THIS season’s Champions League campaign has had more games than ever before, making it easier than ever to evaluate which players are built for this level.
The new League Phase format has lead us to some thrilling underdog stories, and huge upsets (see Manchester City’s early exit).
Let’s take a look at the top performing players so far, and to make it easier we’ll only include players from the 16 remaining clubs!
Goalkeeper – Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa
Aston Villa are one of the success stories of this campaign, qualifying through the top eight of the league phase and now sit on the brink of quarter-final football.
Their goalkeeper, two time Yashin Trophy winner Emiliano Martinez, has an 83% save percentage in the Champions League this season, conceding only 7 of the 41 shots on targets he’s faced.
The Argentine has also kept four clean sheets.
Right-Back – Achraf Hakimi, PSG
Acraf Hakimi has five assists in this Champions League campaign, the joint highest in the competition so far.
He has been a big part of the attack and defence, with superb athleticism and chance creation.
Centre-Back – Marquinhos, PSG
Marquinhos has been one of the best defenders in the world for years, but is still yet to win the competition during his 11 years in Paris.
PSG, captained by the Brazilian, have been brilliant this season, but are on the brink of elimination after losing at home to Liverpool.
This season, Marquinhos has the most balls recovered in the Champions League this season with 83.
Centre-Back – Stefan de Vrij, Inter
A 2024/25 Champions League team of the season so far would be incomplete without at least one Inter defender.
They have eight clean sheets in nine games, which is just stupidly good at this level.
Stefan de Vrij played in seven of those games, captaining two.
Left-Back – Grimaldo, Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso’s system allows the wingbacks to flourish, and Grimaldo has arguably been the best left back in the world since his appointment in 2022.
The flying wing back gets in so many dangerous positions, scoring two goals this European campaign.
Defensive-Midfield – Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch has arguably been the most improved player in Europe this season, but is now one of the best midfielders in the world at just 22 years-old.
He has been superb in possession and ultra-disciplined in the middle of the park, only picking up one yellow card in the competition, impressive for a defensive midfielder.
Centre-Midfield – Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool
Two goals, six interceptions, seven clearances, and fifteen tackles, those are the stats of a man who’s been working in the engine room of the top performing club in Europe this season.
Mohammed Salah’s goals has been the main talking point of this Liverpool team, but the partnership of Mac Allister and Gravenberch are arguably just as important.
Attacking-Midfield – Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz is one of the best players in the world at only 21- years old, making me sat at the same age writing this article, very jealous.
He has six goals in nine games in Europe this season, and is heavily linked by Bayern Munich in a transfer that will surely cost them 100 million plus.
Right-Wing – Raphinha, Barcelona
Raphinha has the second-most goals in the Champions League this season with nine, and the joint-most assists with five goals.
The former Leeds man has had a season no-one expected and is performing at a world-class and almost Ballon d’Or worthy level.
Left-Wing – Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior is one of the most spoken about players in the world, from his theatrics on the pitch to his famous Ballon d’Or drama, but its hard to deny he’s a special, special player.
He’s already scored two goals in Champions League finals.
That is the same as Lionel Messi, by the way.
Striker – Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund
Up top I’ve gone with the obvious choice, the outright top scorer Serhou Guirassy.
He’s got ten goals this season in the Champions League this season in only nine starts!
