5 Best players in the UEFA Champions League so far

Best players in the UEFA Champions League so far

#5 Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain

Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain: Group H - UEFA Champions League

Brazilian superstar Neymar was 90 minutes away from inspiring PSG to a first-ever UEFA Champions League title last season but his side ultimately lost the final against Bayern Munich. One of the best players in the competition in 2019/20, Neymar has, so far, played like a man who has a point to prove as his displays in the group stage were phenomenal.

Neymar has started just five UCL games this year, the least of any player on this list, and yet he boasts of the third-highest goals and assist per 90 in the competition so far. Neymar was simply unplayable, registering a goal against Leipzig and a stunning hat-trick against Istanbul Basaksehir with an assist.

20/20 - Neymar is the first player in the history of the European Cup/Champions League to score 20 goals for two different teams (Barcelona and PSG). Vision. pic.twitter.com/dV75pUE6jC

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 9, 2020

With his side facing a potential elimination in the penultimate group stage fixture against Manchester United, Neymar took matters into his own hands and delivered a brace to fire PSG through to the next round. The world's most expensive player's next mission is to help the French champions seek revenge against the German opponents who denied them European glory in 2019/20.

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#4 Karim Benzema | Real Madrid

Real Madrid v Atalanta - UEFA Champions League Round Of 16 Leg Two

Real Madrid's injury crises this season, coupled with their failure to replace the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, has led to Karim Benzema being a one-man attack for Zinedine Zidane's side — and he has still managed to deliver. The Blancos legend has been in red-hot form since the start of last year and much of the same can be said about 2020/21 as well. He's spared Zidane's blushes on several occasions in the UEFA Champions League.

An 87th-minute comeback goal at Borussia Park, the opener against Internazionale in Madrid, a first-half brace in a do-or-die game against Gladbach, and the opener against Atalanta in the Round of 16 second-leg — Benzema has not only scored goals, but he's scored season-defining ones for Real Madrid. The 33-year-old has the third-highest expected goals and assists per 90 among players remaining in the competition with 1.08.

Karim Benzema has now scored in each of his last seven games across all competitions for Real Madrid:⚽️ vs. Getafe⚽️ vs. Valencia⚽️ vs. Atletico⚽️⚽️ vs. Elche⚽️ vs. Atalanta⚽️⚽️ vs. Celta Vigo⚽️ vs. EibarSensational goalscoring form. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/fuvlhOT12S

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 3, 2021

Benzema will undoubtedly be Real Madrid's most important attacker heading into their clash against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. With Reds stars Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez out of contention for the game, the Frenchman could potentially continue his rich vein of form.

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