The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase officially wrapped up yesterday, January 28, and it was a historic campaign. From Arsenal’s unprecedented 100% winning record to Kylian Mbappé obliterating goal-scoring records, the new format has delivered on its promise of high-stakes drama. Here is the list of the Top 10 players of the UCL league phase, ranked according to the impact and narrative that defined these past few months.
10. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
Impact: 6 Goals | Justification: Osimhen proved he remains one of the world’s most lethal strikers regardless of the crest on his shirt. His hat-trick against Ajax was a masterclass in movement and finishing. He essentially dragged Galatasaray into the knockout rounds, ending the phase tied for 4th in the overall scoring charts.
9. Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal)
Impact: 4 Goals, 1 assist| Justification: While his goal tally is slightly lower than Martinelli’s, his presence has been transformative in the UCL. Since joining in the summer, he has shone by providing a focal point that keeps defenders occupied for 90 minutes. His winning goal against Kairat Almaty yesterday was the perfect exclamation point on a stellar debut European campaign in London.
8. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Impact: 6 Goals, 2 assists | Justification: Gordon has been the heartbeat of Newcastle’s European resurgence. His energy and directness were nightmare fuel for defenders, and finishing the phase with 6 goals, matching established stars like Martinelli, cements his status as a legitimate elite winger on the continental stage.
7. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Impact: 6 Goals, 1 assist | Justification: Martinelli made history this season by becoming the first player in Arsenal history to score in five consecutive Champions League matches. He was the primary outlet for an Arsenal team that finished with a perfect 8-0-0 record, showing a level of clinical efficiency we haven’t seen from him before.
6. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Impact: 1 goal, 6 Assists | Justification: The architect. Olise finished as the joint-top assist provider of the phase. He has seamlessly integrated into the Bayern machine, acting as the creative bridge that allowed Harry Kane to flourish. In a tournament of scorers, Olise was the ultimate facilitator.
5. Fermín López (Barcelona)
Impact: 5 Goals, 2 assists | Justification: Fermín’s campaign was defined by one of the most iconic individual performances of the season: a stunning hat-trick against Olympiacos. He has become one of the symbols of the “New Barça” under Hansi Flick, high pressing, relentless energy, and late runs into the box that most teams simply couldn’t track.
4. Erling Haaland (Man City)
Impact: 7 Goals | Justification: It says everything about Haaland that 7 goals in a single phase feels like “just another day at the office.” He was one of the most consistent threats in the competition, leading City to a dominant Top 8 finish. He remains the standard by which all other “pure” strikers are measured.
3. Marcus Rashford (Barcelona)
Impact: 5 Goals, 3 Assists | Justification: The loan move of the decade. Rashford has looked completely reborn in Spain, playing with a freedom and joy that vanished in his final months at United. His 8 total goal contributions and his chemistry with Lamine Yamal have made Barcelona arguably the most dangerous attacking side in the tournament.
2. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Impact: 8 Goals, 3 Assists | Justification: Kane was the most complete forward of the league phase. Trailing only Mbappé in goals, he also functioned as one of Bayern’s primary playmakers. His ability to drop deep and unleash Olise or Musiala, while still being there to finish the move, makes him the most indispensable player in the Bundesliga.
1. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
Impact: 13 Goals | Justification: Historic. Inevitable. Mbappé didn’t just lead the charts; he shattered Cristiano Ronaldo’s 10-year-old record for most goals in a single opening phase. With 13 goals in just 7 games, he has turned the world’s most prestigious competition into his personal playground.
This list represents a fascinating shift in the European hierarchy. While the “Big Three” of Mbappé, Kane, and Haaland still sit at the throne, the emergence of Arsenal’s duo and the Barcelona redemption arcs for Rashford and Fermín have changed the landscape. We are heading into the Round of 16 with a pool of talent that is deeper and more balanced than it has been in a decade.
