably close, with just 3.4 points separating first from tenth despite the role covering five distinct metrics. Once again, the weighted percentile model rewards players who consistently move the ball forward and create attacks in multiple ways, making this one of the clearest examples of how modern full-backs and wing-backs have evolved into some of the game's most influential creators.
Goalkeeper Role
The Goalkeeper rankings produce one of the clearest number-one seasons in the entire project. João Cancelo's s25 campaign for AS Paris finishes more than five points ahead of the rest of the field, a gap we've rarely seen in any role. While most categories have been decided by fractions of a point, Cancelo's combination of shot-stopping, consistency, and penalty-saving creates a profile that comfortably separates itself from every other goalkeeper.
The raw numbers explain why. Cancelo combines an outstanding 84.51% save percentage with an even stronger 87.39% expected save percentage while preventing more than half a goal per 90 compared to expectation. Add in nearly one clean sheet every two matches and an impressive 0.13 penalties saved per 90, and it's easy to see why the weighted model views this as the premier goalkeeping season in the Minors.
Behind Cancelo, the competition is much tighter. Fiery Chicken and James Asprey finish separated by only 0.2 points despite arriving there in different ways. Fiery Chicken pairs strong shot-stopping with excellent clean sheet numbers for North Shore United, while Asprey posts the highest average rating in the top three and nearly matches Cancelo's goals prevented per 90. Both represent exceptional modern goalkeeping seasons, even if neither can quite reach the standard set by the winner.
Joseph Daniel Kakou's fourth-place finish is perhaps the most unusual profile on the list. Their save percentage and expected save percentage are both the highest in the entire top ten, while an incredible 0.89 clean sheets per 90 is unmatched by anyone else. The reason they don't finish higher is that the weighted formula also values average rating, goals prevented, and penalty-saving, where Cancelo and the players immediately above them maintain stronger overall balance.
Several goalkeepers make repeat appearances, suggesting sustained excellence rather than one-off performances. João Cancelo returns in tenth with another AS Paris season, while James Asprey appears twice across two different clubs. Their ability to reproduce elite goalkeeping in different environments mirrors the recurring names we've seen throughout many of the outfield roles.
One interesting feature of this list is the mixture of eras. While most of the top rankings come from recent seasons, veterans such as Scott Sterling and Tony Yeboah still earn places through outstanding save percentages and clean sheet records. Their inclusion suggests that truly elite goalkeeping performances remain comparable across generations, even as the game around them evolves.
Unlike many of the other roles, where the top ten are separated by only a couple of points, the Goalkeeper rankings tell two different stories. Cancelo's s25 season stands alone at the top, while the remaining nine goalkeepers are tightly packed together, with only eight points separating second from tenth. It highlights just how exceptional that AS Paris campaign was, setting a benchmark that no other goalkeeper in the Minors has quite managed to reach.
Conclusion
Something that was pointed out in discord after the last article and became pretty apparent immediately when writing this one, is the fact that the sim change clearly impacts player performance in these groupings.
The Aerial role is dominated by players from the previous sim, while most other categories are either mostly or completely players from the new sim. There is really no way to try and explain that through data, other than to assume that the sim or the way the sim plays lead to vastly different styles and attributes used in the “modern” game.
That’s not really an indication of anything other than just an informational point to establish why so few early season players show up on these lists.
Similarly, something that was interesting was to see how many players on the Minors list placed in multiple categories for the same season.
You had:
Comparing this to Majors, only one Majors player had a season where they placed in 3 categories (s16’s Furious Chicken). There were 8 players, however, who had a season where they placed in two. This highlights how the competition increases between the leagues, obviously, as it’s much more difficult to be good at everything as you move up.
Once again, if you made it here, thanks for reading!
When I posted the Top 10 Major’s rankings article, it seemed to be well received, so I figured I would do the same for Minors!
I’m going to skip all the logic and backstory sections from the previous article, as well as the role definitions and weights.
If you need to read how I get to the roles and rankings, go here:
Majors Top 10s Over History
Top 10 In Roles
Now that we have our roles set up and their stats and stat weights assigned, it’s time to apply those against every player in Minors who has ever played and meets our filter criteria (Not a bot, 450+ mins played).
Scorer Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Goals p90 | xG p90 | Shots on Target p90 | Shot Accuracy % | xG Overperformance | Goals Outside Box p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Belmont | AS Paris | 23 | M (LC), ST ( C ) | 97.70 | 1.77 | 1.39 | 3.05 | 59.82 | 8.42 | 0.14 |
| 2 | Charles-Andrew-Simon Utley-Abara-Lunga | North Shore United | 15 | AM (RC), ST ( C ) | 97.10 | 1.57 | 1.19 | 4.00 | 56.00 | 5.28 | 0.14 |
| 3 | Alessandro Del Pirlo | North Shore United | 24 | M/AM ( C ), ST ( C ) | 97.10 | 1.50 | 1.21 | 3.00 | 58.82 | 2.93 | 0.10 |
| 4 | Alessandro Del Pirlo | North Shore United | 15 | DM, M/AM ( C ) | 97.00 | 1.07 | 0.78 | 2.50 | 60.34 | 4.02 | 0.14 |
| 5 | Bayley de Allie | Seoul MFC | 13 | AM (RC), ST ( C ) | 96.80 | 1.29 | 0.96 | 2.07 | 64.44 | 4.52 | 0.07 |
| 6 | Pat Taytow | North Shore United | 14 | AM (RL), ST ( C ) | 96.40 | 0.93 | 0.69 | 2.50 | 61.40 | 3.36 | 0.14 |
| 7 | Predrag Dobrić | Montréal United | 21 | AM (LC), ST ( C ) | 96.30 | 0.94 | 0.88 | 2.35 | 68.97 | 1.02 | 0.12 |
| 8 | Red Panda | Seoul MFC | 23 | WB/M/AM (L) | 95.80 | 1.08 | 0.41 | 2.00 | 81.25 | 4.35 | 0.31 |
| 9 | Caleb Hayden | Cairo City | 15 | AM ( C ), ST ( C ) | 95.50 | 1.00 | 0.75 | 1.64 | 65.71 | 3.55 | 0.07 |
| 10 | Mikko Rashford II | North Shore United | 19 | AM (RL), ST ( C ) | 95.40 | 1.21 | 0.95 | 2.93 | 50.62 | 3.69 | 0.21 |
The Minors Scorer top ten is packed with elite attacking campaigns that are all remarkably close together. Just 2.3 points separate first from tenth, very similar to the difference in the Majors ranking (which was 2.4 points between first and tenth)
Eric Belmont's s23 season for AS Paris claims the top spot with an exceptional 97.7 score. Looking at the raw numbers, it's easy to understand why. Belmont leads the entire list in both goals per 90 (1.77) and expected goals per 90 (1.39), while also producing over three shots on target per 90. It's the complete package: elite chance generation, elite finishing volume, and an impressive 8.42 xG overperformance that demonstrates just how clinical they were in front of goal.
North Shore United is the clear story of this ranking, placing five seasons in the top ten. Charles-Andrew-Simon Utley-Abara-Lunga (I can’t believe I just had to type all that out) finished tied for second after averaging an incredible four shots on target per 90, the highest figure on the list. Alessandro Del Pirlo appears twice, which is impressive enough on its own, but the two seasons came in very different roles. Their s24 campaign came as an attacking midfielder and striker, while their s15 appearance came from a much deeper midfield position, highlighting just how dangerous they were regardless of where they played.
Perhaps the most fascinating season belongs to Red Panda in eighth place. Unlike virtually every other player here, Red Panda was a wing-back. Despite that, they averaged over a goal per 90 while generating only 0.41 expected goals per 90, by far the lowest xG figure in the top ten. That massive overperformance is backed up by an incredible 81.25% shot accuracy and a league-best 0.31 goals from outside the box per 90. It's one of the most unique scoring profiles in either the Majors or Minors rankings.
As with the Majors rankings, the margins are razor thin. Belmont holds only a 0.6-point advantage over second place, while tenth place sits just 2.3 points behind the leader. Once players reach this level of production, the weighted percentile system rewards complete scoring profiles rather than dominance in a single statistic, making tiny differences in finishing efficiency and shot quality enough to separate the very best.
Playmaker Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Assists p90 | xA p90 | Key Passes p90 | Chances Created p90 | Progressive Passes p90 | Pass % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claudio Scarpetta | North Shore United | 15 | D (LC), DM | 93.50 | 0.57 | 0.43 | 4.43 | 0.93 | 5.86 | 93.53 |
| 2 | George Shaheen | North Shore United | 18 | M ( R ), AM (RL) | 93.10 | 0.64 | 0.74 | 4.50 | 2.36 | 5.64 | 86.13 |
| 3 | Angry Lizard | AS Paris | 23 | D (L), WB (RL) | 93.10 | 0.77 | 0.69 | 6.77 | 2.45 | 9.55 | 83.30 |
| 4 | Dina Skovgaard | Montréal United | 19 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 92.90 | 0.50 | 0.75 | 6.29 | 2.00 | 7.14 | 85.39 |
| 5 | Bob Berendsen | AS Paris | 23 | WB ( R ), M/AM (L) | 92.80 | 0.45 | 0.73 | 4.36 | 2.14 | 8.86 | 86.12 |
| 6 | Tyson Núñez | Inter London | 13 | D (RC), WB ( R ) | 92.70 | 0.64 | 0.42 | 4.21 | 1.14 | 8.07 | 87.05 |
| 7 | Gastone Poggio | Seoul MFC | 13 | M (RLC) | 92.30 | 0.81 | 0.59 | 5.70 | 1.56 | 5.41 | 84.88 |
| 8 | Dina Skovgaard | Montréal United | 21 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 92.30 | 0.72 | 0.84 | 5.89 | 2.11 | 7.83 | 82.62 |
| 9 | Gastone Poggio | Seoul MFC | 15 | M (RLC) | 92.00 | 0.40 | 0.49 | 4.20 | 1.80 | 7.00 | 87.54 |
| 10 | Tyson Núñez | Inter London | 17 | D (RC), WB ( R ) | 91.60 | 0.50 | 0.42 | 4.50 | 1.29 | 6.29 | 86.82 |
The Minors Playmaker rankings are immediately more diverse than their Majors counterpart. While the Majors list was dominated by a handful of recurring attacking midfielders, this top ten is filled with defenders, wing-backs, wide midfielders, and central midfielders. That speaks to how creativity develops in the Minors. Playmaking often begins deeper on the pitch before players eventually move into more advanced roles. Whether that is caused by Tactics or TPE, we’ll never know.
Claudio Scarpetta's s15 campaign for North Shore United narrowly claims the top spot with a 93.5 score. At first glance, the raw numbers don't jump off the page as much as some of the players below them, but Scarpetta's incredible 93.53% passing accuracy is by far the highest in the top ten. When combined with strong production across every other weighted category, it creates the most complete creative profile in the rankings. Rather than dominating one statistic, Scarpetta simply has no weakness.
North Shore United places the top two players on the list, with George Shaheen finishing only 0.4 points behind Scarpetta. Shaheen actually leads Scarpetta in assists, expected assists, and chances created, producing one of the strongest attacking profiles in the group. The difference ultimately comes down to the weighted percentile system, where Scarpetta's elite passing efficiency offsets Shaheen's superior chance creation.
Perhaps the standout individual season belongs to Angry Lizard in third. Playing primarily as a full-back and wing-back, they produced the highest key pass total (6.77), the most progressive passes (9.55), and the highest chances created rate (2.45) among every player in the top ten. It's one of the most attack-minded defensive seasons in the dataset and demonstrates just how influential full-backs can be in creating opportunities.
Recurring names are still present, although not to the same extent as the Majors. Dina Skovgaard appears twice for Montréal United, while Gastone Poggio and Tyson Núñez also each claim two spots. Rather than one player completely dominating the rankings, this list showcases sustained excellence across multiple seasons from several different players and clubs.
One of the more interesting themes is just how many defenders populate these rankings. Six of the ten seasons belong primarily to defenders or wing-backs, reinforcing that the Playmaker role isn't simply measuring final-third production. Progressive passing, expected assists, and key passes allow deeper players to compete alongside attacking midfielders when they're consistently responsible for moving the ball into dangerous areas.
As with every role we've examined so far, the final margins are incredibly tight. Only 1.9 points separate first place from tenth, meaning every player on this list produced a genuinely elite creative season. The order is determined by small percentile differences across six separate metrics rather than any one player completely outclassing the rest of the field.
Passer Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Successful Passes p90 | Pass % | Progressive Passes p90 | Key Passes p90 | Attempted Passes p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anthony Simmons | Seoul MFC | 23 | DM, M/AM ( C ) | 89.90 | 67.16 | 90.24 | 7.05 | 2.63 | 74.42 |
| 2 | Claudio Scarpetta | North Shore United | 15 | D (LC), DM | 88.10 | 54.71 | 93.53 | 5.86 | 4.43 | 58.50 |
| 3 | David Doug II | Seoul MFC | 23 | DM, M/AM ( C ) | 85.50 | 58.40 | 89.35 | 6.32 | 3.04 | 65.36 |
| 4 | Riamel Kloulechad | Athênai F.C. | 17 | D (LC), WB (L) | 85.40 | 64.50 | 87.93 | 9.50 | 2.00 | 73.36 |
| 5 | Mark Spoon | Seoul MFC | 17 | DM, M (LC) | 84.70 | 64.43 | 92.80 | 5.93 | 0.43 | 69.43 |
| 6 | Harvey Danger | CS Rova Mpanjaka | 23 | D (RLC) | 84.70 | 55.14 | 92.90 | 4.54 | 2.97 | 59.35 |
| 7 | Pork Tenderloin | Seoul MFC | 19 | D (RLC) | 84.00 | 68.86 | 94.70 | 4.86 | 0.29 | 72.71 |
| 8 | Abdoulaye Camavinga | Athênai F.C. | 17 | D ( C ), DM | 83.90 | 53.64 | 90.37 | 7.93 | 1.71 | 59.36 |
| 9 | Hinata Hyuga | Athênai F.C. | 15 | DM, M ( C ) | 83.80 | 55.00 | 88.51 | 8.36 | 2.64 | 62.14 |
| 10 | Anthony Lee | Cairo City | 17 | D ( C ), DM, AM ( C ) | 83.80 | 56.29 | 91.73 | 6.00 | 1.29 | 61.36 |
The Minors Passer rankings are dominated by midfielders and defenders, much like the Majors, but one club stands out far more than the rest. Seoul MFC placed four seasons in the top ten, including the first and third-ranked campaigns, establishing themselves as the benchmark for possession-based football in the Minors.
Anthony Simmons' s23 season comfortably claims the top spot with an outstanding 89.9 score. Their profile is exactly what this role is designed to reward: high passing volume, excellent efficiency, and meaningful progression. Simmons averages over 67 successful passes per 90 while attempting more than 74, all while maintaining a 90.24% completion rate and producing over seven progressive passes every match. There isn't a glaring weakness anywhere in the profile, which allows them to finish nearly two points clear of second place.
Claudio Scarpetta follows after already appearing atop the Playmaker rankings. While Simmons wins through volume, Scarpetta succeeds through efficiency. Their remarkable 93.53% passing accuracy is the highest among the top contenders, while also contributing an outstanding 4.43 key passes per 90, easily the highest figure in the entire top ten. It's an unusual combination that allows Scarpetta to rank among the league's best in both creative and possession-oriented roles.
Riamel Kloulechad's fourth-place finish is one of the more eye-catching entries. Playing primarily as a left-sided defender, they lead the entire list with an incredible 9.50 progressive passes per 90. That willingness to consistently advance possession makes them one of the most aggressive ball progressors in the dataset, even if slightly lower passing accuracy keeps them just outside the podium.
Athênai F.C. also leaves a significant mark on these rankings with three appearances. Along with Kloulechad, Abdoulaye Camavinga and Hinata Hyuga both make the top ten while producing elite progressive passing numbers from central midfield. Their presence suggests an entire system built around advancing possession through the middle of the pitch rather than relying solely on defensive circulation.
One interesting observation is how differently players arrive at similar scores. Pork Tenderloin posts the highest passing accuracy on the list at an incredible 94.70% while also leading the rankings in successful passes per 90, yet finishes seventh because the role also rewards progression and chance creation. Meanwhile, Harvey Danger climbs into sixth despite completing fewer passes thanks to nearly three key passes per 90 and outstanding overall efficiency. The weighting ensures that simple possession alone isn't enough to reach the very top.
The final margins reinforce a trend we've seen throughout every role. Simmons is a deserving number one, but only 6.1 points separate first from tenth, with most of the list packed within two or three points of one another. Once players reach this level of passing quality, the rankings are determined by finding the best balance between volume, efficiency, progression, and creativity rather than excelling in just one category.
Defender Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Tackles Won p90 | Tackle % | Interceptions p90 | Clearances p90 | Blocks p90 | Successful Presses p90 | Header % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando Mastache Maldonado | North Shore United | 19 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 88.10 | 3.93 | 80.88 | 3.36 | 2.64 | 0.71 | 3.79 | 72.29 |
| 2 | Chris Warrick | North Shore United | 20 | D (RC), WB ( R ) | 87.40 | 2.94 | 82.81 | 3.50 | 2.11 | 1.00 | 3.00 | 87.50 |
| 3 | Ask Jeeves | Athênai F.C. | 15 | D (L), WB (RL) | 86.50 | 3.64 | 83.61 | 3.50 | 1.64 | 1.07 | 3.43 | 35.23 |
| 4 | Alex Stain | Seoul MFC | 19 | D (LC), DM | 85.70 | 4.50 | 85.14 | 2.36 | 2.36 | 1.29 | 3.14 | 61.26 |
| 5 | Hun Possible | North Shore United | 15 | D/WB/M ( R ) | 85.60 | 3.00 | 84.00 | 3.79 | 1.21 | 0.71 | 3.50 | 79.71 |
| 6 | Jan Van Doorne | AS Paris | 16 | D/WB/M ( R ) | 85.20 | 3.77 | 80.33 | 3.23 | 1.77 | 1.23 | 5.15 | 16.95 |
| 7 | Ask Jeeves | Athênai F.C. | 14 | D (L), WB (RL) | 85.10 | 3.71 | 80.00 | 2.86 | 2.29 | 0.79 | 3.93 | 56.19 |
| 8 | Thomas Schwarte | CS Rova Mpanjaka | 25 | D (LC), WB (L) | 84.30 | 3.53 | 79.10 | 3.73 | 1.40 | 1.07 | 2.80 | 80.77 |
| 9 | Evan Hunt | F.C. Kaapstad | 20 | WB (RL), DM | 84.00 | 2.89 | 86.67 | 2.50 | 1.50 | 0.83 | 4.72 | 61.97 |
| 10 | Eisinda Wayns | Inter London | 21 | D/WB/AM (L) | 84.00 | 3.50 | 82.89 | 2.22 | 2.94 | 1.89 | 3.61 | 51.46 |
The Defender rankings in the Minors tell a different story than the Majors. Instead of several clubs sharing the spotlight, North Shore United establishes itself as the premier defensive development program, placing three seasons in the top five and claiming both of the top two positions. The list is still diverse overall, but North Shore's presence here is impossible to ignore.
Orlando Mastache Maldonado's s19 campaign tops the rankings with an 88.1 score. While they don't lead every statistical category, they combine strong tackling volume, excellent interceptions, solid clearance numbers, and an outstanding 72.29% aerial success rate into one of the most complete defensive profiles in the dataset. There are players with higher tackle totals or better pressing numbers, but nobody matches Orlando's consistency across every weighted metric.
Chris Warrick finishes just 0.7 points behind in another outstanding North Shore United season. Their profile contrasts nicely with Orlando's. Warrick records fewer tackles but boasts the highest heading percentage in the entire top ten at an incredible 87.50%, while also contributing more blocks and slightly better tackling efficiency. The small gap between the two demonstrates how the weighted system rewards different defensive strengths as long as there are no significant weaknesses elsewhere.
Ask Jeeves earns third place and later appears again in seventh, making Athênai F.C. one of only two clubs with multiple entries. The s15 season is particularly impressive because it combines elite tackling, interceptions, and blocking from the left side of the defense. Meanwhile, the earlier s14 campaign reaches the top ten through a slightly different profile, with stronger clearance numbers and improved aerial success.
Alex Stain's fourth-place finish is built around perhaps the single strongest tackling performance in the rankings. Their 4.50 tackles won per 90 comfortably leads the top ten while being backed by an excellent 85.14% tackle success rate. Those numbers alone are enough to overcome slightly lower interception totals and keep them among the very best defensive seasons.
One of the more unique profiles belongs to Jan Van Doorne. Their remarkable 5.15 successful presses per 90 is by far the highest figure on the list, highlighting an aggressive style of defending that relied on winning the ball high up the pitch rather than dominating in the air. Conversely, Chris Warrick and Thomas Schwarte built much of their value through exceptional aerial ability, illustrating the different paths players can take to elite defensive ratings.
Unlike some of the other roles, there isn't a single overwhelming archetype here. Wing-backs, full-backs, central defenders, and defensive midfielders all find success, suggesting the Defender role effectively captures overall defensive contribution rather than favoring one specific position. The final scores remain tightly packed as well, with only 4.1 points separating first from tenth. Once again, the weighted percentile system rewards complete defensive performances, where consistency across seven metrics ultimately matters more than leading a single category.
Presser Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Successful Presses p90 | Press % | Distance Run p90 | Tackles Won p90 | Interceptions p90 | Fouls Against p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucas James | AF Masques Sacrés | 23 | D ( R ), M (L), AM ( R ) | 91.40 | 4.80 | 34.78 | 14.32 | 3.20 | 3.00 | 2.20 |
| 2 | Lucas Peioxoto | F.C. Kaapstad | 23 | D/WB/AM (L) | 91.20 | 4.05 | 41.20 | 14.47 | 3.09 | 2.68 | 0.91 |
| 3 | Dina Skovgaard | Montréal United | 19 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 90.40 | 3.71 | 36.36 | 14.69 | 3.43 | 3.07 | 1.07 |
| 4 | Orlando Mastache Maldonado | North Shore United | 19 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 90.40 | 3.79 | 39.55 | 14.45 | 3.93 | 3.36 | 0.43 |
| 5 | Stig Stampe | Rapid Magyar SC | 23 | D/WB (L), AM ( R ) | 90.30 | 3.86 | 33.33 | 14.70 | 3.64 | 3.32 | 1.18 |
| 6 | Goku Atliketwopercent | F.C. Kaapstad | 19 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 90.20 | 4.07 | 47.90 | 14.64 | 2.07 | 2.79 | 0.86 |
| 7 | Dina Skovgaard | Montréal United | 20 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 90.20 | 3.47 | 41.55 | 14.78 | 3.00 | 3.76 | 0.59 |
| 8 | Marian Gorgoń | F.C. Kaapstad | 17 | D/WB/AM ( R ) | 90.10 | 5.04 | 31.48 | 14.77 | 2.89 | 3.04 | 1.70 |
| 9 | Henry Fantobens | F.C. Kaapstad | 25 | DM, AM (LC) | 89.90 | 3.60 | 40.91 | 14.89 | 2.80 | 2.60 | 0.87 |
| 10 | Ilya Prusikin | Seoul MFC | 16 | D/WB ( R ), DM | 89.80 | 5.00 | 38.84 | 14.28 | 2.75 | 2.75 | 0.75 |
The Presser rankings produce one of the most varied top tens in the entire project. Unlike the Defender role, which rewards traditional defensive contributions, the Presser role favors players who constantly disrupt opposition build-up through relentless work rate, intelligent positioning, and winning the ball high up the pitch. The result is a list filled with full-backs, wing-backs, midfielders, and even wide attacking players.
Lucas James edges out the competition with a 91.4 score after an outstanding s23 campaign for AF Masques Sacrés. Their profile is built around exceptional all-around defensive activity. Nearly five successful presses per 90, more than three tackles won, and three interceptions per match create one of the most complete pressing seasons seen in the data collected. The only category where they don't stand out is fouls committed, but that hardly matters when every other metric grades out at an elite level.
The race for first is incredibly close. Lucas Peioxoto finishes only 0.2 points behind after posting the highest pressing success rate among the top contenders at 41.20% while also covering more ground per 90 than anyone above them. F.C. Kaapstad ultimately places four players in the top ten, more than any other club, suggesting their tactical identity revolved around aggressive pressing and defensive intensity.
Several familiar names return from the Defender rankings. Dina Skovgaard appears twice, while Orlando Mastache Maldonado follows up their number-one Defender season with a fourth-place finish here. Orlando's profile is particularly impressive because it combines elite pressing with traditional defending, leading the top five in tackles won while also recording the fewest fouls against per 90. It's the type of disciplined aggression every manager wants from a defender.
One of the more interesting entries belongs to Marian Gorgoń in eighth. Their 5.04 successful presses per 90 is the highest figure in the entire top ten, demonstrating an incredibly active defensive style. Lower pressing efficiency keeps them from climbing higher, but the sheer volume of pressure they apply is unmatched.
Unlike many of the other roles, distance covered per 90 is remarkably consistent across every player, with everyone sitting between roughly 14.3 and 14.9. That means the rankings are largely decided by how effectively players convert that work rate into successful presses, tackles, and interceptions rather than simply running the most. The result is a role that rewards intelligent defensive activity instead of effort alone.
As expected by now, the margins are exceptionally tight. Just 1.6 points separate first from tenth, making the Presser rankings one of the closest competitions in the project. Every player here excelled at disrupting opponents, with the final order determined by subtle differences across six complementary defensive metrics rather than any single dominant statistic.
Aerial Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Successful Headers p90 | Header % | Key Headers p90 | Clearances p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cole Mertz | Seoul MFC | 8 | D ( C ), DM, M (L) | 99.70 | 18.00 | 95.82 | 3.57 | 15.50 |
| 2 | Mike Rup | Cairo City | 11 | D (RLC) | 99.70 | 19.64 | 92.91 | 3.64 | 16.93 |
| 3 | Cole Mertz | Seoul MFC | 7 | D ( C ), DM, M (L) | 99.40 | 20.71 | 93.25 | 2.21 | 14.79 |
| 4 | Cole Mertz | Seoul MFC | 6 | D ( C ), DM, M (L) | 99.20 | 16.60 | 91.71 | 2.90 | 15.50 |
| 5 | Sator Freddy | Adowa Accra FC | 8 | D ( C ), DM | 99.20 | 15.87 | 92.97 | 2.40 | 16.13 |
| 6 | Siegward OfCatarina | CA Buenos Aires | 6 | D ( C ) | 99.10 | 17.40 | 90.63 | 3.00 | 15.30 |
| 7 | Spack Jarrow | Hollywood FC | 11 | D (RLC) | 99.00 | 18.50 | 92.50 | 2.07 | 13.50 |
| 8 | Dorian Lexington | Montréal United | 5 | D ( C ) | 98.90 | 14.00 | 93.96 | 2.80 | 11.00 |
| 9 | Eirlys Snooks | AS Paris | 10 | D (LC), WB (L) | 98.90 | 17.64 | 92.86 | 2.00 | 12.07 |
| 10 | Claudio Scarpetta | Red Star Laos | 11 | D (LC), DM | 98.90 | 19.29 | 90.60 | 2.29 | 15.43 |
Unlike every other role we've looked at, the Aerial rankings are dominated by one player. Cole Mertz claims three of the top four spots, including the number-one season, making this the most one-sided leaderboard in the entire project. Rather than producing a single elite aerial campaign, Mertz maintained an extraordinary standard across multiple consecutive seasons.
The s8 season narrowly takes first place, although the race at the top could hardly be closer. Mike Rup finishes with the exact same overall score of 99.7, illustrating just how compressed these elite performances become once converted into weighted percentiles. Mertz separates himself through an astonishing 95.82% header success rate while still winning 18 headers per 90 and producing 3.57 key headers every match. Rup counters with even higher volumes, leading the list in successful headers, key headers, and clearances, but slightly lower efficiency leaves the two effectively inseparable.
What makes Cole Mertz's achievement even more remarkable is the consistency. Their s7 season ranks third despite averaging the most successful headers per 90 of anyone on the list at 20.71, while their s6 campaign still manages fourth place. It's rare to see one player sustain that level of aerial dominance over multiple seasons, especially when competing against every defender in the database.
The rest of the rankings feature some outstanding specialists in their own right. Sator Freddy and Siegward OfCatarina both combine exceptional heading accuracy with huge clearance numbers, while Spack Jarrow and Claudio Scarpetta rely on outstanding aerial volume to climb into the top ten. Dorian Lexington is perhaps the most efficient player outside the top two, posting a superb 93.96% success rate despite winning fewer headers overall.
One interesting observation is how little positional variety exists compared to some of the other roles. Almost every player here is a central defender or defensive midfielder, exactly the type of player expected to dominate aerial duels. Eirlys Snooks stands out as one of the few wider defenders to crack the list, showing that exceptional aerial ability isn't limited entirely to center-backs.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway, however, is just how extraordinary these numbers are. Every player in the top ten wins at least 90% of their aerial duels while averaging between 14 and 21 successful headers per 90. These aren't simply good aerial defenders—they're historically dominant. Even tenth place sits only 0.8 points behind the leaders, reinforcing the trend we've seen throughout this project: once players reach elite percentile territory, tiny differences in efficiency and volume are all that separate the greatest seasons ever recorded.
Wide Creator Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Successful Crosses p90 | Cross % | Chances Created p90 | Open Play Key Passes p90 | Assists p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angry Lizard | AS Paris | 23 | D (L), WB (RL) | 96.40 | 3.68 | 36.82 | 2.45 | 3.64 | 0.77 |
| 2 | Silver Tarandus | AS Paris | 22 | M/AM (L), ST ( C ) | 96.20 | 3.68 | 35.53 | 2.14 | 3.50 | 0.86 |
| 3 | Dwayne Pruney | North Shore United | 24 | D (RL), WB (L) | 96.00 | 4.80 | 35.56 | 1.90 | 3.10 | 0.50 |
| 4 | Angry Lizard | AS Paris | 22 | D (L), WB (RL) | 95.90 | 4.05 | 33.97 | 1.73 | 3.05 | 0.77 |
| 5 | Dave Oliver | Krung Thep FC | 23 | WB/M/AM ( R ) | 95.70 | 4.32 | 39.09 | 1.77 | 3.23 | 0.36 |
| 6 | Eden Empire IV | AS Paris | 24 | M/AM (L), ST ( C ) | 95.70 | 4.40 | 40.37 | 1.20 | 2.20 | 0.60 |
| 7 | Silver Tarandus | AS Paris | 23 | AM (RC), ST ( C ) | 95.60 | 3.36 | 35.24 | 1.82 | 2.68 | 0.95 |
| 8 | Zizou Lopta | North Shore United | 17 | M (RL), AM (L) | 95.50 | 3.86 | 33.75 | 3.14 | 4.36 | 0.50 |
| 9 | Viktoria Snooks | North Shore United | 15 | D (RL), AM (L) | 95.20 | 3.29 | 35.38 | 1.79 | 2.71 | 0.57 |
| 10 | Zizou Lopta | North Shore United | 13 | M/AM (L) | 94.80 | 3.71 | 31.90 | 1.64 | 3.79 | 0.71 |
The Wide Creator rankings showcase one of the clearest tactical identities in the Minors. Between them, AS Paris and North Shore United account for eight of the ten spots, demonstrating just how consistently those clubs generated chances from wide areas. Whether through overlapping full-backs, attacking wing-backs, or creative wingers, both clubs clearly built their attacks around stretching the pitch and delivering quality service into dangerous areas.
Angry Lizard claims the top spot with an exceptional s23 campaign for AS Paris, while also returning in fourth place with their s22 season. The numbers illustrate why. Their league-leading combination of chance creation and open-play key passes is paired with nearly four successful crosses per 90, creating perhaps the most complete wide creative profile in the rankings. Rather than relying solely on crossing volume, Angry Lizard consistently turned possession into genuine scoring opportunities.
AS Paris nearly sweeps the podium thanks to Silver Tarandus, who finishes second before appearing again in seventh. Tarandus actually records more assists per 90 than Angry Lizard's winning season and combines that with excellent crossing numbers despite operating in more advanced attacking roles. The fact that both a wing-back and a forward can reach nearly identical scores highlights how this role rewards results from wide areas rather than any particular position.
The player who breaks up the AS Paris dominance is Dwayne Pruney of North Shore United. Their 4.80 successful crosses per 90 comfortably lead the entire top ten, illustrating a player whose primary responsibility was delivering dangerous balls into the box. While their chance creation numbers aren't quite as high as the leaders, sheer crossing volume is enough to secure third place.
North Shore United's remaining entries reveal a slightly different creative style. Zizou Lopta appears twice, with the s17 season producing the highest chance creation rate on the list at 3.14 per 90 alongside an incredible 4.36 open-play key passes. Rather than overwhelming opponents with crossing volume, Lopta excelled at creating opportunities through passing and combination play from wide positions.
One interesting observation is how balanced the best seasons are. Dave Oliver and Eden Empire IV both post the highest crossing accuracy in the rankings, exceeding 39%, yet neither finishes above fifth because the role also heavily rewards turning those deliveries into chances and assists. Similarly, Silver Tarandus leads the top ten in assists per 90, but slightly lower crossing volume keeps them just behind Angry Lizard.
The margins are, once again, incredibly narrow. Only 1.6 points separate first from tenth, making the Wide Creator role another example of how the weighted percentile system values complete attacking contribution over any single standout statistic. Whether through relentless crossing, incisive passing, or consistent chance creation, every player on this list represents an elite season from the flanks.
Dribbler Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Position | Score | Dribbles p90 | Chances Created p90 | Key Passes p90 | Progressive Passes p90 | Assists p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dina Skovgaard | Montréal United | 21 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 99.10 | 4.17 | 2.11 | 5.89 | 7.83 | 0.72 |
| 2 | Angry Lizard | AS Paris | 22 | D (L), WB (RL) | 98.80 | 3.73 | 1.73 | 6.55 | 9.41 | 0.77 |
| 3 | Dina Skovgaard | Montréal United | 19 | D (RL), WB ( R ) | 98.40 | 4.21 | 2.00 | 6.29 | 7.14 | 0.50 |
| 4 | Angry Lizard | AS Paris | 23 | D (L), WB (RL) | 97.80 | 3.27 | 2.45 | 6.77 | 9.55 | 0.77 |
| 5 | Bob Berendsen | AS Paris | 25 | D/WB ( R ), AM (RL) | 97.80 | 3.60 | 1.80 | 4.60 | 7.47 | 0.67 |
| 6 | Zoey Jenkins | Seoul MFC | 22 | D/WB/M (L) | 97.60 | 3.76 | 1.65 | 4.00 | 7.06 | 0.82 |
| 7 | Ashito Aoi | AS Paris | 22 | D/WB ( R ), DM | 97.20 | 3.99 | 1.30 | 3.11 | 8.45 | 0.60 |
| 8 | George Shaheen | North Shore United | 18 | M ( R ), AM (RL) | 95.90 | 3.50 | 2.36 | 4.50 | 5.64 | 0.64 |
| 9 | Chris Warrick | AF Masques Sacrés | 23 | D (L), DM, ST ( C ) | 95.90 | 3.05 | 1.23 | 5.27 | 8.23 | 0.64 |
| 10 | Zizou Lopta | North Shore United | 17 | M (RL), AM (L) | 95.70 | 3.64 | 3.14 | 8.36 | 5.21 | 0.50 |
If one theme defines the Dribbler rankings, it's that the best ball carriers in the Minors are overwhelmingly defenders and wing-backs. Rather than flashy wingers dominating the category, players who consistently advanced possession from deeper positions occupy nearly every spot in the top ten. The role rewards much more than beating opponents off the dribble; it measures how effectively those carries are turned into progression, chance creation, and assists.
Dina Skovgaard claimed the top spot with a phenomenal s21 campaign for Montréal United while also returning in third place with their s19 season. Averaging more than four successful dribbles per 90 alongside nearly six key passes and almost eight progressive passes every match, Skovgaard produced perhaps the most complete ball-progression profile in the database. The repeated appearance also reinforces something we've seen throughout these rankings: elite players rarely produce just one great season.
The biggest challenger comes from Angry Lizard, who occupies both second and fourth. Their s22 season is particularly remarkable, leading the top contenders with 9.41 progressive passes per 90 while also generating 6.55 key passes and 0.77 assists per match. In many ways, Angry Lizard represents the modern attacking full-back, capable of carrying the ball through pressure before immediately creating opportunities for teammates.
AS Paris dominates the rankings more than any other club, placing four seasons inside the top seven. Alongside Angry Lizard's two appearances, Bob Berendsen and Ashito Aoi both make the list with profiles built around exceptional progression rather than overwhelming dribbling volume. The club clearly emphasized defenders who could advance possession themselves instead of relying solely on midfielders.
Interestingly, the player with the highest chance creation figure isn't one of the top four. Zizou Lopta finished tenth despite creating 3.14 chances per 90 and producing an outstanding 8.36 key passes. Likewise, George Shaheen reaches eighth with the second-highest chance creation rate on the list. The reason both finish lower is that this role rewards balance across every category. Elite creation alone isn't enough without matching the dribbling and progression numbers of the players above them.
One of the more surprising inclusions is Chris Warrick, whose positional listing stretches from defender all the way to striker. Their combination of strong progression, over five key passes per 90, and reliable ball carrying earns a deserved place in the top ten despite recording the fewest dribbles among the group.
The final scores are remarkably close, with just 3.4 points separating first from tenth despite the role covering five distinct metrics. Once again, the weighted percentile model rewards players who consistently move the ball forward and create attacks in multiple ways, making this one of the clearest examples of how modern full-backs and wing-backs have evolved into some of the game's most influential creators.
Goalkeeper Role
| Rank | Name | Club | Season | Score | Average Rating | Save % | xSave % | xG Prevented p90 | Clean Sheets p90 | Penalties Saved p90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | João Cancelo | AS Paris | 25 | 95.00 | 7.37 | 84.51 | 87.39 | 0.54 | 0.47 | 0.13 |
| 2 | Fiery Chicken | North Shore United | 24 | 89.80 | 7.41 | 80.00 | 86.24 | 0.35 | 0.50 | 0.10 |
| 3 | James Asprey | Rapid Magyar SC | 24 | 89.60 | 7.52 | 81.16 | 84.45 | 0.52 | 0.45 | 0.09 |
| 4 | Joseph Daniel Kakou | Inter London | 25 | 87.40 | 7.10 | 87.50 | 88.69 | 0.51 | 0.89 | 0.00 |
| 5 | Calvin Ball | Rapid Magyar SC | 25 | 85.30 | 7.24 | 78.65 | 87.29 | 0.47 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| 6 | Scott Sterling | Reykjavik United | 9 | 84.30 | 7.29 | 88.46 | 87.73 | 0.00 | 0.64 | 0.00 |
| 7 | Tony Yeboah | Inter London | 10 | 83.90 | 7.38 | 83.61 | 87.46 | 0.00 | 0.64 | 0.00 |
| 8 | Otto von Bismarck | North Shore United | 16 | 83.40 | 7.49 | 77.92 | 82.42 | 0.26 | 0.50 | 0.07 |
| 9 | James Asprey | Seoul MFC | 21 | 81.90 | 7.28 | 81.19 | 81.70 | 0.52 | 0.39 | 0.00 |
| 10 | João Cancelo | AS Paris | 22 | 81.80 | 7.22 | 82.26 | 83.20 | 0.21 | 0.64 | 0.00 |
The Goalkeeper rankings produce one of the clearest number-one seasons in the entire project. João Cancelo's s25 campaign for AS Paris finishes more than five points ahead of the rest of the field, a gap we've rarely seen in any role. While most categories have been decided by fractions of a point, Cancelo's combination of shot-stopping, consistency, and penalty-saving creates a profile that comfortably separates itself from every other goalkeeper.
The raw numbers explain why. Cancelo combines an outstanding 84.51% save percentage with an even stronger 87.39% expected save percentage while preventing more than half a goal per 90 compared to expectation. Add in nearly one clean sheet every two matches and an impressive 0.13 penalties saved per 90, and it's easy to see why the weighted model views this as the premier goalkeeping season in the Minors.
Behind Cancelo, the competition is much tighter. Fiery Chicken and James Asprey finish separated by only 0.2 points despite arriving there in different ways. Fiery Chicken pairs strong shot-stopping with excellent clean sheet numbers for North Shore United, while Asprey posts the highest average rating in the top three and nearly matches Cancelo's goals prevented per 90. Both represent exceptional modern goalkeeping seasons, even if neither can quite reach the standard set by the winner.
Joseph Daniel Kakou's fourth-place finish is perhaps the most unusual profile on the list. Their save percentage and expected save percentage are both the highest in the entire top ten, while an incredible 0.89 clean sheets per 90 is unmatched by anyone else. The reason they don't finish higher is that the weighted formula also values average rating, goals prevented, and penalty-saving, where Cancelo and the players immediately above them maintain stronger overall balance.
Several goalkeepers make repeat appearances, suggesting sustained excellence rather than one-off performances. João Cancelo returns in tenth with another AS Paris season, while James Asprey appears twice across two different clubs. Their ability to reproduce elite goalkeeping in different environments mirrors the recurring names we've seen throughout many of the outfield roles.
One interesting feature of this list is the mixture of eras. While most of the top rankings come from recent seasons, veterans such as Scott Sterling and Tony Yeboah still earn places through outstanding save percentages and clean sheet records. Their inclusion suggests that truly elite goalkeeping performances remain comparable across generations, even as the game around them evolves.
Unlike many of the other roles, where the top ten are separated by only a couple of points, the Goalkeeper rankings tell two different stories. Cancelo's s25 season stands alone at the top, while the remaining nine goalkeepers are tightly packed together, with only eight points separating second from tenth. It highlights just how exceptional that AS Paris campaign was, setting a benchmark that no other goalkeeper in the Minors has quite managed to reach.
Conclusion
Something that was pointed out in discord after the last article and became pretty apparent immediately when writing this one, is the fact that the sim change clearly impacts player performance in these groupings.
The Aerial role is dominated by players from the previous sim, while most other categories are either mostly or completely players from the new sim. There is really no way to try and explain that through data, other than to assume that the sim or the way the sim plays lead to vastly different styles and attributes used in the “modern” game.
That’s not really an indication of anything other than just an informational point to establish why so few early season players show up on these lists.
Similarly, something that was interesting was to see how many players on the Minors list placed in multiple categories for the same season.
You had:
- Angry Lizard’s s23 season placing in Playmaker, Wide Creator, and Dribbler
- Dina Skovgaard’s s19 season placing in Playmaker, Presser, Dribbler
- Angry Lizard, Claudio Scarpetta, Dina Skovgaard, George Shaheen, Orlando Mastache Maldonado and Zizou Lopta all had a season where they placed in two different roles.
Comparing this to Majors, only one Majors player had a season where they placed in 3 categories (s16’s Furious Chicken). There were 8 players, however, who had a season where they placed in two. This highlights how the competition increases between the leagues, obviously, as it’s much more difficult to be good at everything as you move up.
Once again, if you made it here, thanks for reading!
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