The 2018/2019 Bundesliga season has seen several players prove their quality as world-class footballers. However, some have taken it to another level this year, putting in outstanding performances week-in week-out, improving their goal tallies and becoming central figures in their clubs' success.
Luka Jovic
Last season: Jovic arrived in Frankfurt on a two-year loan from Portuguese giants Benfica. In the first of those two years, the Serbia striker scored eight goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances – a respectable return, but not quite world class.
This season: The second year of his loan spell in Germany turned out quite different than the first. Twenty six goals and six assists in all competitions have helped Frankfurt to fourth place in the Bundesliga and the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League. Jovic scored his side's only goal against Chelsea in the semi-final first leg, which they went on to draw 1-1, putting the Eagles within touching distance of a European final and serious silverware.
Closer to home, Jovic's 17 strikes make him second only to Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga scoring charts. His time in Frankfurt has coincided with him becoming a full Serbia international. Having only turned 21 before the turn of the year, it's safe to say that after an impressive breakthrough season, the best of Jovic is still to come. It's no wonder Frankfurt moved swiftly to make his loan a permanent arrangement.
Jadon Sancho
Last season: After arriving from the youth set-up at Manchester City, Sancho immediately became part of the first team at Signal Iduna Park. Twelve appearances (seven of them starts), a goal, and four assists represent a respectable first season in German football and offered hints of what was to come.
This season: Fast forward a year and the 19-year-old is arguably Dortmund's most valuable player. Twelve appearances have become 32, one goal has become 11, and, with 17 assists instead of four, the attacking midfielder is competing with, and surpassing, the likes of Leroy Sane (11 assists), Mohammed Salah (11), Cristiano Ronaldo (11), Joshua Kimmich (13), and even Lionel Messi (15).
It's safe to say that, without his contribution, BVB would not have been able to sustain their title challenge. From rivalling Marco Reus to be Dortmund's star man to becoming a full England international to outperforming the world's biggest names, it's safe to say that the London native became a superstar this season. Not bad for a young man yet to break out of his teens.
Serge Gnabry
Last season: Gnabry spent 2017/18 on loan at Hoffenheim, where he made 22 appearances, scored 10 goals, created a further seven and helped Julian Nagelsmann's side qualify for the UEFA Champions League. It was a decidedly successful loan spell, but questions remained as to whether Gnabry could hit the same heights when faced with the increased competition at Bayern.
This season: Gnabry has proved himself more than equal to the task. In a team containing nothing but top-quality attacking talents, Gnabry has increased his playing time - making 28 appearances - and matched his goal and assist figures from last season. Among his Bayern teammates, only goal machine Lewandowski has scored more, with 22.
Club president Uli Hoeneß described Gnabry as “the biggest surprise of the season,” in the most positive sense. The 23-year-old has now scored at least 10 goals in each of his three seasons in the Bundesliga and made himself an integral part of Joachim Löw's attack for the German national side. Bayern may have some important departures at the end of this campaign, with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben moving on, but with a player like Serge Gnabry there to step into those big shoes, the fans have little to worry about.
Kai Havertz
Last season: Having broken into the Bayer Leverkusen first team in 2016/2017, Havertz continued where he left off, with three goals and nine assists in 30 appearances. We knew he was good, but we didn't yet know how good.
This season: In 2018/19, the 19-year-old has gone from being an impressive young player to being a world-beater, full stop. The teenager has added a killer instinct to his game and with it has come a 12-goal improvement on his tally for the Bundesliga season, along with his first call-ups to the Germany national side.
Whereas in previous seasons the midfielder was a useful player to have around, this term, his is almost certainly one of the first names on the team sheet. Eight of last season's appearances came from the bench, but only once have Leverkusen risked starting a match without Havertz this season, and that ended in a 3-1 defeat to Werder Bremen. He'll end his third Bundesliga season as one of the league's best and most prolific midfielders and one of his club's most important players, all before his 20th birthday.
Ibrahima Konate
Last season: Konate arrived at RB Leipzig as an unknown quantity – an uncapped centre-back from French Ligue 2 outfit Sochaux who had only just turned 18. In the 2017/2018 season, Konate made 11 starts and a further five appearances as a substitute, but was overshadowed by compatriot Dayot Upamecano's impressive performances alongside club captain Willi Orban at the heart of Leipzig's defence.
This season: A year on, Konate has more than doubled his playing time and has started more games than both Orban and Upemecano. The only outfield player to make more starts than Konate's 27 is striker Timo Werner, with 28. With the teenager as a central cog in their defensive system, Die Roten Bullen have achieved the best defensive record in the league, conceding only 27 goals.
Konate's individual statistics are impressive, too: He has won 71 per cent of his aerial challenges, completed 83 per cent of his passes, as well as scoring one goal and creating another. Form like that has powered Leipzig into next season's Champions League, where a player of Konate's considerable talent certainly belongs.