Messi steals the show in memorable February for Barcelona marvel

Manchester United and PSG each have two representatives in the WhoScored.com European team of the month, with Bundesliga giants Bayern the best-represented side in the XI with three players from the Bavarian outfit making the cut. However, it was Barcelona star Lionel Messi who earned the plaudits having put in three 10-out-of-10 performances for the defending LaLiga champions to land the player of the month accolade. 

Goalkeeper: Geronimo Rulli (Montpellier) - 8.12 rating 

Geronimo Rulli made four league appearances in February and featured in the Ligue 1 team of the week on all four occasions and the Argentine saved the best display until last as he put in a man of the match display in Montpellier's 3-0 win over Strasbourg. All in all, Rulli earned a fine average WhoScored rating of 8.12 in February with his 26 saves the third most in Europe's top five leagues last month, all the while keeping two clean sheets in his four outings. 

Right-back: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) - 7.77 rating 

Manchester United didn't concede a Premier League goal in February as they kept clean sheets in meetings with Wolves, Chelsea and Watford. Aaron Wan-Bissaka played every minute of the three Premier League matches and won the WhoScored man of the match award in the 0-0 draw with top-four rivals Wolves. He provided the assist for Anthony Martial's goal in the 2-0 win at Chelsea as Wan-Bissaka did enough to make the European team of the month with a WhoScored rating of 7.77. 

Centre-back: Harry Maguire (Manchester United) - 8.01 rating 

After being named Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire thrived with the added responsibility as his WhoScored rating (8.01) suggests. The centre-back notched his first Premier League goal for United in their 2-0 win at Chelsea, a victory he was named the man of the match in, and put in a series of solid displays at the heart of a United defence that didn't concede a league goal in February. 

Centre-back: Marcel Halstenberg (RB Leipzig) - 7.71 rating 

Switching to Germany and nominally a left-back by trade, Marcel Halstenberg has recently been deployed at centre-back by RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann and clearly to good effect. The Germany international landed a WhoScored rating of 7.71 in February as he played his part for an RB Leipzig side that kept a clean sheet in three of four matches. Halstenberg bagged his third league goal of the season in their eye catching 5-0 win at Schalke, while 13 interceptions and six tackles were both solid returns for the 28-year-old. 

Left-back: Nacho Monreal (Real Sociedad) - 7.71 rating 

The first of two LaLiga representatives is Real Sociedad's Nacho Monreal. La Real started the month poorly, but recovered commendably to secure wins over Basque rivals Athletic Club, Valencia and Real Valladolid. Monreal started the latter victories and netted in the comfortable home win over Los Che, earning his first WhoScored man of the match award of the season in the process. All in all, the 34-year-old chipped in with nine clearances, six interceptions and five tackles to yield a WhoScored rating of 7.71. 

Right midfield: Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 9.59 rating 

Lionel Messi enjoyed an unbelievable February as he had a direct hand in 10 goals across his four LaLiga outings, scoring four. The Argentine's average February (9.59) was far and away the best across Europe's top five leagues as he earned a perfect WhoScored 10 rating in three of his four league appearances. Six assists was also a fine return for the player - no player made more - as Messi rightly earned the WhoScored player of the month gong. 

Central midfield: Thiago (Bayern Munich) - 8.07 rating 

The first of three Bayern players to round off the European team of the month, Thiago kicked off February with a man of the match display in Bayern's 3-1 win at Mainz after netting in the away victory. Only three players completed more dribbles than Thiago (20) in Europe's top five leagues, who was unfortunate not to register an assist having made seven key passes last month. All in all, the Spaniard did enough to garner a WhoScored rating of 8.07. 

Central midfield: Angel Di Maria (PSG) - 7.95 rating 

Partnering Thiago in the middle of the park is PSG star Angel Di Maria. While it looked as though Di Maria would suffer due to a lack of playing time, the Argentine has been incredibly impressive for the Parisian powerhouse as no player registered more assists than the 32-year-old (6), while two goals marked a fine February for the PSG ace. No player made more key passes than Di Maria (21) in Europe's top five leagues in February with his performances enough to return a WhoScored rating of 7.95. 

Left midfield: Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich) - 8.08 rating 

Serge Gnabry's February started slowly, but he was on fire for the second half of the month. The German had a direct hand in six league goals last month, all of which came in wins over FC Koln, Paderborn and Hoffenheim, netting four times. 13 successful dribbles and 11 key passes capped an excellent month for the 21-year-old, who garnered a WhoScored rating of 8.08 in February. 

Striker: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) - 8.33 rating 

The third and final Bayern player to feature in the European team of the month, a knee injury forced Robert Lewandowski to miss the 6-0 win at Hoffenheim, but the Polish hitman was in superb goalscoring form once more as he scored four goals in four league outings, failing to net against only RB Leipzig in their top of the table clash at the Allianz Arena. Those quartet of goals came from 16 shots, while 13 aerial duels won and 12 successful dribbles contributed towards Lewandowski's notable WhoScored rating of 8.33. 

Striker: Kylian Mbappe (PSG) - 8.58 rating 

Kylian Mbappe ended February by landing his first perfect 10 WhoScored rating as the PSG sensation landed an average WhoScored rating of 8.58 last month. Mbappe had a direct hand in a goal in all but one of his five league appearances in February, totalling five goals and one assist from respective returns of 24 shots and 15 key passes. 17 additional successful dribbles helped Mbappe nail down a spot in the WhoScored European team of the month.