Our Champions League Team of the Season for 2024/25

Yahoo

2 days ago

Our Champions League Team of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign, as winners Paris Saint-Germain dominate the XI.
Champions League Team of the Season for 2024/25
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Paris Saint-Germain
The best goalkeeper in the Champions League this season and a man who should not be overlooked in Paris Saint-Germain's success. Donnarumm produced a string of outstanding performances, keeping clean sheets in crucial wins at Liverpool and Arsenal in the knockout rounds. The towering Italian seems to come alive in England, impressing in the consecutive eliminations of three Premier League sides.
Right-back: Achraf Hakimi – Paris Saint-Germain
Four goals and five assists is a phenomenal return from full-back and there is arguably no better than Achraf Hakimi in the role. His electric speed and elite end product were crucial to PSG, including the opener against former club Inter in the final.
Centre-back: Marquinhos – Paris Saint-Germain
Marquinhos has been through all the ups and downs of the modern PSG project and finally lifted the Champions League this season. The Brazilian was the leader of Luis Enrique's side, offering a mature presence at the heart of the defence. No player made more than his 98 clearances in the 2024/25 season.
Centre-back: Willian Pacho – Paris Saint-Germain
One of the newcomers of the Champions League season. Signed last summer as a highly-rated prospect from Eintracht Frankfurt, Willian Pacho has performed superbly in his first campaign in this competition. The 23-year-old played more minutes than any other player and ranked among the season's top performers for clearances (2nd), aerial duels won (5th) and interceptions (9th).
Left-back: Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain
It's a clean sweep for Paris Saint-Germain with Nuno Mendes completing an all-Parisian back five. The left-back led the tournament for dribblers tackled (28) and scored four goals. He netted in both legs of the quarter-final win over Aston Villa.
Midfield: Pedri – Barcelona
Pedri breaks up the PSG dominance and ousts winners Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz for a place in the side. The silky Spaniard was a driving force in Barcelona's run to the semi-finals, cementing his status as perhaps the world's best midfielder right now. Evasive with the ball and industrious without it, Pedri is the complete package.
Midfield: Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain
The metronome of the Paris Saint-Germain midfield. Luis Enrique opted for a conductor over a destroyer when assembling his trophy-winning team and Vitinha was the perfect orchestrator of PSG's play. The Portugal international ran proceedings during PSG's run through the knockout rounds.
Right-wing: Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Simply sublime. The 17-year-old elevated himself into the Ballon d'Or conversation during Barcelona's run to the semi-finals. The goals and assists were important, but it was Yamal's unpredictability and fearlessness that stood out. Unplayable at times, there's a mature head on those young shoulders.
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Left-wing: Raphinha – Barcelona
Raphinha came close to leaving Barcelona last summer but has bounced back immeasurably to become one of world football's finest this season. He led the Champions League for goals (13) and assists (8), in a season of spectacular performances. His 21 goal involvements equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record for a single campaign, set in 2013/14.
Forward: Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan
Finalists Inter Milan earn just one inclusion, in the form of captain Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine was integral to Inter's run to the final, scoring in each knockout round before the Nerazzurri were outclassed in the final. Martinez's nine Champions League goals equalled the record for an Inter player in a single season and came from an XG of just 4.8. Overperformance.
Forward: Ousmane Dembele – Barcelona
Luis Enrique has championed Ousmane Dembele as the Ballon d'Or winner following the Frenchman's role in PSG's maiden success. Eight goals and six assists drove PSG to the trophy, with Dembele decisive in 1-0 wins at Liverpool and Arsenal in the knockout rounds. While a goal eluded him in the final, he recorded two assists to cement his reputation as one of Europe's most complete attackers.
Read – PSG finally reach Champions League holy grail and have potential for dominance
See more – Champions League end-of-season awards for 2024/25
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