UCL 2025/26: Top 10 performers of the league phase so far
The league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League season has seen some superb encounters so far. Some top teams have put up imperious displays, while some underdog sides have punched above their weight.
A fair few players have been exceptional and already bagged the limelight with some memorable displays. Here, we look at ten best players of the competition thus far.
10. Micky van de Ven
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has been a stellar performer this season not just at the back, but also in the attacking third.
From a defensive standpoint, in four Champions League games so far, the Dutchman has made 23 ball recoveries, nine tackles, eight blocks, and helped the side keep three clean sheets with only two goals conceded. He has also scored two goals and maintained a 94.5% passing accuracy.
It’s one thing for a defender to be good on the ball, and quite another to run with the ball the entire length of the pitch and score a goal, like he did in Spurs’ last game against Copenhagen. Skills like that make Van de Ven a huge asset for his team. He’s not only defensively reliable, but also showcasing that he can come up with big goals in important games and be relied upon on the other end of the pitch.
9. Nuno Mendes
Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes has been one of the best — if not the best — left-backs in Europe since last season. He was instrumental in PSG’s treble-winning campaign last season and has unsurprisingly started on the front foot again this time round.
In Luis Enrique’s system, the fullbacks — Nuno Mendes on the left, and Achraf Hakimi on the right being the first-choice operators — play a more attacking role compared to their counterparts. Both also possess the pace to track back out of possession to help the team in defence.
Mendes possesses all the right attributes, be it in offence or defence, which has been on display once again this season. In the four Champions League games he has played thus far, he has made 24 ball recoveries, 11 tackles, one block, and maintained a 100% clearance rate while helping his side concede just five times in the competition. He has also scored two goals and provided two assists, registering six attempts on goal and maintaining a pass accuracy of 90.75%.
It’s a huge blessing for a team to find a fullback like Mendes who can make attacking contributions going forward and be a robust defender against the best wingers in the world, and the Portugal international has all the right qualities in abundance, despite being just 23 years old.
8. Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford’s season-long loan move to Barcelona in the summer came as a surprise to many, and even some Barça fans questioned his signing. But the English winger has been a revelation for the Blaugrana so far, especially in the Champions League.
Even though Barça haven’t yet replicated last season’s high-flying form, which saw them destroying teams with their attacking play, Rashford has provided the numbers that have helped them massively. In four Champions League games, he has registered four goals and an assist, maintaining an 80% passing accuracy with 17 attempts on goal. His performances in LaLiga have been admirable as well, even though Barça seem to be struggling a bit domestically.
Playing in a different league isn’t easy, especially on loan, but Rashford has adjusted well to life in Spain with consistent performances, making a strong case for why Barça may want to keep him for good.
7. Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid’s Belgian stalwart is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and it’s hardly a surprise that he has been performing consistently between the sticks again this season.
Even in their recent fixture against Liverpool, Courtois single-handedly kept Los Blancos in the game, making nine saves in total. Even though Real Madrid lost narrowly, the score line wasn’t a true reflection of their performance, and their veteran keeper further saved them the blushes.
In the Champions League so far, Courtois has conceded only two goals and made 22 saves in four games. He has made seven claims, three high claims, and maintained a 100% clearance completion rate. Time and time again, the talismanic keeper produces match-winning performances and keeps the opposition at bay; this season has been no different.
6. Gabriel Magalhães
Arsenal have been one of the standout teams in Europe this season. Not only are they leading the Premier League by a distance, they’re also second in the UCL table, that too on goal difference.
However, the mind-boggling stat here is their defensive record. The Gunners are yet to concede a goal in Europe after four games, and that can be attributed to their defence, with their Brazilian centre-back contributing with consistent performances.
In the four games he has played, Gabriel has made 20 ball recoveries, four tackles, and seven blocks, having maintained an 88.25% passing accuracy, while helping his side keep four clean sheets. He has also scored one goal and provided an assist, having managed four attempts on goal. Even though other players might have better stats than Gabriel, Arsenal’s superb defensive record and a 100% win record can primarily be attributed to his presence at the back.
Arsenal are major contenders for the UCL title this season, boasting a well-balanced squad that has not yet conceded a goal in the competition. If Gabriel and his centre-back partner, William Saliba, continue to lead the defence, last season’s semi-finalists will stand a great chance to go all the way this time.
5. Dominik Szoboszlai
Liverpool’s recent form has been a source of worry for the club and their fan base, but if there’s one player who has stood out in a difficult season, it’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
Slowly, the Reds seem to be getting back to winning ways after a torrid month, having recently stunned LaLiga giants Real Madrid at Anfield. That said, Liverpool have fared much better in the Champions League as compared to their domestic struggles with three wins and a loss in their four European outings. And their Hungarian midfielder has been the heart of their performances with goals and assists.
So far, Szoboszlai has provided three assists and scored a goal in the Champions League with a 90.5% passing accuracy and 11 total attempts on goal. So far, the 25-year-old has had a fabulous season on an individual level so far, and if he continues to run the show in midfield, Arne Slot’s men could definitely go far in the tournament.
4. Michael Olise
Since his move to the German Bundesliga last season, Michael Olise has reached new heights. Everyone could see that he had massive talent when he was representing Crystal Palace, but the Frenchman is now truly realising his potential through consistently top-class performances for Bayern Munich.
Olise has been a creative force for the Bavarians not just in the Bundesliga but also the Champions League. He troubles opponents with his pace and guile, loves to take on defenders, and gets directly involved with goals and assists.
So far this season, Olise has played four Champions League games and bagged four assists and a goal, while maintaining a pass accuracy of 84% with 15 total attempts on goal. If Olise keeps performing at this level, Bayern could very well clinch the coveted Big Ears this time round.
3. Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen was at the centre of a transfer storm in the summer, with many clubs vying for the Nigerian striker’s signature. However, he decided to extend his stay at Galatasaray.
The 26-year-old has had an exceptional start to the Champions League season, which has helped Galatasaray prove to be quite the revelation with three wins and a defeat, even upsetting Liverpool at home. Osimhen is currently the top scorer in the competition with six goals in three games, three of them being non-penalty goals on the back of 18 total attempts on goal.
While his Süper Lig form hasn’t been that prolific, his Champions League exploits will give the Turkish giants a lot of confidence going into the second half of the season, both in terms of their hopes of retaining the Turkish league title as well as going deep in the Champions League.
2. Erling Haaland
Manchester City’s talismanic Norwegian is having a stellar season so far, having scored 18 goals in all competitions.
In his four Champions League outings, Haaland has scored five times, all of them being non-penalty goals, having made 16 shots on goal. At the heart of the City attack, he has been leading the line almost single-handedly, with a fair few City forwards either injured or struggling with form.
It’s due to Haaland’s lethal finishing that the Cityzens have three wins and a draw from their first four UCL games. If he continues in this manner, he could very well end up as the top scorer in the Champions League, taking his team deep in the tournament.
1. Harry Kane
Harry Kane has long been considered one of the best centre-forwards in world football, with his consistent performances year after year having been absolutely incredible. He continues to rule at Bayern, having hardly put a foot wrong ever since his move a little over two years ago.
This season, the veteran Englishman has helped his team to four wins in four in Europe, having scored five times off 17 attempts on goal, four of them being non-penalty goals. The Bavarians have even beaten English giants Chelsea and defending champions PSG away from home in this campaign.
Harry Kane is at the centre of Bayern’s attacking moves, and with his excellent all-round play he’s the inevitable difference maker for the Champions League and Bundesliga table-toppers. His deadly form makes Bayern strong contenders for European glory this season.
