da 888casino： Ahead of Saturday's final at Wembley, GOAL counts down the top performers of the campaign
da realsbet： 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, GOAL 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…
Getty Images21Rodri (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 goals 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.
AdvertisementGetty 20David 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.
Getty Images19Ilkay 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.
Getty18Phil 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 goal 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).