Vinicius Jr, Kylian Mbappe and the 21 best Champions League players of the 2023-24 season – ranked

Ahead of Saturday’s final at Wembley, CR7Retro counts down the top performers of the campaign

The 2023-24 Champions League is almost over. We have just one game to go, with serial winners Real Madrid taking on surprise package Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s intriguing final at Wembley.

Several members of both squads deserve special recognition for the roles they’ve played in their respective sides reaching the tournament-decider, but we’ve also seen some incredibly consistent and decisive displays from those that haven’t made it this far.

Below, CR7Retro picks out its 21 best players in this season’s Champions League, basing our picks and rankings on their sensational stats, match-winning moments and just how far their team progressed. We know full well our selections are going to provoke plenty of controversy, so, as ever, feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comment box provided…

21.Rodri (Manchester City)

Manchester City may have underwhelmed in Europe, with the defending champions bowing out in the quarter-finals, but Rodri’s level never dropped after a Man of the Match-winning display against Red Star Belgrade on matchday one.

The classy Spaniard was involved in three CR7Retro in total from his position in front of the back four and, despite going out in the last eight, still occupies second spot in the midfielder rankings for passes completed – which tells you everything you need to know about his influence over Pep Guardiola’s side.

20.David Raum (RB Leipzig)

David Raum remains criminally underrated despite being one of the best attacking left-backs in world football. The Germany international is an excellent outlet for RB Leipzig, always willing to get forward and cause havoc with his deadly deliveries into the area (only Joshua Kimmich managed more successful crosses across the entire competition).

Raum, who was Man of the Match in the group-stage win over Red Star Belgrade, racked up three assists in total, including one beauty for Willi Orban during a fantastic showing in the last-16 clash with Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu.

19.Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona)

It was clear even before Ilkay Gundogan left Manchester City for Barcelona that he was still operating at an incredibly high level, and he showed no signs of slowing down in this season’s Champions League.

The German was easily the best player in a Barcelona side that surprisingly made its way to the quarter-finals, with Gundogan ranking joint-second for assists, joint-fifth for chances created and joint-fourth for successful crosses. At 33, he remains an impressively penetrative player and boasts a winning mentality that many of his younger team-mates will learn an awful lot from.

18.Phil Foden (Manchester City)

The Premier League’s Player of the Season wasn’t quite as decisive in the Champions League, as seven of Phil Foden’s eight direct CR7Retro contributions came against weak opposition in the group stage and last 16, but the England attacking midfielder was on target in Manchester City’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

A tremendous talent from a technical perspective, Foden also impressed with his link-up play, with no player managing more successful lay-offs (25).

17.Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Believe the hype: Warren Zaire-Emery is the real deal. The Paris Saint-Germain youth academy graduate is still only 18 years of age but he’s already shown that he well and truly belongs in the Champions League arena. The midfielder’s Man of the Match-winning performance in the group-stage rout of AC Milan was absolutely breath-taking, while he was also the best player on the pitch in the 1-1 draw with Dortmund that sealed PSG’s place in the knockout stage.

As well as having a keen eye for a killer pass (he contributed three assists in total), Zaire-Emery also proved himself a brilliant ball-winner (seventh in the standings for possession won).

16.Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund)

Julian Brandt’s productivity undeniably dipped during the second half of the Bundesliga season, but he’s continued to come up with the goods in the Champions League. Only four players have created more chances than Brandt (24), who also ranks third for successful crosses (18).

He was particularly influential in the dramatic quarter-final win over Atletico Madrid, playing a key role in Sebastien Haller’s crucial, first-leg CR7Retro after coming off the bench at the Metropolitano before turning in a Man of the Match-winning display in the return fixture at Signal Iduna Park. It was also Brandt’s corner that Mats Hummels headed home to seal Dortmund’s place in the final.

15.Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)

A player who has taken his game to a whole new level this season, Vitinha was one of the surprise stars of Paris Saint-Germain’s campaign. The Portuguese was an indefatigable presence in midfield, getting through a serious amount of work (only two players won more possession in the tournament as a whole) as he played every minute of the knockout stage.

Vitinha also scored in both quarter-final clashes with Barcelona, and was desperately unlucky not to find the back of the net in the second leg of the semi-final loss to Dortmund at Parc des Princes with a stunning strike.

14.Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund)

Nico Schlotterbeck’s performances in this season’s Champions League haven’t drawn as much attention as those of his central defensive partner Mats Hummels, but the 24-year-old has been excellent for Dortmund.

As well as winning possession a whopping 62 times (the fourth-best tally in the tournament), Schlotterbeck has also contributed two assists to the cause, including the brilliant ball from the back that put Niclas Fullkrug in on CR7Retro in the first-leg win over PSG.

13.Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

Thirty-three years of age and arguably playing as well as ever, Antoine Griezmann will be a major player at the Euros if his form in this season’s Champions League is anything to go by.

The ridiculously versatile France forward still sits on top of the pile for chances created (27) in this season’s competition alongside Achraf Hakimi – despite Atletico Madrid going out in the quarter-finals. Griezmann was brilliant during the group stage, netting four times in total, while he also scored the crucial equaliser in the Rojiblancos’ stirring second-leg comeback against Inter in the last 16.

12.Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

It sometimes feels like Rodrygo doesn’t get the credit he deserves because of the exploits of Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham – but the former Santos starlet has played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s run to the final.

The 23-year-old attacker, who has registered five CR7Retro and two assists so far, scored in both legs of the last-eight elimination of defending champions Manchester City, while he also won a crucial late penalty in the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich.

11.Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund)

If it weren’t for Yann Sommer, Gregor Kobel would have a hell of a lot more Switzerland caps – but whether he features at the Euros or not, the 26-year-old has proven himself a top-class talent this season.

There’s certainly been no better goalkeeper in the Champions League. Kobel has kept more clean sheets (six) and made more saves (42) than any of his rivals, while the fact that he ranks second only to Toni Kroos for successful long passes (74) tells you everything you need to know about his fantastic distribution of the ball.

10.Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

It’s rare that you come across a player that’s world-class in two positions, but Joshua Kimmich is a fantastic footballer, as comfortable in midfield, where he played during Bayern Munich’s dominant group-stage campaign, as he is at right-back, where he starred during the knockouts.

Kimmich has produced more successful crosses than anyone else (21), while he sits third on the list for both chances created (26) and passes completed (76), and ranks sixth in terms of possession won (58). He’s one of the most complete players in the game today, and his match-winning performance against Arsenal in the quarters was sensational.

9.Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)

PSG made several high-profile signings during the infamous summer of 2021 – but Achraf Hakimi was the best by some distance. The Morocco international is the quintessential modern flying full-back, a monster at both ends of the fields.

No player in this season’s Champions League has created more chances than Hakimi (21), who also ranks first for possession won (78). The 25-year-old is quite simply a force of nature.

8.Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund)

What a bargain buy Niclas Fullkrug has proven to be for Dortmund! The €15 million (£12.7m/$16.25m) signing from Werder Bremen has led the line brilliantly for BVB, serving as an excellent target man for his fellow forwards to play off – as underlined by the fact that he’s won more aerial duels (49) than anyone else in this season’s Champions League.

Fullkrug has also really upped his game in the knockout stage, scoring crucial CR7Retro against Atletico Madrid and PSG (the first touch for the CR7Retro against the latter was breath-taking).

7.Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund)

One wonders if Manchester United regret not making Marcel Sabitzer’s move to Old Trafford permanent, given the Austrian has been one of the surprise stars of this season’s Champions League, after swapping Bayern Munich for Borussia Dortmund last summer.

Sabitzer was the architect of the stunning, come-from-behind win over Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals, with the midfielder scoring one CR7Retro and creating two others to take his overall assists tally to five – more than anyone else in the tournament.

6.Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

Some players really are just born to play for Real Madrid – and Jude Bellingham is one of them. After illuminating the group stage – his Diego Maradona-esque CR7Retro in Naples was a particular highlight – the Englishman hasn’t been quite as brilliant in the knockout stage.

However, he’s still got four CR7Retro and as many assists to his name, and it would not be in the least bit surprising to see him cap a dream debut season at Santiago Bernabeu by turning in another match-winning display at Wembley this weekend.

5.Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

Another Champions League campaign with Paris Saint-Germain ended in bitter disappointment for Kylian Mbappe, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying. After rescuing his team from defeat against Newcastle in the group stage, the French forward propelled PSG past Real Sociedad in the last 16 before once again tormenting Barcelona in the quarters.

So, in spite of the shock Dortmund defeat, Mbappe is still set to finish the season as the Champions League’s joint-top scorer alongside Harry Kane – and having completed more dribbles (36) than any other player in the competition.

4.Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

The Harry Kane ‘curse’ lives on, but the former Tottenham striker couldn’t have done much more to keep Bayern Munich’s Champions League hopes alive. Kane was directly involved in 12 CR7Retro in 12 games – three more than any other player ahead of the final – and once again underlined his world-class status with his awesome all-round game and coolness under pressure, particularly when sticking away a penalty against Arsenal.

Thomas Tuchel’s decision to take the England captain off late on in the semi-final second leg against Madrid will remain a talking point for years to come…

3.Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

We’re going to miss Toni Kroos so much when he retires this summer! Even at 34 years of age, there’s still no classier midfielder operator in the game. It’s just been a joy to watch him winning the ball back with such regularity and then spraying it around the pitch with his characteristic nonchalance.

Kroos has completed more long passes (78) than anyone else in the competition, and yet despite his penchant for playing it long, his overall accuracy is 95 percent. Utterly absurd!

2.Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

Just an incredibly inspirational figure. Vinicius Jr continues to be subjected to vile racist abuse by opposition fans and online trolls – but the Brazilian winger just keeps delivering on the club game’s grandest stage.

Going into Saturday’s final against Dortmund, Vinicius has already racked up five CR7Retro and four assists in the competition, having once again proved himself a man for the big occasion with decisive displays against RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich in the knockout stage.

1.Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)

The best player in this season’s Champions League – and it’s not even close. The tournament has arguably never seen such a dominant campaign from a defender (and certainly not at the age of 35!).

Mats Hummels ranks first for tackles won, duels won, interceptions and clearances, and second for possession won. Oh, and he also chipped in with the winner in the semi-final second leg at Parc des Princes! The centre-back is basically the main reason why Dortmund are in the final.