UEFA Champions League best XI according to ratings

Attack

Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 8.49

Messi has been the beacon of hope for Barcelona's UCL aspirations

Barcelona's majestic captain Lionel Messi hasn't had the most prolific of UCL campaigns so far, but his playmaking ability has been on full display in Europe. The Argentine has been the driving force behind Barcelona topping a tricky group including the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

The 33-year-old enjoyed a stellar domestic campaign, becoming the first-ever LaLiga player to reach 20+ goals and assists in a single season. In the UCL, Messi has averaged an astonishing 7.8 dribbles and 4.3 shots per game so far, highlighting the utter dominance that Messi looks to impose when in possession. Although he's managed just two goals in his five games, he's also managed to set up a further three for his teammates.

20 goals and 20 assists in a single league season this century:-Thierry Henry 2002-03-Leo Messi 2019-20End of list. pic.twitter.com/A9emiBCfLY

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 11, 2020

Barcelona are set to host Gattuso's Napoli at the Nou Camp on Saturday night, a game where Messi would undoubtedly take centre stage in. All eyes will be on the skipper Napoli have proved to be a tricky opposition to face.

---

Robert Lewandowski | Bayern Munich | 9.20

Lewandowski has been the best player in the world this season

Undisputedly the best player in the tournament so far, Robert Lewandowski is in the goalscoring form of his life. The Polish striker has been simply unstoppable in 2019-20, being the highest scorer in both the Bundesliga as well as the Champions League.

Lewandowski leads the scoring charts with a staggering 11 (!) goals in the competition, at least five higher than any player currently remaining in the UCL. He needed just six games (527 minutes) to achieve this tally, and could potentially play up to four more games should Bayern reach the final. There is little doubt that the 31-year-old is eyeing Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 17 goals in a single campaign.

4 - Robert Lewandowski is only the second player to have scored 4+ goals in a Champions League game on more than one occasion, along with Lionel Messi. Phenomenal. pic.twitter.com/i8VIqtyMY0

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 26, 2019

With over 50 goals across all competitions in 44 games, Lewandowski gives Bayern Munich the edge over any team in the UCL. The Bavarians would hope that the Pole fires them to the second treble in their history. Lewandowski has arguably been the best player in the world, and is currently the highest-rated player in the UCL.

---