Best XI of Portuguese footballers currently playing in England

It was a season to remember for many Portuguese players in England, with more natives than ever playing in the country’s top flight after Wolves' clinched promotion last season.

And with the end of the year upon us, it is time to combine the best eleven players from the English game to construct the best possible Portuguese lineup.

Most of the players pick themselves, with there currently an impressive 14 Portuguese plying their trade in the Premier League. As such, only three player, in essence, need to miss out on a place in the best eleven.

However, because there are no Portuguese centrebacks in the English top flight, those positions need to be taken from the second tier of the English game, which means that only 9 of the 14 players in the Premier League will be included.

Goalkeeper

Something of a no-brainer here. Rui Patricio is, of course, the man between the sticks in this Portugal combined eleven.

That would be the case even if there were 19 other Portuguese goalkeepers in the league. As Portugal’s undisputed number one, there is no avoiding the fact that Patricio is the goalkeeper in the team, and on merit.

Defenders

At the back, there’s no shortage of options in the full back department, with Southampton’s Cedric Soares, Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira, Wolves’ Ruben Vinagre and Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot all currently in the league.

It has been a terrific debut season for Ricardo Pereira since joining Leicester from Porto in the summer, showing his attacking prowess and defensive ability in equal measure and is more than deserving of a place in the team.

Due to Pereira’s ability to play both on the left or right side of defence, that allows Cedric Soares to also be chosen in this team; indeed, while Southampton have struggled this season, his form remained consistent before the injury he suffered last month and was a regular in the side, playing far more regularly than both Diogo Dalot and Ruben Vinagre.

The options at centreback are limited, with no Portuguese candidates in the Premier League, so one needs to drop down to the second tier to find options.

Tobias Figueiredo and Tiago Ilori are the obvious choices.

Midfielders

In central midfield, there are four terrific options and just three spaces.

In straight away is Portugal's third most capped player in history João Moutinho. The Wolves midfielder has been in terrific form and has lived up to expectations with his dominant displays in the middle of the park. 

Alongside him has to be his teammate Ruben Neves. It has been a stunning year for the youngest ever Champions League captain, his impressive goals and passing delighting fans and neutrals alike and linking him with several high-profile moves.

The final spot in midfield is between Andre Gomes and Domingos Quina. A year ago, the decision would have been simple, with Quina a youth player with barely a couple of minutes of senior football under his belt.

Now, however, after a string of great performances from the Watford man, it's slightly more difficult. But, with Andre Gomes beginning to replicate that tremendous form that earned him a move to Barcelona, he has to be included, being one of Everton's standout performers this campaign.

Attackers

First name on the team sheet is undoubtedly Bernardo Silva on the right wing. The Manchester City playmaker has been sensational over the last year and is arguably Portugal's best player currently - bar Ronaldo, of course.

Alongside 'Bubblegum Boy' Bernardo will be two more Wolves players, taking the total of Molineux-based players up to five.

 For a lack of out-and-out striker, Diogo Jota is the guy up top, with Ivan Cavaleiro on the left. Helder Costa is the unlucky one to miss out entirely.