Best XI in the Champions League in 2025-26 Based on Stats

With six games of the league phase down and two more to go, the Champions League table is starting to take shape. Numerous teams have risen to the occasion, but there have been a few surprises along the way too.

Right now, it’s Arsenal who are leading the way at the summit. The Gunners are indebted to the performances of multiple players in their squad, including Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.

However, none of the trio feature in WhoScored’s Champions League Team of the Season so far, which is based on the average rating of players so far in the competition. In fact, no Arsenal players managed to make the cut, with players from other European giants — and a few smaller clubs —included in the ‘true’ best XI instead.

Goalkeeper and Defence

Currently, David Raya leads the way for clean sheets in the competition with five, underlining why he is widely considered to be one of the best shot-stoppers in the world. But the Spaniard is omitted from the team in favour of Bodo/Glimt’s Nikita Haikin. The Russian goalkeeper is averaging 6.3 saves per match so far and has prevented an incredible 4.41 goals, although his team are still languishing in 32nd place after drawing and losing three games apiece.

Newcastle have enjoyed a pretty decent campaign so far, picking up three wins out of six so far, and Eddie Howe’s squad have two defenders in the XI. Kieran Trippier, despite now being 35-years-old, is still a reliable figure for the Magpies when needed. His performances over 4 appearances help him grab the right-back spot, while fellow veteran Dan Burn lines up next to him at centre-back. The 33-year-old has started every game in the Champions League so far for the north-east club, even grabbing a goal against Athletic Club, their most recent win in the competition.

Despite boasting talented players across the board, including Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, only one Manchester City player makes it into WhoScored’s team, and it’s neither of the aforementioned players. Instead, Josko Gvardiol partners Burn at the heart of defence, thanks to the Croatian’s excellent performances so far over five games, with him averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.8 interceptions in the competition for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Completing the backline, in somewhat unsurprising fashion, is Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes. The Portuguese international was crucial to the French club’s triumph in the Champions League last season and has carried that form into 2025/26. While he’s resolute at the back, he’s a big threat going forward, notching two goals and two assists in six games thus far.

Midfield

It always felt obvious that Michael Olise was going to thrive at Bayern Munich, and after an excellent debut year at the Allianz Arena, he’s kept his form going in his sophomore year. Featuring in every Champions League game so far, he’s created three goals and grabbed one himself in 514 minutes for the Bundesliga giants. Also creating four big chances, he’s been a huge reason why they have won every match bar one so far.

Moving into the middle of the pitch, Dominik Szoboszlai earns himself the first central-midfield spot with a rating of 7.7. There’s not been a lot to like about Liverpool so far this season, with them struggling on the domestic front — but things have gone slightly better on the European stage. Their Hungarian midfield maestro has been a shining light for them, with his three assists and three goals likely a factor in why the club want him to sign a new contract. And despite there being a vast array of midfield talent in the competition, such as Rice and Vitinha, Sporting Lisbon’s Trincao beats them all to the punch, having scored three times in five games.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been in fine form ever since moving to the Parc des Princes, and he completes both the midfield and a PSG-themed left flank. The Georgian international has been up to his usual tricks in the Champions League, helping his side to four wins out of a potential six while grabbing four goal contributions along the way.

Forwards

As previously mentioned, there’s no room for Erling Haaland in this team, which might come as a shock considering that he’s notched six goals for Man City in as many games. But, with an average rating of 7.43, he falls way behind the two starting forwards in this team, who also happen to be the highest-rated players in the competition so far.

With Harry Kane now 32-years-old, you’d be forgiven if you expected him to slow down this season. But the England captain has been in frightening form, grabbing five goals for Bayern Munich in Europe, which make up just over 12% of his 40 goals for club and country so far this season.

Alongside him is quite possibly the best footballer in the world right now. After a slow start to life as a Real Madrid player, Kylian Mbappe has picked up the pace and really has taken off this season. Leading the way in the Champions League goalscoring charts right now with nine, the Frenchman is on track for a historic season with Los Blancos, provided that Xabi Alonso finds a way to turn their form around.