Mohamed Salah misses out on the statistical best XI from Europe's top 5 leagues

Over the next two weeks, European football will wind down and attentions will turn to the World Cup.

It's been an eventful campaign across the continent with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Juventus and Bayern Munich emerging as champions of the top five leagues.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Liverpool are primed to battle it out for the Champions League crown under the lights of Kiev on May 26.

The blockbuster clash will see two of this season's finest players lock horns - Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.

Despite a difficult start to the 2017-18 term, Ronaldo has come into his own since the turn of the year and boasts an impressive record of 43 goals in just 42 appearances.

Best European XI based on stats

Then there's Salah who has blown supporters away with his debut season at Anfield, putting himself into Ballon d'Or contention with 43 goals across 50 outings.

As a result, almost everybody would put the mercurial Egyptian in their European top 5 league XI for this season and with good reason at that.

Well, there's a catch because, statistically speaking, it seems he shouldn't make the cut at all.

That's according to WhoScored.com who have crunched every number at their disposal to compile the finest XI from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 based on stats.

Take a look at the team below:

GK - Alisson

Average rating: 7.0

Constantly linked with a Liverpool switch, Alisson has beaten David de Gea to the number one spot in this talent-stacked European XI.

RB - Dani Alves

Average rating: 7.4

The most decorated player in history, it seems Alves is incapable of slowing down and has enjoyed a brilliant debut season with PSG.

CB - Naldo

Average rating: 7.4

Naldo has been a rock for Schalke 04 this season as the Gelsenkirchen-based side came the closest to hunting down Bayern Munich. Still doing the business at age 35.

CB - Salif Sane

Average rating: 7.4

Another Bundesliga centre-back has made the cut with Sane enjoying a brilliant season despite Hannover finishing a lowly 13th.

LB - Aleksandar Kolarov

Average rating: 7.5

The former Manchester City left-back has been a superb asset to Roma since the summer and particularly impressed during his new club's unexpected Champions League run.

RM - Florian Thauvin

Average rating: 7.9

Well, this is awkward. The former Newcastle United flop has enjoyed a sensational year with Marseille and, given WhoScored.com's formation, is the man to oust Salah who produced an average rating of 7.7.

CM - Eden Hazard

Average rating: 7.7

We'll skate over the fact Hazard isn't a central midfielder, but it's been another impressive season for Hazard with 16 goals and seven assists.

CM - Kevin De Bruyne

Average rating: 7.8

De Bruyne missed out to Salah for the PFA Player of the Year Award this season yet it seems the Belgian gets the nod as far as statistics are concerned.

LM - Neymar

Average rating: 9.0

With the highest average rating in the entire team, it would be fair to say Neymar has justified his world record fee since moving to the Parc des Princes last summer.

ST - Lionel Messi

Average rating: 8.7

Who else? It's been another season of sheer brilliance from Messi and barring a massive swing over the weekend, the European Golden Boot has his name on it.

ST - Cristiano Ronaldo

Average rating: 8.0

Nobody would have seen this man making the cut at the start of the season. Ronaldo is Ronaldo, though, and his form in 2018 more than justifies his place in the side.