UEFA Champions League Team of the 2021/22 Season
The UEFA Champions League did not disappoint once again in the 2021/22 football season, with a thrilling season of elite-level football concluding with Real Madrid crowned as champions of Europe. Los Blancos clinched their 14th Champions League title after edging past Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France in the finals of the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League.
Following an unforgettable campaign of fantastic football and captivating comebacks, we’ve attempted to put together our Champions League Team of the Season –
Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Courtois made 55 saves in just 13 games
Thibaut Courtois was at the centre of their success to underline his status as one of world football’s very best goalkeepers, regularly coming to his side’s rescue during the latter stages.
Few will forget his late save from Jack Grealish to set the stage for the semi-final comeback against Manchester City, whilst his goalkeeping masterclass in the final saw Real crowned champions in Paris. The Belgium international made a huge 55 saves in just 13 games in the Champions League this season.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
The English international has to be a part of the ‘Team of the season.’ The kind of work he does in the right-wing position is commendable. His progressive dribbles, sharp passes, inch-perfect cross deliveries, defensive actions, and speedy runs make him one of the most decorated wingbacks in European football.
In the nine matches that he played in Champions League this season, he delivered 63 passes into the key areas, averaging seven every match, and recovered the ball 51 times, mustering a median of 5.67 per match.
Central Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Virgil van Dijk makes sharp dribbles at the back, the Dutch defender has the confidence to dodge past the opponents, even during high press situations. Even during attacking set-pieces, the centre-back is keen on getting inside the box and scoring goals.
In the nine games that the Dutch international played in the Champions League this term, he conceded mere eight goals while also keeping three clean sheets. He was Liverpool’s outstanding defender and provided the type of experience that his side needed at key moments.
Central Defender: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Ruben Dias has established himself as one of the best central defenders this term
Ruben Dias covers his opponents really well and puts massive pressure on them to force them into committing an error or losing the ball. The 25-year-old has the strength, power, stamina, and speed to outclass the forwards of other teams. His tackles are timed perfectly, reads the game really well, and maintains structure at the back for Citizens.
The defender was instrumental in City’s match against PSG in the group stages and his accurate long ball distribution of the ball from the back makes his case for being one of the best centre-backs in Europe. The Portuguese international had completed 49 of the 58 long balls that he played from the back in this campaign.
Left-back: Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)
The Portuguese wingback has been a top performer for the Citizens throughout the season. The 28-year-old can take shots from a dangerous position, score goals, progress forward, deliver astounding balls into the box, and make defensive tackles.
The fullback has transformed to a great extent under Pep Guardiola and deserves a mention for the kind of work he does at City. In nine appearances he scored two goals, recovered the ball 56 times, and delivered 51 passes into the key areas.
Defensive Midfielder: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Casemiro was the underrated hero for Real Madrid this season
Casemiro was the underrated hero of the 14-time Champions League winners. Against Chelsea, Lukaku might have made the headlines, but the Brazilian midfielder did the dirty work in the midfield and won the ball numerous times, which allowed Real to launch attacks in transition.
The five-time Champions League winner gets the ball out of high pressing situations by shielding it well. His ability to make blocks and clearances provides stability to Madrid’s defensive line and the 30-year-old is also a great threat in the air.
Central Midfielder: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Luka Modric continues to drop midfield masterclasses among the Champions League’s best. The Ballon d’Or winner remains timeless and can dominate games in multiple midfield roles, providing a touch of class and composure on the Real Madrid midfield.
His 89th-minute pass to Rodrygo against Chelsea would be written in the history of the Champions League. If not for that, Real wouldn’t have won that match and would have been out of the competition in the quarters itself.
Central Midfielder: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
The Belgian midfielder makes everything look easy for the Citizens in the midfield region. He could drive forward with the ball, play accurate balls and crosses into the box, take low-driven shots to score goals, and link up with his teammates inside and around the 18-yard-box.
In the 10 matches that he played, he scored two goals and delivered four assists, made 29 passes into the penalty area, and made 19 runs into the key play area. These stats back the aforementioned skills of the Belgian international. He also scored a vital goal in City’s 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on aggregate in the ‘quarter-finals’.
Right-Winger: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Salah scored eight goals and two assists in the UCL this season
Mohamed Salah startles everyone through his exquisite finishing. He scored two braces in the group stages for the Reds. One came against the impregnable defence of Atletico Madrid while the other one was against Porto.
Through his impeccable work rate in the attacking unit, he scored eight goals and delivered two assists in the 12 matches for the Reds that he played in this campaign. Salah was reliable as always and turned into a creator in the latter stages to help Liverpool to the final.
Left-Winger: Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid)
Vinicius Junior has provided the perfect supporting role to Karim Benzema this season, scoring 22 goals in all competitions during a brilliant breakthrough season at Real Madrid. The most crucial of those decided the Champions League final as Vinicius scored the only goal of the game against Liverpool in Paris, whilst he also netted a superb individual effort in the club’s thrilling semi-final tie with Manchester City.
The winger has also delivered some of the crucial crosses and cutback passes into the box, which has allowed Benzema to score those important goals for Los Blancos. The Brazilian winger and Benzema combined really well on the counterattack and that proved to be decisive for Los Blancos. Four goals and six assists are an impressive total for the 21-year-old, with his final winner ensuring his place in the competition’s history.
Striker: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
One of the most exciting players of the 2021-22 season, Karim Benzema gave incredible moments to the football fans in the 2021-22 season. The French international scored a total of 15 goals in the campaign, including his two hat tricks against Chelsea and PSG. The long-time serving player of Real Madrid got the club out of dire situations in the knockout stages.
His role in Real Madrid’s run was remarkable, scoring successive hat-tricks against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, in addition to three goals across the semi-final win over Manchester City. Benzema’s brilliance has made him the odds-on favourite for the Ballon d’Or and with good reason, following a career-best campaign for Real Madrid.
