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The 2026–27 La Liga season is now firmly up and running.
And, as expected, it's Barcelona—the defending champions—and fierce rivals Real Madrid who have established themselves as the division's dominant forces in the early stages.
Accordingly, Sports Illustrated's player power rankings are filled with talent from Spain's two biggest clubs, featuring world-class wingers, commanding defenders and creative midfield maestros.
Without further delay, here are La Liga's top 10 players right now, ranked solely on their performances to date this season.
10. Mariano Díaz
A somewhat unexpected entry at No. 10, Mariano Díaz has made a remarkable start to the 2026–27 campaign with Alavés.
His goal contributions have helped the club shift from relegation concerns to an unlikely early charge toward the upper reaches of the table, evoking memories of his younger days at Real Madrid and Lyon, where he once showed enormous promise before gradually fading from the spotlight.
9. Anthony Gordon
There was plenty of skepticism when Barcelona brought Anthony Gordon in from Newcastle United over the summer, but the English winger has wasted no time in proving his critics wrong during his opening weeks at Camp Nou.
Gordon has already registered multiple assists, but it's his relentless pressing and willingness to do the dirty work defensively that have truly impressed—two attributes that were central to Barcelona's decision to sign him in the first place.
8. Dávid Hancko
One of only a handful of non-Barcelona and Real Madrid players on this list, Dávid Hancko may not be the most high-profile name in Atlético Madrid's squad, but there's a compelling case that he's their most indispensable player.
A true battler at the core of Diego Simeone's backline, Hancko looks every inch the natural heir to Atlético legends such as Diego Godín and Santiago Giménez, particularly with Robin Le Normand struggling to find his best form alongside him of late.
7. Arda Güler
Arda Güler has steadily grown in stature at Real Madrid over the past two seasons, and under José Mourinho, that upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing, with the Turkish prodigy already establishing himself as one of his manager's most relied-upon weapons in the attacking third.
Güler has justified Mourinho's confidence, making an instant impression with several goal contributions and looking increasingly assured as a central figure in Madrid's offensive setup.
6. Vinícius Júnior
Vinícius Júnior may be sporting a new bearded look, but his game remains as thrilling as ever—and that's absolutely a positive.
Explosive runs, slick footwork and the kind of unpredictability that turns defenders inside out, Vinícius Jr has burst out of the blocks in the 2026–27 season, looking just as electrifying and dangerous as he's always been.
5. Pau Cubarsí
Pau Cubarsí was a cornerstone of Spain's 2026 World Cup victory, as La Roja conceded just one goal—the fewest ever by a World Cup-winning side—and he's carried that outstanding form seamlessly into Barcelona's new season.
Still only a teenager, Cubarsí may have an angelic appearance, but he performs like a seasoned professional. His game intelligence is exceptional, he makes crucial clearances, commits fully to challenges and never shrinks from high-pressure moments.
He also ticks every box as a modern ball-playing center back, ranking among La Liga's top performers for successful line-breaking passes this season.
4. Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal was officially crowned La Liga's Best Player for 2025–26 by the Spanish players' union—and he's setting his sights on defending that honor this campaign.
The teenage phenomenon was once again exceptional for Barcelona last season, tallying 24 goals and 18 assists across all competitions as Barça claimed back-to-back La Liga titles.
But the statistics only scratch the surface. The 2026 World Cup winner remains the closest thing Barcelona—and perhaps the sport as a whole—has seen to Lionel Messi in his prime: a near-supernatural talent capable of changing a game in the blink of an eye.
And perhaps the most staggering part? Despite everything he has already achieved, Yamal is still only 19.
3. Jude Bellingham
Injuries, positional uncertainty and a dip in form made the 2025–26 season a frustrating one for Jude Bellingham.
Make no mistake, though—the boy from Birmingham is well and truly back.
Following a stunning World Cup with England, where he almost single-handedly carried the Three Lions to third place with seven goals from midfield, Bellingham has returned to Real Madrid as a No. 10 under new manager Mourinho.
Given the license to drive forward, take on defenders and pull the strings in the final third, he's once again looking every bit the player who was crowned La Liga Player of the Season in 2023–24.
2. Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé's time at Real Madrid hasn't yet produced the silverware many anticipated—but that's hardly a fair indictment of his individual displays.
He netted a remarkable 44 goals in his debut campaign in 2024–25, backed that up with another 42 last term and has already hit the ground running once more this year. Mbappé is simply a relentless scoring machine, and when he reaches top gear, there are precious few defenders in the world who can contain him.
The goals are already flowing; the trophies feel like an inevitability.
1. Raphinha
Raphinha netted 21 goals for Barcelona in 2025–26, a remarkable return in its own right, but even more impressive given the significant time he spent sidelined through injury.
Now back to full fitness, the dynamic forward is already soaring in 2026–27. Armed with searing pace, an exquisite first touch and the kind of samba flair that brings to mind Brazilian legends like Rivaldo and Romário, Raphinha looks virtually unplayable as Barça chase a third straight La Liga crown.
And to cap it all, he's doing it from the center forward position, filling the void in Hansi Flick's attack with an effortless quality that only the truly elite possess.
Who needs Julián Alvarez when Raphinha is playing like the finest No. 9 in Spain?