From FC Barcelona’s versatile defender Gerard Martín to Villarreal CF’s standout forward Georges Mikautadze, these are the five players who had a breakout campaign.
It takes a very special player to stand out in a league as competitive as LALIGA EA SPORTS. Doing so by pulling off a breakout campaign is a clear sign that a footballer is prepared to take the next step towards stardom. When it comes to evaluating those who had a breakthrough campaign in the Spanish top flight last season, these are five men who truly surpassed expectations. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Gerard Martín – FC Barcelona
One of the finest FC Barcelona prodigies to have ascended to the first team over the last few years, Martín made his LALIGA EA SPORTS debut in August 2024 before playing 28 league games, mainly off the bench, that season. Injuries and defensive frailties forced Hansi Flick to experiment with his backline by using the young full-back as a left-sided centre-back and Martín delivered consistently, even admitting that he feels comfortable in both positions. His minutes doubled to 2,122 this past season, when the 24-year-old started in 26 league games, including 13 starts in the last 15 matches for the champions.
Georges Mikautadze – Villarreal CF
Only four players registered more goal contributions than Villarreal CF’s summer record-breaking signing, who shined in his debut season on Spanish soil. Having featured in 34 league games last term, the Georgian forward netted a team-high 13 goals, which he paired with six assists. After kicking off his professional footballing career at Metz back in 2019, Mikautadze finished the 2022/23 Ligue 2 campaign as top scorer of the French second division, helping his team clinch promotion to the top flight. Having earned a move to Lyon, he recorded 18 goals and 11 assists in 2024/25 before joining El Submarino Amarillo, whom he led to both a top-three finish for the second time in their history, as well as Champions League qualification for next season.
Carlos Romero – RCD Espanyol (Villarreal CF loanee)
Only six outfield players spent more minutes on the pitch in 2025/26 than RCD Espanyol’s Carlos Romero (3,195 minutes). Having started in each of his 36 league appearances, the 24-year-old made the most of the opportunity by turning himself into one of the finest left-backs in the competition. As an attacking-minded full-back, Romero scored more goals than any defender who took the pitch last season (six). The Villarreal CF loanee has been with the Catalan side for two seasons now, and his future looks bright, wherever he ends up next.
Ionuț Radu – RC Celta
No LALIGA EA SPORTS goalkeeper enjoyed more playing time than Radu’s 3,420 minutes in 2025/26. In fact, he started in all 38 LALIGA EA SPORTS games, with his 38 appearances being the most he has ever made in a single campaign. The RC Celta shot-stopper secured 10 clean sheets to help the Galician side clinch European qualification for a second consecutive season. His displays between the two posts earned the Romanian keeper the award for RC Celta’s best player of the season in only his first campaign in Vigo. After beginning his career in his hometown of Bucharest, Radu moved to Inter, who loaned him out to several teams including Genoa, Auxerre and Bournemouth. His move to RC Celta last summer has seen him cement himself as one of the pillars of one of the best teams in the country.
Nobel Mendy – Rayo Vallecano (Real Betis loanee)
The Senegalese centre-back joined the Vallecas-based side on loan from Real Betis back in late August. He may have not participated in any of Rayo Vallecano’s first eight games of the season, but Mendy helped his team secure back-to-back clean sheets after debuting in the league against Levante UD in mid-October. He went on to play 24 league games, earning himself a first Senegal call-up before debuting for the national team in a 3-1 victory over Gambia during the March international break. Boasting exceptional composure and maturity for his young age, the 21-year-old could become a LALIGA EA SPORTS star over the next few years.
