The UCL league stage has seen some superb encounters so far. Some top clubs putting up imperious displays and some underdog teams punching above their weight – the beauty of Europe’s elite competition. However, some players have been exceptional in the competition already and have bagged the limelight.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 performers in the UCL League Phase so far –
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky Van De Ven has been a stellar performer this season – not just in the backline but also in the attacking third.
From a defensive standpoint, in his 4 UCL games so far, Van De Ven has 23 ball recoveries, 9 tackles, 8 blocks and 3 clean sheets with only 2 goals conceded so far. Van De Ven has also scored 2 goals and has a 94.5% passing accuracy.
It’s one thing for a defender to be good on the ball, 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 him a huge asset for his team not only defensively but also having the ability to come up with big goals in important games and that’s why he makes it to this list of top performers so far.
PSG’s left-back Nuno Mendes has been one of the best, if not the best Left-back in Europe since last season. He was instrumental in PSG’s treble campaign last season and it’s no surprise that he has started on the front foot yet again.
In Luis Enrique’s system, the fullbacks Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi play relatively in a more attacking role and contribute to their team’s attacking numbers massively. They also possess the pace to track back out of possession to help the team in defence.
Nuno Mendes has all the right attributes be it in offense and defence and that has shown in his UCL stats so far. In the 4 games he has played, he has 24 ball recoveries, 11 tackles, 1 block and 100% clearance rate and conceded 5 goals. He has also scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists, had 6 attempts on goal and a pass accuracy of 90.75%.
It’s a huge blessing for a team to find a fullback who can make attacking contributions going forward and also be a robust defender against the best wingers in the world. Nuno Mendes seems to have both these qualities and he is proving it again in the UCL this season.
Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Barcelona in the summer came as a surprise to many football fans all over the world. A lot of the Barca fans also questioned his signing but the English winger has been a revelation for the Blaugrana so far, especially in the UCL.
Even though Barcelona haven’t replicated last season’s high-flying form, destroying teams with their attacking play, Rashford has provided the numbers that have helped them massively. In 4 UCL games, Rashford has 4 goals and an assist. The English winger had 80% passing accuracy and made 17 attempts on goal. His performances in LaLiga have been admirable as well even though Barca is struggling there too.
On loan and playing in a different league isn’t easy but Rashford has adjusted well to life in Spain with consistent performances, making him one of the top performers in the UCL so far.
Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world and him being a part of this list could hardly be termed as a surprise as he consistently keeps his side in the game with incredible saves.
Even in their recent fixture against Liverpool, Courtois singlehandedly kept Los Blancos in the game, making 9 saves in the game. Even though Real Madrid lost narrowly, the scoreline wasn’t a true reflection of their performance and their tall goalkeeper saved them the blushes.
In the UCL so far, Courtois has conceded only two goals and made 22 saves in four games. He has 7 claims, 3 high claims and a 100% clearance completion. Time and time again, Real Madrid’s talismanic goalkeeper has produced match winning performances and kept the opposition at bay and this season has been no different.
Arsenal has been one of the standout teams in Europe this season. They are not only the league leaders by a distance in the Premier League but also second in the UCL League phase table on Goal Difference. However, the mind-boggling stat here is their defensive record – Arsenal is yet to concede a goal in the UCL after having played four games and that can be attributed to their defensive backline with their Brazilian centre-back contributing with his consistent performances.
In the four games so far, Gabriel has made 20 ball recoveries, 4 tackles, 7 blocks, 4 clean sheets and has 88.25% passing accuracy. He has also scored a goal and provided an assist with four attempts on goal. Even though many other players might have better stats than Gabriel, Arsenal’s superb defensive record and a 100% win record is a major reason for him being placed in this list.
Arsenal is a major contender for the UCL title this season as they have a well-balanced squad who are not letting in goals at all, if Gabriel and Saliba continue to boss the backline, they have a great chance to go all the way.
Liverpool’s recent form has been a source of worry for the club and their fanbase but if one player has stood out in a difficult season, it’s their Hungarian midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai. However, the Reds are getting back to winning ways after a torrid month and recently stunned LaLiga giants Real Madrid at Anfield.
Though Liverpool have fared much better in the UCL as compared to their struggles in the Premier League with the Reds having 3 wins and a loss in their 4 league phase games so far and Szoboszlai has been the heart of their performances with goals and assists.
So far, the Hungarian midfielder has provided 3 assists and scored a goal with 90.5% passing accuracy and 11 total attempts on goal. Szoboszlai is having a fabulous season so far and if he continues to run the show in this Liverpool midfield, the Reds could definitely go far in the tournament.
Since his move to the German Bundesliga last season, Michael Olise has reached new heights. Everyone could see he had massive talent but he has truly realised his potential through consistently top-class performances at Bayern Munich.
Olise has been a creative force for Bayern not just in the League but also the UCL. He troubles opponents with his pace and guile, loves to take on defenders and provide assists and goals for his club. So far this season, Olise has played 4 UCL games for Bayern and bagged 4 assists and a goal so far. He has a pass accuracy of 84% and 15 total attempts on goal.
If Olise keeps performing at this level, Bayern could very well be one of the contenders for the coveted UCL trophy come end of season. Olise is already attracting a lot of interest from top Premier League clubs and a possible return to the PL could be on the cards next season.
Victor Osimhen was at the middle of a transfer storm in the summer as many clubs were vying for the Nigerian striker’s signature. However, the former Napoli striker decided to stay put at Turkish club Galatasaray, confirming a loan into a permanent transfer this summer.
Victor Osimhen has had an exceptional start to the UCL season. As a result, Galatasaray has been a revelation in the UCL so far winning 3 games and losing one. They even upset English Champions Liverpool at home. Osimhen is currently the UCL top-scorer with 6 goals in 3 games. He has 3 non-penalty goals with 18 attempts on goal.
Though his Super Lig form hasn’t been that consistent, the Nigerian forward has come alive in the UCL and if he continues his rich vein of form, the Turkish giants could very well be on course to qualify for the knockouts alongside Europe’s elite.
Manchester City’s Norwegian striker is having a stellar season so far, having scored 18 goals in all competitions for the Cityzens.
Having played 4 UCL games until now, Haaland has scored 5 goals, has 16 attempted shots on goal and all 5 goals being non-penalty goals. The tall Norwegian has been at the heart of the Man City attack, leading the line almost singlehandedly as a few of the Man City forwards are either injured or struggling.
It’s due to Haaland’s lethal finishing in front of goal that Man City has 3 wins and a draw from their first four UCL league games. The Norwegian has been inevitable so far, scoring in almost every game and could very well end up as the top scorer in the UCL if Man City go deep in the tournament.
Harry Kane has long been considered one of the best centre-forwards in world football. The English forward’s consistent performances year after year has been absolutely incredible.
He continues to rule even at Bayern Munich and has started this season in sensational form yet again. Kane has helped his team to four wins out of four in the UCL, scoring 5 goals in four games, total 17 attempts on goal with 4 non-penalty goals. Bayern Munich has even beaten English giants Chelsea and the defending champions PSG away from home so far.
Harry Kane has been at the centre of Bayern Munich’s attacking moves this season and with his excellent all-round play upfront, he has been the difference maker for the Bavarians who are the current table-toppers in the UCL League phase so far. Also, wIth Kane in deadly form, Bayern are definitely one of the top contenders for the UCL title this season.
Welsh football club Wrexham AFC have announced a new multi-year partnership with match-worn and signed…
Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants have announced a new multi-year partnership with…
The Audi Formula One Team, who will join the Formula One grid from the 2026…
India had the ODI series against South Africa at home in their hands, especially after…
After an incredible start to the Ashes 2025/26 series which saw hosts Australia stomp England…
Italian Formula One team Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) have announced that British driver…