Champions League Player Power Rankings 2025/26

The Champions League remains the pinnacle of the European game, showcasing the very best that the continent has to offer, both collectively and on an individual basis.

Paris Saint-Germain romped to the title in emphatic fashion last time around, yet with talisman – and Ballon d’Or winner – Ousmane Dembele yet to feature in the competition this time around due to injury, who else is now leading the way instead?

Ranking factors

• Current form

• Importance to team

• Reputation and honours

50-41

Galatasaray’s Ugurcan Cakir takes up 50th place following his standout display at home to Liverpool prior to the international break, with Turkish ‘keeper earning a place in UEFA’s Champions League team of the week as a result.

There is also a deserved nod for new Monaco man, Eric Dier, following his last-gasp penalty heroics against Manchester City last time out, while Slavia Prague’s Lukas Provod rounds things off amid his place as a joint-leader in the assist charts with two thus far.

40-31

The new campaign has seen something of a revival for former Premier League old boys, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kevin De Bruyne, while Abdellah Zoubir has starred for surprise package Qarabag, with three goals and assists already from his two winning outings.

A word must also be said for Aubameyang’s former teammate, Gabriel Martinelli, amid his own record of two goals and one assist for the Gunners, while Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy – top scorer last time out – has again hit the ground running for the Bundesliga outfit.

30-21

Sticking with the Emirates theme, one-time club record signing Nicolas Pepe has found his groove for Villarreal this season, with Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is still the main attraction as far as the Merseysiders are concerned, even amid their shaky display away in Istanbul.

2025/26 has also proven the time of the big number nine once again, with Dusan Vlahovic, Goncalo Ramos and Rasmus Hojlund all netting twice apiece, while ex-Napoli talisman, Victor Osimhen, gave Ibrahima Konate the run around on matchday two.

20-11

Former AC Milan flop Jens Petter Hauge has been a surprise star of the early league phase after notching twice already, with the Norwegian winger putting in a dazzling display as Tottenham Hotspur initially froze in the Arctic circle – before clawing things back with a 2-2 draw late on.

The dynamite Jeremy Doku also tore Napoli to shreds in the first round of fixtures, while the Champions League’s perennial world-beater – Karim Adeyemi – has again hit the ground running with three goal involvements thus far.

There’s no place for the likes of Lamine Yamal and Mo Salah, however, with the pair among those yet to truly get going in the early rounds of this year’s edition.

10

Pedri

Paul Scholes’ “new favourite footballer“, Spanish genius Pedri just keeps on pulling the strings for Hansi Flick’s side, having run the show in the win over Newcastle United – boasting nine duels won and a mammoth 112 touches from his central midfield berth, as per Sofascore.

9

Ashraf Hakimi

Widely – and rightly – viewed as the best right-back in the world, Achraf Hakimi remains a vital cog in Luis Enrique’s relentless Paris Saint-Germain machine, with two assists already under his belt despite the new Champions League season still being in its infancy.

8

Marcus Thuram

Part of perhaps the most unsung forward line in Europe, alongside striker partner Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram was vital in Inter’s charge to last year’s final and looks set to try and do so again.

Two goals under his belt already, the former Borussia Monchengladbach man continues to prove an absolute bargain following his free transfer arrival two years ago.

7

Anthony Gordon

Already emerging as a key figure for Thomas Tuchel’s England, Anthony Gordon is seeking to take on Alexander Isak’s mantle as the new talisman back at Newcastle. Three goals from just two Champions League outings is a perfect way to start.

6

Erling Haaland

Excluding the obvious duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the modern era hasn’t witnessed such a prolific presence as Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian already ripping it up in the new campaign.

A star for club and country, the 25-year-old arguably only ranks behind a certain Harry Kane as the continent’s finest number nine.

5

Marcus Rashford

There can be a perceived lack of interest or importance placed on these league phase fixtures, although Marcus Rashford has already served up reasons to be entertained, notably lashing home that stunner at St James’ Park, while producing an early contender for assist of the season after picking out Ferran Torres against PSG.

4

Michael Olise

Bayern Munich must be rubbing their hands with glee at having prised Michael Olise from Crystal Palace for ‘just’ £50m, with the France international going to new heights at the Allianz Arena. With three goals and assists already in this year’s competition, the fleet-footed winger is already looking deadly again.

3

Nuno Mendes

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better left-back operating anywhere right now, with Nuno Mendes picking up where he left off last term, having been simply immense last time out against Barcelona.

2

Harry Kane

The fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for one club, the England skipper is in the form of his life right now, notching up four goals already to kickstart his – and Bayern’s – bid for an elusive Champions League crown.

1

Kylian Mbappe

Having somewhat upset the apple cart after joining then-holders Real Madrid last summer, Kylian Mbappe is back to his best again under Xabi Alonso. The competition’s early pace setter with five goals so far, there’s no stopping the Frenchman when he’s in this mood.