AI DNA Similarity
Best Alternatives to Linton Maina
Players most similar to Linton Maina (Attacker, €3.0M) — ranked by AI DNA similarity score across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
Top 3 Alternatives to Linton Maina
- 1.Ritsu Doan85% DNA match·Eintracht Frankfurt€20.0M
- 2.Yan Diomande85% DNA match·RB Leipzig€45.0M
- 3.Samuel Essende84% DNA match·FC Augsburg€3.5M
Ranked by AI DNA similarity — 768 dimensions across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit.
RT
Intelligence Verdict
Ball RecoveriesTop 14%
???Bottom 0%
“A Forward....”
See Full Verdict + Share Card →Playing Style Analysis
Small Sample
A Forward. Statistically, he stands out as an elite creator (1.5 key passes/90) and creates high-quality scoring opportunities (0.70 big chances/90). Note: this profile is based on 766 minutes of playing time this season. The three most similar players to Linton Maina by playing style are:
- Ritsu Doan(85% match) — A Forward. Statistically, he stands out as naturally left-footed, an elite creator (1.6 key passes/90), a prolific assist provider (0.33 assists/90) and creates high-quality scoring opportunities (0.66 big chances/90). However, he loses possession under pressure (2.1 dispossessed/90).
- Yan Diomande(85% match) — A Inside Forward. Statistically, he stands out as an elite creator (2.1 key passes/90), a proven goalscorer (0.41 goals/90), a prolific assist provider (0.28 assists/90), a dynamic dribbler (4.2/90) and creates high-quality scoring opportunities (0.55 big chances/90). However, he loses possession under pressure (2.4 dispossessed/90).
- Samuel Essende(84% match) — Essende is the Bundesliga’s most industrious physical anomaly, a Tier C striker who operates with the progressive vision of a deep-lying playmaker and the shot volume of a Golden Boot contender. Averaging 3.81 shots per 90, he sits in the league’s elite top 10%, yet his true value lies in his startling ability to move the needle from deep; his 2.69 passes into the final third place him in the top decile of all forwards. The counterintuitive insight here is that despite his 3.12 aerial wins per 90—a top 30% figure—he is less a traditional target man and more a high-value ball-winner, ranking in the top 20% for tackles won.
Transfer Intelligence
Ritsu Doan delivers 85% of the same playing style, at a 567% premium over Linton Maina, with 0.10 goals per 90 at age 27. That's 29% of Linton Maina's output in goals per 90 — a credible like-for-like option.
Similarity is calculated using per-90 performance data across multiple playing style dimensions. How Player DNA matching works →
Similar Players — Ranked by DNA Similarity
#1
R
Ritsu Doan
Eintracht Frankfurt · Bundesliga
Japan27yContract 2030
G/900.10
A/900.30
Small Sample
Last 5: ↓ Dipvs Maina: €17M more expensive · -0.24 G/90
85% match
€20.0M
#2
Y
Yan Diomande
RB Leipzig · Bundesliga
Ivory Coast19yContract 2030
G/900.16
A/900.64
Inside ForwardProlific
Last 5: ↓ Dipvs Maina: €42M more expensive · 7y younger · -0.18 G/90
85% match
€45.0M
#3
S
Samuel Essende
FC Augsburg · Bundesliga
France28yContract 2028
G/900.27
A/900.00
Target Man
Last 5: ↓ Dipvs Maina: 2y older · -0.07 G/90
84% match
€3.5M
#4
T
Tidiam Gomis
RB Leipzig · Bundesliga
France19yContract 2029
G/900.29
A/900.00
Dynamic ForwardDribbler
84% match
€3.0M
#5
E
Eliesse Ben Seghir
Bayer 04 Leverkusen · Bundesliga
Morocco21yContract 2030
G/900.00
A/900.00
Inside Forward
84% match
€24.0M
#6
J
Justin Njinmah
Werder Bremen · Bundesliga
Germany25yContract 2027
G/900.33
A/900.00
Complete ForwardSmall Sample
85% match
€7.0M
#7
M
Martijn Kaars
St. Pauli · Bundesliga
Netherlands27y
G/900.00
A/900.17
Complete Forward
84% match
€4.0M
#8
J
Jean-Luc Dompé
Hamburger SV · Bundesliga
France30yContract 2027
G/900.18
A/900.00
Dynamic ForwardDribbler
85% match
€3.5M
#9
F
Franck Honorat
Borussia Mönchengladbach · Bundesliga
France29yContract 2029
G/900.00
A/900.41
85% match
€12.0M
#10
I
Ismaël Gharbi
FC Augsburg · Bundesliga
Spain22yContract 2026
G/900.34
A/900.25
Inside Forward
84% match
€7.0M
#11
C
Chris Führich
VfB Stuttgart · Bundesliga
Germany28yContract 2028
G/900.00
A/900.20
Link-up StrikerProlific
84% match
€10.0M
#12
S
Said El Mala
FC Köln · Bundesliga
Germany19yContract 2030
G/900.75
A/900.00
Inside ForwardProlific
84% match
€40.0M
⬡
Ask AI: Why are these players similar?
Our 768-dimension Player DNA model matches playing style, physical profile, pressing intensity, and tactical fit. Ask the AI to explain exactly what makes these players statistically similar to Linton Maina.
Ask AI about Linton Maina →Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the best alternatives to Linton Maina?▼
The top alternatives to Linton Maina based on AI DNA playing style analysis include: Ritsu Doan, Yan Diomande, Samuel Essende, Tidiam Gomis, Eliesse Ben Seghir. These players were matched using Rising Transfers' 768-dimension DNA model across playing style, pressing intensity, and tactical fit — not just position or market value.
Which players are similar to Linton Maina in 2026?▼
Players with a similar profile to Linton Maina in 2026 include Ritsu Doan (€20.0M), Yan Diomande (€45.0M), Samuel Essende (€3.5M). For a deeper DNA-level comparison including playing style, physical attributes, and tactical fit, ask Rising Transfers' AI directly.
What position does Linton Maina play and who plays similarly?▼
Linton Maina plays as a Attacker. Players with a comparable positional profile include Ritsu Doan (Japan, €20.0M); Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast, €45.0M); Samuel Essende (France, €3.5M); Tidiam Gomis (France, €3.0M).
How does Rising Transfers find similar players?▼
Rising Transfers uses a proprietary 768-dimension Player DNA model trained on 3.2 million match events. Each player is represented as a vector across 35+ per-90 metrics including pressing intensity, passing footprint, dribbling profile, and defensive contribution. Similarity is measured using cosine distance — the same technique used in state-of-the-art AI systems — making it the most precise player comparison tool available publicly.