How Real Madrid dominates the Champions League awards
Real Madrid players have secured several of the UEFA Champions League’s most prestigious individual accolades for the 2025-26 campaign. Despite the Spanish giants finishing the year without winning a major trophy, the individual brilliance of their squad was recognised by UEFA.
Arda Güler Named Breakthrough Player of the Season
The UEFA Technical Observers Group has named 21-year-old midfielder Arda Güler as the Breakthrough Player of the Season. The selection was made by a committee of former players and coaches, including Gareth Southgate, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Roberto Martínez, Rafa Benítez, Aitor Karanka, Claude Makélélé, Roy Hodgson, Frank de Boer, and Rui Faria.
Güler emerged as a consistent performer under managers Xabi Alonso and later Álvaro Arbeloa. He appeared in all 14 of Real Madrid’s Champions League matches, starting 13 of them, with his only substitute appearance occurring in a December defeat to Manchester City.
Throughout the tournament, the Turkish international scored twice, both goals arriving in a dramatic 4-3 quarterfinal second-leg loss to Bayern Munich. He also recorded four assists, three of which were provided for Kylian Mbappé, and earned Player of the Match honours during a 1-0 league phase victory over Juventus.
Valverde’s Stunning Volley Wins Goal of the Season
Federico Valverde also earned high honours after his strike in the first-leg Round of 16 victory over Manchester City was voted the Champions League Goal of the Season. The goal was the culmination of a powerful first-half performance by Madrid.
The sequence began with a lofted pass from Brahim Díaz inside the penalty area. Valverde controlled the ball, lifted it over Marc Guéhi, and fired a powerful volley past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Mbappé and Vinícius Dominate Statistical Charts
Kylian Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot, netting 15 goals in 11 appearances. This efficiency resulted in an average of 1.36 goals per game, with Mbappé converting exactly half of his 30 shots on target.
Of his 15 goals, 12 were scored with his right foot (including three penalties), two were headers, and one was scored with his left foot. This marks a significant increase from the previous season, where he scored seven goals.
Vinícius Júnior finished the tournament tied with Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise as the top assist provider. The Brazilian recorded eight assists across 14 games, while Olise achieved the same total in 13 appearances.
Looking Ahead
Given his consistency and the recognition from UEFA’s Technical Observers, Arda Güler could see an even more central role in the squad moving forward. His ability to produce key assists for players like Mbappé may make him a primary focal point of the attack.
Similarly, Kylian Mbappé’s increased scoring efficiency is likely to remain a critical component of Madrid’s strategy. The team may look to build more plays around the synergy between Vinícius Júnior’s playmaking and Mbappé’s finishing in future European campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who selected Arda Güler as the Breakthrough Player of the Season?
He was selected by UEFA’s Technical Observers Group, a committee including former players and coaches such as Gareth Southgate, Claude Makélélé, and Rafa Benítez.
How many goals did Kylian Mbappé score to win the Golden Boot?
Mbappé scored 15 goals in 11 appearances.
Who tied with Vinícius Júnior for the most assists in the competition?
Michael Olise of Bayern Munich tied with Vinícius Júnior, with both players recording eight assists.
Do you believe individual accolades are a fair measure of success when a team fails to win a trophy?