Rani Khedira

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

While 1.FC Union Berlin endure a nightmare run—five consecutive defeats leaving them 12th and staring into the relegation abyss—Rani Khedira stands as their unwavering heartbeat. The €2 million-rated defensive midfielder has been ever-present this season: 29 appearances and 2,600 minutes of tireless industry that belie his modest market value. Yet Khedira defies convention. Operating as a deep-lying playmaker, the 32-year-old Tunisian has delivered 5 goals and 1 assist—an attacking return that shames many strikers while providing the invisible foundation for marquee talents Gabriel Jesus and Achraf Hakimi to flourish ahead of him. Six yellow cards testify to the combative edge required in this survival scrap. In the shadow of his World Cup-winning brother Sami, the younger Khedira is quietly authoring his own legacy at Die Eisernen—proving that sometimes the most vital contributions come without the spotlight, even as the club's Bundesliga status hangs by a thread.