Alex Grimaldo has been one of the most reliable left-sided creators in European football. His Sofascore Rating trend shows steady quality at Benfica and a jump after joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Here is how his seasonal form stacks up, with the best single-match highlights that pushed him into elite numbers.

Season-by-season consistency

From 2015/16 to 2021/22 at Benfica, Grimaldo lived between 7.11 and 7.35 in Sofascore Rating. Notable years included 2015/16 at 7.35 and 2019/20 at 7.28, while 2017/18 and 2020/21 both read 7.11. He closed his Lisbon spell with 7.41 in 2022/23.

The move to Leverkusen lifted his ceiling. He posted a career-high 7.65 in 2023/24, followed by 7.41 in 2024/25. For 2025/26, he sits at 7.30 so far, which keeps him among the Bundesliga’s most effective wide men.

Top matchdays from the Sofascore database

His best single-game score came on 26 November 2024, a 5-0 win for Leverkusen over Salzburg, where he logged a Sofascore Rating of 9.8 with one goal and one assist. On 12 September 2025 he hit 9.7 in a 3-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring twice. The European stage also features, with a 9.3 in the 5-1 win vs Qarabag on 26 October 2023.

There is Benfica brilliance in there too. On 30 October 2019 he recorded a 9.2 with two assists in a 4-0 win, and on 22 April 2019 he posted 8.9 in a 6-0 league victory. Recent high notes include 9.0 at Mainz on 18 October 2025 with a brace, 9.0 in a 3-0 win on 28 January 2026 with a goal, and 9.0 with two goals vs Wolfsburg on 4 April 2026. He also produced two assists in a 2-3 game against RB Leipzig on 20 January 2024, good for 8.9.

Why the jump at Leverkusen suits him

At Leverkusen, Grimaldo has been used high on the left, which fits a left-footed player with a strong final ball. He sees plenty of touches in advanced zones and links quickly with forwards. That has translated into more goal involvements and frequent 9.0-plus outings.

The numbers align with the eye test. Leverkusen’s fluid shape brings him into the box often, while Benfica years laid the foundation with consistent 7.1–7.3 seasons. For a player listed as a midfielder/wing-back, this consistency across two clubs is rare.

2025/26 snapshot and what comes next

With a 7.30 Sofascore Rating so far, this season still features signature spikes. The 9.7 vs Frankfurt and 9.0 vs Wolfsburg underline his continued threat in the Bundesliga. Add another 9.0 in late January and he remains a go-to source of chances.

Grimaldo is 171 cm, left-footed and wearing No. 20 for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, with a proposed market value of 23 million euros. You can follow every performance and live match data on Sofascore to see whether he can chase that 7.65 benchmark again.