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Three Real Madrid stars
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The Champions League returns tonight with 36 teams aiming to progress past the league phase into the knockout rounds. It’s the most prestigious club tournament in the world and is viewed as the pinnacle by players. PSG will be determined to retain their crown after winning the trophy for the first time in their history last season, but they’ll be challenged by the biggest clubs in the world.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid all hold realistic ambitions of lifting the famous trophy with nine of the top ten most valuable clubs in the world participating. Moreover, 49 of the top 50 most valuable players will feature in the Champions League - Manchester United’s Benjamin Sesko ranks 49th. Therefore, we’ve compiled the most valuable combined XI from players in the Champions League this season.
The most valuable Champions League combined XI
The combined XI would have an eye-watering total valuation of €1.36 billion with Lamine Yamal the most valuable player in the world at €200m. The Barcelona wonderkid would form a devastating front line with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé - both valued at €180m. Two Real Madrid midfielders feature in Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, alongside Barcelona’s Pedri to make it a LaLiga trio.
As the graphic above illustrates, PSG have two representatives in defence with both full-backs, Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi viewed as the best in the world. Arsenal’s William Saliba and Barca’s Pau Cubarsí would form the centre-back partnership with Manchester City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma between the sticks. Interestingly, only three Premier League players make the XI despite it being comfortably the most valuable league in the world with six stars from LaLiga.
