CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON: PSG AND BAYERN MUNICH STARS DOMINATE OUR XI
The conclusion of the 2025/26 Champions League season has confirmed Paris Saint-Germain as the titleholders once again, following a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Arsenal. This remarkable achievement marks PSG’s status as only the second team in the history of the competition to successfully defend their title, joining Real Madrid, who managed three consecutive wins from 2016 to 2018.
With the season wrapped up, we now turn our attention to the prestigious Team of the Season, curated using our exclusive internal rating systems. Player eligibility for this selection required a minimum of eight ratings throughout the competition. Below, we present our standout XI from this season.
Team of the Season
GOALKEEPER
Temirlan Anarbekov (FC Kairat) – 7.7
In a surprising twist, Anarbekov claims the title of the highest-rated goalkeeper. Despite FC Kairat finishing at the bottom of the league phase, their struggle arguably afforded Anarbekov ample opportunities to showcase his talent. He completed a remarkable 34 saves—only eight other goalkeepers outperformed him. Crucially, he prevented around 4.39 goals, boasting a commendable save percentage of 72.3%, highlighting his significance in goal for the Kazakh squad.
DEFENDERS
Rodinei (Olympiacos) – 7.4
Another unexpected addition is Rodinei, the right-back for Olympiacos. His defensive prowess led to three clean sheets and a mere eight goals conceded over eight matches, complemented by two assists, despite elimination by Bayer Leverkusen in the playoffs.
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – 7.4
This season proved challenging for Liverpool, leading to manager Arne Slot’s sacking following an underwhelming title defense and a quarter-final defeat to PSG. Van Dijk, while not at his peak performance, remains an essential presence in defense. He recorded a joint fourth-most headed clearances (38) and excelled in aerial duels with joint second-most wins (36), not to mention keeping five clean sheets. Offensively, he contributed with two goals and two assists, achieving the highest pass completion rate into the final third among center-backs (134).
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) – 7.4
Although Inter Milan clinched the Serie A title, their Champions League journey was less fruitful, marked by a loss to Bodo/Glimt in the playoffs. Nonetheless, Bastoni exhibited standout qualities, achieving three clean sheets while leading all center-backs in creating big chances (4) and total chances (15).
MIDFIELDERS
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – 8.3
Despite Barcelona’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid, Lamine was a tournament standout from beginning to end, scoring six goals and providing four assists. His dribbling ability was unmatched, completing 46 at a 49.5% success rate, in addition to creating an astounding 12 big chances.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) – 8.1
This season saw Olise elevate his game, evidenced by five goals and a tournament-leading seven assists. His creativity propelled Bayern to the semi-finals, where they were ultimately defeated by PSG. He also completed 45 dribbles with a success rate of 57.7%, contributing to a total of 33 created chances.
Vitinha (PSG) – 7.7
Vitinha was instrumental in PSG’s strategy, dictating play with impactful passing and ball progression. He notched six goals and led the tournament in touches (1898), successful passes (1589), and forward passes (399). Notably, his impressive final against Arsenal included 141 passes, the highest recorded in Champions League final history since the 2003/04 season. He excelled defensively as well, reclaiming possession more than any other midfielder (95 times).
Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich) – 7.9
Diaz proved pivotal in Bayern’s offensive lineup during a stellar debut season, scoring seven goals and assisting three times in the Champions League. He played a crucial role against PSG in the semi-finals, showcasing his ability to create the second-most big chances (9) and completing 30 dribbles throughout the tournament. Teaming up with Olise and Harry Kane, Diaz indicates Bayern’s resurgence in a quest for their first Champions League title since 2020.
FORWARDS
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) – 8.4
As the highest-rated player in the Champions League this season, Mbappe became an indivisible part of Real Madrid’s attacking strategy, finishing as the top scorer with 15 goals across 11 matches. His record includes a remarkable performance against Olympiacos, tallying four goals in a single match and securing a hat-trick against Kairat. Despite Madrid’s quarter-final exit, his season signifies a potent individual performance even amidst team turbulence.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – 8.2
Kane enjoyed an exhilarating season, netting 14 goals in 13 matches, with a consistent scoring rate of one goal every 74 minutes. His contribution was vital during every knockout match, marking him as only the second player in Champions League history to score in six consecutive knockout games, following Cristiano Ronaldo. While Bayern fell short of the title, Kane’s extensive achievements this season included securing the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, setting him up for the World Cup with exceptional momentum.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG) – 7.7
Displaying remarkable brilliance during the Champions League knockout rounds, Kvaratskhelia emerged as perhaps PSG’s finest player in Europe this season. His tally consisted of 10 goals and six assists, showcasing prowess against teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Bayern with substantial contributions in those crucial matches. With 32 successful dribbles, he stands among the elite players in the tournament.
This Champions League season has been rich in excitement and high-level competition, further establishing the legacies of these exceptional players.
