Best Rated Players in the Champions League So Far: Raphinha, Vini Jr, Bukayo Saka, Lamine Yamal

 

With the final matchday of the new UEFA Champions League league phase upon us, we’re taking a look at the best performers through the first seven games. 

 

To be considered for our top 10, players must have started at least five matches so far. 

 

 

Represented are Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSV, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta. 

 

10. Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.67 

 

Two goals and an assist from left wing-back sees Bayer Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo earn a place in our top 10, following impressive displays against Salzburg and Feyenoord in the league phase. 

 

9. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) - 7.68 

 

Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal takes ninth having scored one goal and provided two assists in Europe this season. The 17-year-old’s best rated performance so far came in the 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich back in October (8.50). 

 

8. Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta) - 7.71 

 

With five, Atalanta attacker Charles De Ketelaere has provided more assists than any other player in the Champions League this season, with three coming in one game against BSC Young Boys in November. The Belgian also has four goals to his name, with all of those four coming in his last three European outings. 

 

7. Ademola Lookman (Atalanta) - 7.74 

 

De Ketelaere is followed in our top 10 by Atalanta team-mate Ademola Lookman, who has followed up his Europa League final hat-trick with some impressive form in the continent’s premier competition this season. The Nigeria international has managed four goals and one assist in six games thus far. 

 

 

6. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) - 7.78 

 

Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz has also stepped up from the Europa League with ease this term, firing home five goals in seven Champions League outings while also registering one assist, to land sixth place. 

 

5. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) - 7.80 

 

Though he may have missed the last few weeks through injury, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka left his mark in the first five Champions League matches of the season, scoring four goals and providing two assists to help the Gunners to a strong position for automatic qualification. 

 

4. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) - 7.80 

 

Fourth place goes to the competition’s current top goalscorer, Robert Lewandowski, who has nine to his name in just seven games so far. The 36-year-old has scored a remarkable four braces in Europe this term, against the likes of Bayern Munich, Benfica and Brest.

 

Best Rated Players in the Champions League So Far: Raphinha, Vini Jr, Bukayo Saka, Lamine Yamal

 

3. Malik Tillman (PSV) - 8.03 

 

Perhaps a surprise name quite so high up our list is PSV’s Malik Tillman, but the USMNT attacker’s place is warranted, with three goals and two assists in Europe so far this season. The former Bayern Munich man has starred in wins over Girona and Shakhtar Donetsk, helping the Dutch side on their way to a possible place in the knockout round play-offs. 

 

2. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid) - 8.11 

 

Second only to a fellow Brazilian is Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who has seven goals to his name in just six Champions League matches this season. The 24-year-old netted a sensational hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in October, before going on to score in the following three UCL matches, against Milan, Atalanta and Salzburg. 

 

1. Raphinha (Barcelona) - 8.26 

 

With a WhoScored rating of 8.26, Barcelona star Raphinha is the highest rated player in the UEFA Champions League so far this season. The 28-year-old is enjoying the finest campaign of his career to date, and leads the competition for goal involvements with 10. The Brazilian has scored in all but two of seven games so far, with the highlight being his hat-trick in the thrashing of Bayern Munich back in October.

Best Rated Players in the Champions League So Far: Raphinha, Vini Jr, Bukayo Saka, Lamine Yamal