LaLiga has been home to some of world football’s most exciting breakout stars since the start of the 2022/23 season. Many of those players are getting some more mainstream credit, such as Gavi and other Barcelona standouts, but there are many more who remain criminally underrated.
The 2023/24 season is bringing the world some more gems, so, to honor them, let’s take a look at the 10 biggest breakout stars of the current Spanish top-flight campaign thus far.
Girona LW Sávio
The list has to start with Sávio. Just as Aleix García was THE breakout story in LaLiga last season, another Girona star has captured the spotlight on the left wing. Sávio is only 19 years old and already one of the best players in the league, if his performances in 2023/24 continue. And there is no reason to believe that they won’t.
Sávio has three goals and four assists in his first ten appearances for the surprise title contenders, averaging 2.2 dribbles completed per game as one of the most dynamic wide playmakers in European football this season. Girona are even more dangerous in the 2023/24 season than they were last year, and Sávio looks like a huge key to that.
Granada LW Bryan Zaragoza
Bryan Zaragoza scored twice in Granada’s 2-2 draw with Barcelona, and he and Lucas Boyé are two big reasons why the club has much more optimism in LaLiga this season than in years past, such as when they were recently relegated.
Although Zaragoza does not start every game, he makes an impact whenever he is on the pitch. Zaragoza has real end product and upside to him. Just 22 years old, Zaragoza is capable of shining in the midfield or on the left wing. He already has five goals this season and doesn’t look for one moment like he’s going to stop.
Valencia DM Pepelu
Valencia are becoming quite the factory for young midfield talents. Last season, it was André Almeida who made a name for himself as one of the best midfielders in LaLiga, and, now in 2023/24, Pepelu is doing the same as arguably one of the best overall performers in the Spanish top flight to start the campaign.
Pepelu is entering the prime of his career at 25. The former Levante man is thriving with the local rivals, averaging 3.5 combined tackles and interceptions per game with nearly 1.5 key passes per match.
He brings a real edge defensively and is plenty good on the ball. Honestly, Pepelu hasn’t been far off from Aleix García in terms of performances this season, which is high praise indeed.
Villarreal GK Filip Jörgensen
Filip Jörgensen looks like one of the most talented young goalkeepers to watch in European football this season, if his start to the 2023/24 LaLiga campaign is anything to go off of. He has kept Villarreal in matches with some jaw-dropping saves, and the 21-year-old has the numbers to back things up.
With a save percentage near 77 percent, Jörgensen is one of the bright spots of a Villarreal side that has looked desperately disappointing thus far. They clearly miss the influence of Unai Emery, while the attacking players are performing below their talent level. At least they will have Jörgensen to fall back on.
Valencia CM Javi Guerra
A second Valencia midfielder shows up on the list, and this young man is the bigger gem of the two. Javi Guerra is as exciting as any young prospect in Spanish football, notching three goals and one assist in a very promising second season with the Bats.
Guerra is averaging over three combined dribbles and fouls drawn per game, functioning as a major source of ball progression for Valencia. He is one of the best midfielders in LaLiga at impacting the attack when it comes to starting attacks and even finishing them. At 20, Guerra is only scratching the surface.
Rayo Vallecano DM Pathé Ciss
Another player just barely scratching the surface on their talent in Pathé Ciss, who might be the definition of a breakout star. Ciss didn’t even begin the season as a starter for Rayo Vallecano, but he has now worked his way up the latter to becoming one of the top-performing midfielders in LaLIga as a regular starter for the historic Madrid-based side.
Dazzling with his slick dribbling and scorching shooting from outside the box, Ciss looks like a complete player in the middle of the park. The 29-year-old Senegalese international is something of a late-bloomer for Rayo, but he looks like a real talent in terms of his defensive impact and progression. Ciss fits the prototype of a well-rounded, modern defensive midfielder.
Girona ST Artem Dovbyk
Ukrainian international Artem Dovbyk is starting to earn some real admirers within LaLiga circles for his all-around play and presence in the box. Fans of Spanish football are on the hunt for new breakout stars at the striker position, and the young Dovbyk is showing signs of being that kind of player for Girona.
Dovbyk has found the back of the net five times in a mere 501 minutes, only starting in six of his ten appearances in LaLiga. The 21-year-old is showing up well with his link-up play, too, providing more than just goals for a fluid Girona attack that asks its players to move into multiple positions. Dovbyk is a name to watch for the remainder of the 2023/24 season.
Girona RB Yan Couto
Yet another name to watch for Girona, Yan Couto doesn’t get to start every match because he’s sharing minutes with another amazing young right-sided talent in 2022/23 breakout star Arnau Martínez. But as Arnau’s stock grows and he gets linked to the elite clubs, Couto could really get to shine for Girona after he leaves.
The 21-year-old Brazilian could be next in a long line of talented, attacking-minded fullbacks from the South American powerhouse. Couto has three assists this season, and he never stops working on that flank. His progression is the main key to helping Girona win matches, but he’s also showing up well as a ball-winner.
Celta Vigo ST Jørgen Strand Larsen
Celta Vigo’s inspirational figure remains striker Iago Aspas, but the club has always had room for a second player to shine alongside him. In the past, Nolito was a star for Celta, and, two seasons ago, Brais Méndez first flashed his superstar potential before legitimately becoming one of the best players in the world in 2022/23 for Real Sociedad.
Placing those expectations on Jørgen Strand Larsen would be too much, too soon, but the young Danish international has been an intriguing – and underrated – talent in the cities of Vigo and Gronigen for a couple of years now.
Strand Larsen is off to a strong start in 2023/24 with three goals in ten matches and an average of 2.5 combined fouls drawn and dribbles completed. The 23-year-old is a candidate to produce even bigger numbers as the season goes on, especially if Celta can improve as a team.
Barcelona RW Lamine Yamal
Finally, we come to one of the most gifted footballers in LaLiga in Lamine Yamal. Fermín López will soon join him on this list when the midfielder logs more minutes, but, for now, Yamal represents the “Big 3” as the missing piece Barcelona needed in the attack on that right flank.
Capable of twisting defenders inside-out, Yamal is also a better finisher than most young wingers. The elite dribbler has such great spatial awareness, already clicking in the Barcelona system. Standards are high at this club, especially for attacking players, but Yamal is already exceeding them with frequent game-changing plays.
Yamal is 16 years old and already one of the most effective wingers in LaLiga. That should tell you a lot about his quality and what he is capable of doing in the future. Watch out.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.