Becoming the captain of the top european team is a huge honor, it is not enough to just wear the captain's armband and do his own thing, he must unite his troops and lead by example.
When teams go through difficult stages, they need to be able to rise above and beyond and motivate their teammates, so the captainial position is not an honor awarded to the most technically talented players in the team, but it is a spirit that gives courage to those who have the courage to face adversity and keep moving forward.
In the history of sport, almost every successful team has a great leader who is the glue of the team. Even today, there is no shortage of great captains in Europe's top leagues.
Let's take a look at the five best captains in Europe this season.
5. Ben Yeder (Monaco)
Ben Yeder is one of the most underrated strikers of his generation, and the French striker, currently captain of the Ligue 1 team Monaco, is their best player of the season.
So far this season, he has played in 48 games for Monaco, scoring 27 goals and assisting six times. Monaco are currently fourth in the Ligue 1 table, tied with Rennes but scored much lower goals and Jeder could motivate Monaco to finish third and qualify for the Champions League.
The Monaco captain has done a commendable job so far, but it would be a rather remarkable achievement if he could win a Champions League position for his side.
4. Paye (Marseille)
Paye has been one of the best performers in Ligue 1 this season, and after failing to qualify for the Champions League last season, Marseille is currently second in the league and now has just 4 games left.
As captain of Marseille, Paye led by example. The attacking midfielder has scored 16 goals and assisted 13 times in 44 games so far this season. Paye is now 35 years old, but he is still one of the best organizing players in the world.
Paye has averaged 3.8 key passes per 90 minutes this season, the most passed by any of Europe's top five leagues this season.
3. De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Fernandinho is City's preferred captain, but the Brazil international has made few appearances lately, with De Bruyne replacing him as captain this season and having a motivating effect on the team.
The Belgium international has worked tirelessly on the pitch and he has also been in very good form in recent months, with his attack and goals crucial for City this season. So far this season, De Bruyne has scored 15 goals and assisted 12 times in 40 games.
The 30-year-old scored City's only goal in a two-legged 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals. He also opened the scoring for City in the first leg of the semi-finals against Real Madrid 4-3.
De Bruyne has also scored important goals against Manchester City against Manchester United and Liverpool over the past two months and has undoubtedly played an exemplary role this season.
2. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Jordan Henderson is one of the greatest football captains of our time and is an inspirational figure for Liverpool, both on and off the field.
Not only is he a role model of hard work, but his level of play has improved a lot over the past few seasons. Since taking over the captain's armband from Gerrard in 2015, Henderson has become an iconic figure at Anfield.
He led Liverpool through some of the most successful seasons of the 21st century, and Henderson was a prime example of that period. He has already led the team to the Honour of the League Cup this season, and after beating Villarreal 2-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals, Liverpool have already taken a step forward in the Champions League final.
They also reached the final of the FA Cup and also had a huge impact on Manchester City in the Premier League competition. Henderson's leadership and tireless efforts on the pitch have been decisive factors in their success this season.
1. Benzema (Real Madrid)
Benzema has performed well as Real Madrid captain this season, having spent the most important season of his life at Real Madrid, where he is the epitome of a great captain.
Benzema has been a leading figure for Real Madrid this season and without his contribution it is hard to imagine where they would be now, because in his absence, Real Madrid look completely lost.
Benzema dragged Real Madrid almost single-handedly into the Champions League quarter-finals, scoring a hat-trick of 17 minutes in the second leg of real madrid's round of 16 with Paris. Benzema scored a hat-trick in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea.
If that wasn't enough, he also scored the winning goal for Ancelotti's side in the second leg against the Blues. He also scored two goals in the first leg of Real Madrid's 3-4 semi-final defeat to Manchester City.
Benzema has also made several rescue moves for Real Madrid in La Liga this season, scoring 41 goals and 13 assists in 41 games so far this season.