
Key strength: Pace and recovery
Overlapping full-back
At 28, Pol Lirola has carved out an essential role as Olympique Marseille battle to maintain their European ambitions from 4th place in Ligue 1. The Spanish right-back may only carry a modest €2 million market value, but his contributions speak louder than his price tag. Across four league appearances totaling 360 minutes, Lirola has delivered a goal and an assist—a remarkable attacking return for a defender averaging a goal contribution every second match. His disciplined approach is equally notable: zero cards collected while maintaining 100% match completion rate. Operating as an overlapping full-back, Lirola's 45-rated pace allows him to surge forward and recover defensively, complementing Marseille's attacking talents like Timothy Weah and Amine Gouiri. While the club chases consistency to close the gap on the top three, Lirola's reliability and offensive instincts down the right flank have made him an unsung hero in Marseille's push for continental football.