Messi leads the way in best Champions League group stage XI

And thus, the Champions League group stage came to an end as Wednesday night’s games confirmed those progressing to the next round and the teams dropping into the Europa League. Here, we analyse the team of the group stage using our unique rating system of players to start at least three of the six games and what better place to start than with the player of the round, Lionel Messi. 

The Barcelona star was in stunning form for the Blaugrana as they topped their group, with Messi earning a better WhoScored rating (9.03) than any other player in the group stages of the Champions League. The 29-year-old was in stunning form for the La Liga side in the five of six matches he played, scoring more goals (10) than any other player and 21 of the 32 teams involved in the group stages of the competition. Seven of his 10 goals were deemed clear-cut, more than any other player, while only two players played more successful final third passes than Messi, whose five clear-cut chances created was the joint-best return. 

Teammate Neymar stars on the opposite flank having gained a WhoScored rating of 8.25, which was second only to Messi in the group stages of the competition. The Brazilian registered more assists (7) than any other player, four of which were for Messi, unsurprisingly making that the best assist to goalscorer combination in Europe’s elite club competition so far this term. He routinely tested the opposition full-back having completed more dribbles (22) than any other player in the group stages. 

Compatriot Fabinho stars in the middle of the park, with the Monaco man a key player for the Ligue 1 side as they topped their group. The midfielder made 21 tackles from his five starts and was dribbled past the just the four times in 450 minutes of action, with his defensive quality ensuring opponents struggled to forge goalscoring opportunities against Leonardo Jardim's side. Of the 21 tackles Fabinho made, 10 came in the 2-1 win at Tottenham in gameweek one, which was the third highest return in a single match. 

He’s partnered in the middle of the park by Mesut Ozil, with the German playing a key role for Arsenal. The Gunners secured top spot in a Champions League group for the first time since 2011, with Ozil central to that. Only Messi (12) and Neymar (9) were directly involved in more goals than the 28-year-old (7 - 4 goals, 3 assists) in the group stages. The World Cup winner perhaps needed to contribute more for Arsenal in front of goal and he stepped up to the task with his four goals more than his previous three Champions League campaigns for Arsenal combined (3). 

Arsenal teammate Alexis Sanchez features in attack with his two goals and three assists helping to contribute to a WhoScored rating of 8.07. The Chilean (17) has been one of the most fouled players in the competition so far, while 2.3 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per game were both hugely respectable returns for Alexis. He also defended effectively from the front having averaged 1.2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions in the group stages of the competition. 

Cristiano Ronaldo partners Alexis on the frontline with a WhoScored rating of 7.65. While his goalscoring form didn’t match his La Liga exploits, with just two goals to his name in six starts, four assists was a return bettered only by Neymar (7) and Ousmane Dembele (5). 5.5 shots per game was the highest figure, meanwhile, signifying his unwavering confidence in his pursuit of goal. 

Looking to the defence, Djibril Sidibe lines up at right-back having excelled in the role for Monaco, as evidenced in his rating of 7.90. He averaged 4.4 tackles per game - one of the better returns - and he pressed forward to great effect too, having offered up 2.2 key passes, 1.8 dribbles and 2.2 accurate crosses per game, offering a real attacking role from deep. 

Atletico Madrid man Filipe Luis features at left-back after a strong showing in the group stages for the Spanish giants. No team conceded fewer goals than Atletico (2), but it was Luis’ attacking work that drew the plaudits. The experienced Brazilian full-back averaged more dribbles per game (3.2) than any other defender and with the onus on the full-backs to attack opponents in Atletico’s current set up, Luis once more carried out the duty with ease. 

FC Copenhagen centre-back Zanka stars in the team of the group stage, with the 26-year-old’s performances at the heart of the defence ensuring the Danish side conceded just two goals from their six games. Zanka made more clearances (62) than any other player to bring to light his proactive approach to defending, while two goals helped earn a WhoScored rating of 7.61. 

FC Porto man Felipe partners Zanka in defence, with the Portuguese outfit conceding just three goals from their six games to help confirm their place in the next round of the competition. Felipe ranked second for total clearances (55) and maximised his commendable reading of the game to average 2.5 interceptions per game to secure Porto safe passage to the last-16 stage of the Champions League. 

Kasper Schmeichel rounds off the XI as the highest rated goalkeeper with a rating of 7.31. The Leicester star boasted a 100% save success rate having kept a clean sheet in his four appearances before succumbing to injury. 11 saves in total meant he was kept busy by opposition, but he was equal to the task as the defending Premier League champions guaranteed top spot in Group G in their debut Champions League campaign.