June 4 – UEFA has unveiled its Champions League Team of the Season, with Kylian Mbappe making way for future teammate Vinicius Junior in the final XI.
The France captain missed out on featuring in the Team of the Tournament despite notching eight goals in 12 matches for PSG, sharing the golden boot with FC Bayern’s Harry Kane.
The announcement saw Real Madrid duo Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham pick up Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year as the clubmates battle it out as the two front runners for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
English duo Phil Foden and Harry Kane accompany Vinicius Jr in the front three, who will now turn their attention towards the upcoming Euros as the bookies’ favourite to take home the title.
Fellow Englishman Jude Bellingham is flanked by PSG’s Vitinha, who played a crucial role in sinking FC Barcelona in the quarter finals, alongside Marcel Sabitzer who was equally important in Borussia Dortmund’s run to the final.
The back four is shaped by Dortmund duo Ian Maatsen and Mats Hummels, who bizarrely were not called up for the Netherlands or Germany respectively ahead of Euro 2024. Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal feature on the right side of the defence after leading Los Blancos to yet another UCL title.
Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel mans the net, beating out Real Madrid’s Ukrainian Andriy Lunin, whose place in the final was taken by Thibaut Courtois despite a near-flawless campaign as deputy to the Belgian, who was ruled out for nine months with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Full team below:
Harry Kane
Vinicius Junior (POTY)
Phil Foden
Jude Bellingham (YPOTY)
Vitinha
Marcel Sabitzer
Ian Maatsen
Mats Hummels
Antonio Rudiger
Dani Carvajal
Gregor Kobel
A potential rivalry is already sparking in Madrid, as UEFA Player of the Tournament Vinicius Junior is set to compete against superstar signing Mbappe for the left forward position at Los Blancos next year.
Concerns have been raised as to how to balance personalities and talent whilst still getting the best out of each player, with at least one of Madrid’s stars set to make way for Mbappe in the starting eleven.
Regardless, it’s a nice problem to have.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1731567014labto1731567014ofdlr1731567014owedi1731567014sni@g1731567014niwe.1731567014yrrah1731567014