Abner

Key strength: Pace and recovery

Overlapping full-back

Olympique Lyon are surging at just the right moment. After a stumbling start that saw them lose two of their opening five, they've strung together three consecutive Ligue 1 victories to climb to 3rd place and rekindle their Champions League ambitions. And perhaps the most unlikely hero of this resurgence is flying down the left flank. Enter Abner—the 26-year-old Brazilian left-back who has transformed defensive duty into attacking spectacle. Five goals from 32 appearances this season reads like a striker's return, not a full-back's ledger. Yet here he is, the São Paulo native bombing forward with relentless energy, having clocked 2,453 minutes of overlapping brilliance. Operating as a modern wing-back, Abner combines recovery pace with predatory instincts in the final third. His solitary assist belies his creative influence—it's his explosive runs beyond opposing defenses that terrorize full-backs. With Tyler Morton and Tanner Tessmann providing midfield cover, and Corentin Tolisso threading passes from central areas, Abner has license to maraud. At €10 million, his market value reflects a shrewd piece of business. The edge of danger lingers—four yellows and a red card reveal a competitor who plays on the precipice. But as Lyon chase European qualification, Abner's attacking exploits from deep could prove the decisive weapon in their arsenal.