The league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League has come to an end, delivering breathtaking performances, stunning goals, and incredible individual efforts. As the competition now moves into the knockout rounds, it’s time to reflect on the standout performers who made the biggest impact. From dazzling dribblers to defensive rock-solid figures, here’s a breakdown of the most successful players across key statistical categories.
Highest-rated players
Raphinha emerged as the highest-rated player of the league phase with a stellar 8.41 rating, playing a crucial role in Barcelona’s campaign that saw them finish second in the league phase. PSV’s Malik Tillman followed closely with 8.18, proving to be a revelation for the Dutch side. Florian Wirtz (8.06) and Vinícius Júnior (8.05) showed their class for Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, respectively, while Alejandro Grimaldo (7.91) rounded out the top five, further highlighting Leverkusen’s strong presence in the competition.
Top goalscorers
The race for the Golden Boot is heating up, with Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski both netting nine goals each, but Dortmund’s number 9 took 74 minutes less to do so, so he wins the tie-breaker. Raphinha, enjoying the best football of his career, chipped in with eight, including an inspiring hat-trick against Bayern and a dramatic winner against Benfica, cementing his influence on Barcelona’s attack. Vinícius Júnior followed with seven goals, while Florian Wirtz added six, proving his versatility as both a creator and a finisher for Leverkusen.
Assist leaders
Atalanta’s Charles de Ketelaere led the assist charts with five, orchestrating his team’s attacking play with vision and precision. Raphinha, again making his mark, provided four assists, sharing the second spot with Atlético Madrid’s Marcos Llorente, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, and Feyenoord’s Igor Paixao. Their contributions were vital in creating goal-scoring opportunities for their respective teams.
Most key passes made
Creativity and playmaking were on full display, with Raphinha once again topping the charts by delivering 26 key passes. Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz was right behind him with 25, proving his ability to unlock defenses. Bayern Munich’s duo of Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich made 22 key passes each, while PSV’s Malik Tillman also impressed with 21, showing his all-around playmaking prowess.
Most Successful Dribbles Completed
AC Milan’s Rafael Leão took defenders to task, completing 30 successful dribbles and leading this category. Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, along with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Kevin, all completed 26 dribbles, demonstrating their ability to glide past opponents. RB Salzburg’s Oscar Gloukh finished close behind with 24, underlining his promising talent.
Most xG Generated
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland generated the highest expected goals (xG) value of 7.92, further proving his lethal instincts in front of goal. Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski followed with 7.75, while Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy’s xG of 6.99 highlighted his excellent movement and finishing. Kylian Mbappé (6.54) and Harry Kane (6.51) also ranked high, reinforcing their status as elite goal-scoring threats.
Most Interceptions Made
On the defensive end, Real Madrid’s ever-present midfielder Federico Valverde led the way with 19 interceptions, showcasing his work rate and ability to disrupt opposition attacks. Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Benfica’s Álvaro Carreras followed closely with 18 each, while PSV’s Oliver Boscagli and Benfica’s Florentino Luis made 16 interceptions, proving their importance in defensive transitions.
Most Clean Sheets Kept
Inter Milan’s defence made life easy for Yann Sommer allowing him to keep an impressive seven clean sheets and only concede one goal in eight league phase matches. Arsenal’s David Raya and Atalanta’s Marco Carnesecchi both managed five, highlighting their consistency between the posts. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez followed with four clean sheets, while Liverpool’s Caoimhín Kelleher rounded out the top five with three, showcasing his ability to step up when needed.
Conclusion
As the league phase concludes, certain players have risen above the rest to leave a lasting impression on the competition. Barcelona’s Raphinha has been a standout performer across multiple categories, while Malik Tillman, Florian Wirtz, and Vinícius Júnior have also played pivotal roles for their teams. With the knockout rounds approaching, these stars will be expected to maintain their form and lead their teams toward European glory. The stage is set for even more thrilling football as the road to the final continues!