Three Stars from Real Madrid
The Champions League kicks off tonight, with 36 teams vying to advance from the group stage into the knockout rounds. As the most prestigious club competition globally, it represents the ultimate goal for many players. Paris Saint-Germain is eager to defend their title after clinching the trophy for the first time in their history last season, but they will face fierce competition from the world’s top clubs.
Teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Real Madrid all have realistic chances of winning the coveted trophy, with nine of the ten most valuable clubs in the world participating. Additionally, 49 of the top 50 most valuable players will be competing in this season’s Champions League, with Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko ranked at 49th. Consequently, we’ve put together the most valuable combined XI featuring players in this year’s Champions League.
The Most Valuable Champions League Combined XI
This combined XI boasts an astonishing total valuation of €1.36 billion, featuring Lamine Yamal as the most valuable player globally at €200 million. The Barcelona prodigy will team up with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, both valued at €180 million, to form a formidable attacking trio. Two Real Madrid midfielders, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, join forces with Barcelona’s Pedri to create a strong La Liga presence in the lineup.
The graphic above illustrates that PSG contributes two players to the defense, with full-backs Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi considered among the best worldwide. Arsenal’s William Saliba and Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí complete the center-back duo, with Manchester City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. Notably, only three Premier League players are included in this lineup, despite it being the world’s most valuable league, while La Liga claims six stars.
