With the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League final upon us, it is time to take a look at The Hard Tackle’s Team of the Season.
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League will be remembered as one of the most dramatic, unpredictable, and fiercely contested seasons in recent memory. It was a tournament where established giants stumbled, underdogs punched above their weight, and two teams ultimately rose above the rest to book their places in the final.
PSG, the defending champions, have fought hard to reach their second straight final after lifting the trophy last year, proving that their triumph last season was no fluke. Their journey has been marked by resilience, tactical discipline, and the sheer individual brilliance of players who have refused to let the pressure crush them.
On the other side stand Arsenal, a club that had waited decades for this moment, finally breaking through to contest their first-ever Champions League title. The Gunners’ run has been a masterclass in organisation, defensive solidity, and clutch performances when it mattered most.
From nail-biting knockout ties to extraordinary individual displays, the season has delivered everything a football fan could ask for. There have been comebacks that defied logic, last-minute goals that have sent stadiums into raptures, and tactical battles that have kept pundits buzzing for weeks.
In the end, it has all come down to PSG and Arsenal, two teams with contrasting styles but a shared determination to lift the most prestigious club trophy in Europe. As we close in on the final, it is time to recognise the players who stood above the rest.
Below is The Hard Tackle’s Champions League Team of the Season, selected in a 4-2-3-1 formation, based on their performances, statistics, and impact throughout the tournament.
David Raya
David Raya has been the last line of defence for Arsenal, and his performances have been nothing short of phenomenal. With nine clean sheets, the most in the tournament, Raya has kept Arsenal in games when they have been under pressure. His 89.2% save percentage is also the highest among all goalkeepers, showing his consistency and reflexes.
Perhaps most impressively, he has prevented 4.6 goals above expectation, meaning he has made saves that the average goalkeeper simply would not have. In a knockout competition where one mistake can end your dream, Raya has been the rock that held Arsenal’s campaign together.
Achraf Hakimi
Hakimi has been a relentless force down PSG’s right flank. His six assists have tied him for the joint-highest in the tournament, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively while still fulfilling his defensive duties.
What has truly set him apart, though, is his engine: 208 sprints during the campaign, the second-most of any player. This explosive pace allowed him to cover the entire right side, support attacks, and recover quickly when needed. Hakimi is the perfect modern full-back; fast, attacking-minded, and never out of the action.
Marquinhos
Marquinhos has been the leader at the back for PSG, organising the defence with his exceptional defensive awareness and positioning. His ability to read the game allows him to intercept passes, block shots, and calm the backline under pressure.
More than just a defender, Marquinhos is the captain who has commanded respect, ensuring his teammates stayed compact and focused. In a tournament where PSG have faced some of the most dangerous attacks in Europe, the Brazilian’s leadership has been instrumental in keeping them in the hunt until the very last whistle.
Gabriel
Gabriel has been the cornerstone of Arsenal’s defence, featuring in 11 appearances (884 minutes) and even contributing towards two goals along the way. His 91% pass completion shows he is not just a brute force defender but also someone comfortable in possession.
With 67 clearances, he has constantly cleaned up danger and shutting down opposition attacks. Gabriel’s physical presence, aerial dominance, and mental strength have made him irreplaceable in Arsenal’s journey to the final. Without him, the Gunners’ defensive record would have looked very different.
Nuno Mendes
Nuno Mendes has beens a revelation on the left for PSG, contributing 2 goals and 2 assists while also being a defensive rock. He hass particularly been effective against some of the best right-wingers in the tournament, often shutting down the entire right flank of the opposition.
The Portuguese defender’s ability to balance attack and defence has made him a complete full-back. Mendes’s pace, tackling, and crossing ability have given PSG an extra dimension going forward, and his defensive discipline has ensured PSG rarely got exposed on his side.
Vitinha
Vitinha has been the heartbeat of PSG’s midfield, controlling the tempo and dictating play with incredible efficiency. He has averaged 90.6 accurate passes per 90 minutes, the highest in the tournament, showing his composure and vision under pressure.
He has been excellent at controlling the ball in tight spaces, often escaping pressure and initiating attacks. Vitinha has also covered more ground than anyone else, running 184.7 km throughout the campaign. His work rate, passing range, and ability to break up play have made him indispensable to PSG’s success.
Declan Rice
Though Declan Rice has only recorded 1 goal and 2 assists, his impact has gone far beyond the numbers. Rice has been the deep-lying playmaker protecting Arsenal’s backline, intercepted passes, and started attacks from deep.
His ability to sit in front of the defence and break up opposition plays has been crucial to Arsenal’s defensive solidity. Rice’s positioning, tackling, and leadership in midfield allowed the North London club’s more creative players to flourish. Without the Englishman’s presence, Arsenal’s run to the final would have been much harder, if not impossible.
Michael Olise
Michael Olise has been one of the most creative players in the UEFA Champions League after his move to Bayern Munich, creating 33 chances (second-highest) and recording an xA (expected assists) of 4.9; the highest in the competition.
His 6 assists have tied him for the joint-highest tally, and he has also scored 5 goals. Olise’s dribbling, vision, and ability to take on defenders made him a constant threat for Bayern. The French international has been the player opposition defences have feared most, often pulling the strings in Bayern’s attack and delivering decisive moments when it mattered.
Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez has been a relentless force in Atletico Madrid’s attack, scoring 10 goals (fourth-highest) and providing 4 assists. His 14 goal contributions put him fourth-highest overall, and he has also created 33 chances (third-highest).
The Argentine international’s work rate, movement off the ball, and ability to finish chances made him a perfect fit for Atletico’s system. He has always been available, always pressing, and always a threat in the final third. His all-around game has made him one of the most complete attackers in the tournament.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Kvaratskhelia has been PSG’s superstar on the left, scoring 10 goals (third-highest) and providing 6 assists (joint-top with Olise and Hakimi). His dribbling, pace, and creativity have made him impossible to mark for the full 90 minutes.
Kvaratskhelia has been the player who can single-handedly change a game with a moment of brilliance, and he has delivered consistently throughout the tournament. His ability to beat defenders, create chances, and score crucial goals have made him an essential part of PSG’s final run.
Harry Kane
Harry Kane is the tournament’s top scorer with 14 goals, and his 2 assists gave him 16 goal contributions, joint-highest with Mbappe and Kvaratskhelia. Kane’s positioning, finishing, and ability to link up play made him the most complete striker in the competition.
The Englishman has been clinical in front of goal, often converting half-chances into goals, and his leadership in attack was invaluable for Bayern Munich. Kane’s performance throughout the tournament has cemented his status as one of the world’s best strikers.
Honourable Mentions
Nikita Haikin, Willian Pacho, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Lamine Yamal, Gabriel Martinelli, Kylian Mbappe are the honourable mentions for the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season, and they make the bench.
