The Champions League is full to the brim with extraordinarily talented footballers plying their trade for the biggest clubs on the planet. Real Madrid have five world-class players, including Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois. Liverpool can boast four players of similar quality, such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
The pinnacle of European football, the Champions League , homes just the greatest teams on earth. Real Madrid are the competition’s record winners with 15 titles, while AC Milan are second with a septet of titles. Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga and the Premier League’s Liverpool both boast six, respectively.
Ahead of the continent’s most prestigious competition getting underway this week, how many players, that can be considered to be world-class, will be plying their trade in this season’s instalment? The number of points clubs will likely need to qualify from the group phase of the 2024/25 Champions League has been revealed. From Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka to Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid to Manchester City’s usual suspects of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland , let’s take a look at the array of world-class players - taking the following ranking factors into consideration - who are set to grace the Champions League this term. Importance to their respective teams Where they rank in their position (top five) Goals & Assists Clean sheets (goalkeeper-centric) Notable performances during their careers Other key statistics Real Madrid - Five As the reigning champions of Europe’s top table, Real Madrid – and Carlo Ancelotti, in particular - have a plethora of world-class stars at their disposal, including the likes of Bellingham.
The imperious Englishman, 21, has everything in abundance, from his potency to his ability to make evading pressure look simple. Between the posts for Los Blancos is Belgian Thibaut Courtois who, thanks to his long and storied career with the Spanish giants, can be considered to be one of the best shot-stoppers in world football – and he has been for a few years now. From an attacking perspective, Ancelotti and his entourage have some of the best forwards in world football at their disposal – most notably, Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe , who will be looking to win his maiden Champions League this term.
They also boast Antonio Rudiger at the heart of their defence. For years now, the imposing German has been recognised as one of the best defenders thanks to his deceptive pace and stubborn approach to the forgotten aspect of the beautiful game: defending. Real Madrid World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Jude Bellingham 34 10 10 7/0 Antonio Rudiger 56 2 5 4/0 Vinicius Jr 56 21 22 7/0 Kylian Mbappe 73 48 26 5/0 Player Matches Goals Conceded Clean Sheets Yellow/Red Cards Thibaut Courtois 76 88 29 2/0 Manchester City - Four Manchester City, after dominating the English top flight, finally got their hands on the Champions League in their 2022/23 treble-winning campaign thanks to the likes of Rodri, Phil Foden , Haaland and De Bruyne – a quartet of players that are some of the best in world football.
Everyone is well aware of Haaland’s exploits in front of goal, but how he has started this season – nine goals in four appearances – just proves his unrivalled presence in front of goal, one that makes him a never-seen-before asset. Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah are all in the top 20 best players in the Premier League. Though, if it wasn’t for Kevin De Bruyne, who’d know if the Norwegian talisman would be as fruitful in the six-yard box? The ex-Chelsea prospect, widely considered to be one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history , is unmatched in terms of his talent.
Foden, the 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Season, and Rodri complete Pep Guardiola’s quartet of stars who can be considered as ‘world-class’ with them both considered to be two of world football’s best players. Man City World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Rodri 56 3 3 8/0 Phil Foden 52 15 11 2/1 Erling Haaland 39 41 5 5/0 Kevin De Bruyne 72 16 28 13/0 Liverpool - Four The Champions League felt odd without having Liverpool, one of the competition’s most fruitful assets, competing last season, especially with their plethora of talent. Mohamed Salah ’s output has continued to defy the odds as he trundles towards his contract expiry and will be imperative to Arne Slot’s maiden European campaign with the Reds.
As will Virgil van Dijk , Liverpool’s captain, who is back to his best after a dip in form previously. The man mountain, 33, has forged quite a brilliant relationship with vice skipper Trent Alexander-Arnold, who can also be considered ‘world-class’. To have Alisson Becker, arguably world football's best goalkeeper , between the sticks is just the luck of the draw.
The Brazilian may fall short with the ball-playing aspect of his game but when it comes to shot-stopping? No one can rival the seasoned glovesman. Liverpool World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Virgil van Dijk 49 2 3 8/0 Mohamed Salah 79 44 15 1/0 Trent Alexander-Arnold 52 2 12 9/0 Player Matches Goals Conceded Clean Sheets Yellow/Red Cards Alisson Becker 58 66 24 0/0 Bayern Munich - Three Goalscoring is the game and Harry Kane is the name. There are not many managers in world football that would turn their nose up at having the Englishman leading their line, given how fruitful he is in and around the six-yard box – so much so that the challenge of joining Bayern Munich has been something that has seen him thrive.
Threading the ball into the path of Kane is Jamal Musiala . A dribbling monster, the young German has been one of his employers’ best players since emerging from the Bavarian youth set-up and continues to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing footballers to watch. The most gifted young footballers on the planet have been ranked in order.
At the back, Bayern Munich only boast the solitary world-class player: Alphonso Davies . Regarded as one of the greatest Canadian players in football history , the 23-year-old is absolutely rapid and likes to showcase his raw speed up the left flank. He’s also resolute defensively.
Bayern Munich World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Harry Kane 44 29 9 5/0 Jamal Musiala 34 4 4 1/0 Alphonso Davies 40 1 8 6/0 Arsenal - Three Arsenal have become a dominant force in the Premier League and are looking to do the same on the European stage. Mikel Arteta , in his quest for success in terms of silverware, has plenty of bonafide stars at his disposal, including Hale End graduate Bukayo Saka . What makes the Englishman so integral to the Gunners is his availability record.
Hardly ever injured, the Emirates fan favourite often lifts bums off seats with his tenacious running, willingness to get stuck in and favourable return in the final third, whether that be shooting on goal or teeing up a teammate. Including Robert Pires and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal have had a plethora of legendary wingers over the years. Declan Rice and William Saliba can also be lauded as world-class thanks to their part in Arsenal’s title-chasing campaign last time out.
The pair, albeit in the infancy of their careers, are two of the best players in their respective positions and are destined to go from strength to strength in the coming years. Man City World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Declan Rice 10 0 1 2/0 Bukayo Saka 9 4 4 0/0 William Saliba 10 0 0 1/0 Aston Villa - One Upon their return to the Champions League, Aston Villa will be counting their lucky stars that they have someone of Emiliano Martinez ’s ilk standing between the posts. A large-statured figure, the one-time World Cup winner’s shot-stopping ability cannot be ignored, neither can his position as one of the biggest wind-up merchants.
Unai Emery, as his side embark on a new challenge, will be looking in the direction of the 47-cap Argentina international to drag them through some of the tougher fixtures as the ex-Arsenal man, 32, has the experience and know-how of playing on football’s biggest and most-intense stages. Can Martinez guide Villa through to the Round of 16? Aston Villa World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Conceded Clean Sheets Yellow/Red Cards Emiliano Martinez 2 1 1 0/0 Barcelona - One Aside from his mesmerising talent on the pitch, what makes Lamine Yamal such a special footballer is his age. The youngster took the world by storm last term, setting a plethora of age-based records, and his red-hot form transcended into Euro 2024 , where he shone for winners Spain.
Yamal, a 2007-born star, is currently La Liga’s fiercest threat in front of goal with his return of seven goals and assists seeing him top the Spanish top flight’s charts. Quick, direct and intelligent – the Spaniard has all the tools to become one of football’s leading lights. GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Yamal is the youngest scorer in La Liga history – aged just 16 years and 87 days old.
Long gone are the days of a fresh-faced Lionel Messi dancing through opposition in Barcelona colours – but fear not, Yamal has taken on the mantle and his numbers speak volumes of his unrivalled talent. Barcelona World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Lamine Yamal 10 0 2 2/0 Inter Milan - One Of the most potent centre forwards in world football, there are not many who can mimic the in-front-of-goal exploits of Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez , who has also shone for Argentina over the years. Long gone are the days when the likes of Javier Zanetti and Ronaldo Nazario – two true icons of the beautiful game – were plying their trade for the Nerazzurri as the talent in the Italian capital has dwindled over the past decade or so.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe all feature in the top 15 strikers in world football. Martinez, 27, remains a tenacious presence in his side’s attacking constellation – and has proven his potency in front of goal with 129 strikes in the Argentine’s 284 games for his Serie A employers, who have struggled in recent seasons. Inter Milan World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Lautaro Martinez 44 12 5 10/0 AC Milan - One From a time when AC Milan was one of the most imperious forces on the European stage, now comes a time when only Theo Hernandez , a left-back who emerged from Atletico Madrid’s academy ranks, is considered to be one of the best in his position.
A 34-cap France international, the one-time Champions League winner with Los Blancos possesses the perfect blend of sheer pace, technical flexibility and raw talent that makes him a nuisance to play against. Widely regarded as one of the best players currently earning their corn in the Serie A , there are not many left-sided defenders that can mimic his work rate, as he provides the Rossoneri with everything required of what fans like to call 'a modern full-back'. AC Milan World-Class Players - Champions League Stats Player Matches Goals Assists Yellow/Red Cards Theo Hernandez 25 0 5 4/0 Statistics are courtesy of Transfermarkt .
Correct as of 17-09-24..
