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The 2021-22 UEFA Champions League kicked-off this week as top clubs around Europe look to compete for the ultimate prize.
Current holders Chelsea clinched the trophy last season after beating Manchester City in the final. They have strengthened their squad with the addition of Romelu Lukaku and are definitely among contenders to win it this term. Manchester United have brought in Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane but the biggest addition is that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned to Old Trafford after 12 years.
Liverpool will also be looking to once again challenge for the UEFA Champions League this season after the return of Virgil van Dijk and other defenders from injury.
But the biggest favorites will arguably be PSG, who have a star-studded squad, adding the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi.
Most Valuable XI in the UEFA Champions League
Several global superstars are playing in the UEFA Champions League this season. Here we take a look at the most valuable XI that are plying their trade in the UEFA Champions League this season. A traditional 4-4-2 formation has been selected while making the list.
(Note: All values as per Transfermarkt)
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) - €70 million
Atletico Madrid's exceptional custodian Jan Oblak is the most valuable goalkeeper in the UEFA Champions League right now. He is valued at €70 million in the current market.
The 28-year-old has been performing at an exceptional level for the last few years consistently and is currently at his peak years as a goalkeeper.
Since joining Atletico Madrid, the Slovenian has become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe and is arguably the best in La Liga right now. He has kept 160 clean sheets in 307 matches for Atletico Madrid in all competitions.
Oblak has won the Ricardo Zamorra award awarded to the best goalkeeper in La Liga five times, including winning it for four consecutive years between 2015 and 2019. He was also named La Liga's Player of the Season after guiding Atletico to the 2020-21 La Liga title.
In the UEFA Champions League, Oblak has kept 29 clean sheets in 59 appearances, although he has been unable to get his hands on the trophy.
Atletico are in a tough Champions League group this season alongside Liverpool, AC Milan and FC Porto. But Los Rojiblancos will be hoping that their goalkeeping custodian can help them progress further in the competition.
Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus) - €75 million
One of the best young centre-backs in the world, Matthijs de Ligt is considered a future superstar of the game.
De Ligt burst onto the scene with his boyhood club Ajax and was sensational for them during their 2018-19 UEFA Champions League semi-final run. As such, he attracted a lot of interest from many big clubs but the Netherlands international decided to join Juventus in 2019.
De Ligt has been a key part of Juventus' backline since his arrival, with the 21-year-old winning Serie A in his first season at the club. Although he struggled last season, his stock has continued to rise. He will definitely be looking to put in a much improved performance for the Bianconeri this season as they look to compete for the UEFA Champions League.
Centre-back: Ruben Dias (Manchester City) - €75 million
A lot of eyebrows were raised when Manchester City snapped up Ruben Dias from Benfica for €68 million last season. Dias had done well at Benfica, but there were doubts whether he could replicate that success in the Premier League.
A year later and the Portugal international is regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world.
He was a mainstay in City's defense last season, playing 55 games for the club and playing a key part in their Premier League title win. He also played a major role in City's journey to their first ever UEFA Champions League final, although they lost the trophy to Chelsea.
His performances earned him a lot of plaudits, earning him the Premier League Player of the Year and UEFA Defender of the Year award.
The centre-back has started the new season in fine form and will be hoping that he can guide City one better in the Champions League this season.
Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - €70 million
Bayern Munich's young full-back Alphonso Davies is the most valuable left-back in the UEFA Champions League right now.
The Canadian erupted on the European stage and impressed everyone with his performances during the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League winning campaign for the Bavarians. He played a major part in Bayern's dominance that season as the Bundesliga outfit won all six major titles available for grabs.
An incredible player with blistering pace and supreme ball control, Davies pace and marauding runs on the wings enables Bayern to play a high line. The full-back has already contributed 19 goals in 90 appearances in all competitions for the club.
Bayern have looked good at the start of the 2021-22 season and will look to once again challenge for the UEFA Champions League. Davies will definitely have a big say in their run in the competition.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - €75 million
Liverpool's creative force from the right flank, Trent Alexander-Arnold, is the most valuable right-back in the UEFA Champions League right now.
Product of Liverpool's academy, the 22-year-old broke into the first-team during the 2016-17 season and has since established himself firmly in the side, developing into a world-class player.
He played a key role in helping Liverpool win their sixth Champions League title in 2019 before helping the Reds win the Premier League the following season.
Alexander-Arnold has produced outrageous stats for Liverpool as a right-back. In 183 appearances, the youngster has scored 10 goals and provided 46 assists in all competitions. He also holds the record for most assists by a defender in a Premier League season with 13.
After a disappointing last season, Alexander-Arnold will look to bounce back and propel the Reds to glory once again.
Central midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) - €90 million
Like Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong also rose to prominence during Ajax's 2018-19 UEFA Champions League semi-final run. He was a key member of that squad and earned widespread recognition and subsequently a move to FC Barcelona.
An excellent passer and dribbler with phenomenal technical skills as well as an innate ability to read the game, De Jong is a superstar. The 24-year-old has already made 97 appearances for Barcelona, registering nine goals and 14 assists. However, the midfielder is yet to score in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona.
Barcelona lost their best ever player Lionel Messi during the summer and are in a major financial crisis. As such, De Jong is expected to guide the club in what could arguably be their most difficult season in recent years.
Central midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - €100 million
Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne, who is valued at €100 million is not just the most valuable midfielder in the UEFA Champions League but in the world right now.
The Belgian has been exceptional on a consistent basis over the last few years. He is central to Manchester City's playing style and is lethal from long-range, be it passing, crossing or shooting.
He is arguably the most important player in City's star-studded squad, winning three Premier League titles, five League Cups and the FA Cup. He has also bagged back-to-back PFA Players' Player of the Year awards over the past two seasons.
De Bruyne played a starring role for City last season, making 28 goal contributions in 40 appearances as they stormed towards the Premier League title. He also played a key part in City's run to the UEFA Champions League final, scoring three goals and providing four assists in the competition last season.
The 30-year-old has led City's dominance in the last few years and he is tipped to remain at the Etihad for a long time to come.
Left midfielder: Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain) - €100 million
Neymar Jr., the world's most expensive player, is the most valuable left winger/midfielder in the UEFA Champions League right now.
The Brazil international was a vital component during his spell at Barcelona, forming a fearsome 'MSN' attack alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Neymar subsequently moved to PSG in 2017, after the Ligue 1 giants activated his mammoth €222 million release clause, making him the most expensive player in the world.
The 28-year-old has had a topsy-turvy spell in France, with injuries playing a major role. Despite that, he has managed to register figures of 87 goals and 52 assists in just 117 appearances in all competitions for PSG. He also led the club to its first UEFA Champions League final in 2020, although they failed to win it.
With his old team-mate Messi arriving at the club this summer, Neymar will be hoping to reignite his partnership and guide PSG to their first ever Champions League title.
Right midfielder: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) - €100 million
Very few players have seen a rise as monumental as Mohamed Salah in the last few years.
Since joining Liverpool, Salah has become one of the best players in Europe. The 29-year-old is one of the most prolific forwards and has won several club and individual honors at Liverpool, including a UEFA Champions League and Premier League title in back-to-back seasons.
The Egyptian forward has managed to score 129 goals and provide 49 assists in 208 appearances for Liverpool. He has also been prolific for the Reds in the Champions League, registering 26 goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances.
Salah is undoubtedly one of the most breath-taking players on the planet and is officially the most valuable right-sided winger/midfielder in the UEFA Champions League right now.
Striker: Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) - €130 million
The Golden Boot winner in the UEFA Champions League last season, Erling Haaland is one of the two most valuable strikers in Europe's premier competition right now.
Touted as the next big thing in world football, Haaland's meteoric rise to prominence hasn't been unwarranted. The 21-year-old is already one of the most devastating forwards in Europe, having scored 66 goals in 66 matches across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund.
The forward has been even more devastating in the Champions League, scoring 21 goals in just 17 games for Dortmund and former club RB Salzburg. In doing so, he became the quickest to score 20 goals in the history of the UEFA Champions League.
It only seems like a matter of time before Haaland leaves Dortmund and moves to a bigger European club capable of winning the Champions League. He already has a €75 million release clause that can be activated next season and you can certainly expect a host of top European clubs to battle out for his signature.
Striker: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) - €160 million
Like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the last decade, Kylian Mbappe (alongside Erling Haaland) has been touted as the next biggest rivalry in world football.
Currently in his fourth season at PSG, Mbappe is already the club's third-highest goalscorer of all time. He has scored 136 times in 176 appearances for the Parisians in all competitions and has also finished as Ligue 1's top scorer for the last three seasons.
At just 22 years of age, the Frenchman has already won 11 major titles in his club career, including four Ligue 1 titles (three with PSG and one with Monaco). In addition to that he has also won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France. The UEFA Champions League is the only trophy that has eluded the youngster so far.
Capable of destroying opposition defenses almost singlehandedly with his pace and clinical finishing, Mbappe was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer. But the forward eventually stayed at the Parc des Princes.
With the arrival of Lionel Messi, he is now part of the deadliest front-three in Europe, which could offer him the best chance to win the Champions League this season.
