Champions League Fantasy Football: Midfielders for every budget

UEFA.com picks out a group of the most enticing midfielders across all price ranges as managers on Champions League Fantasy Football, presented by PlayStation, assemble their squads for Matchday 1.

PREMIUM OPTIONS

One of only two midfielders priced at the top rate for his position this season, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (€10.0m) was instrumental in Paris Saint-Germain defending their Champions League crown. The Georgian returned ten goals and six assists in 2025/26 and is already owned by over 30% of Fantasy managers.

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (€10.0m) has got off to a promising start this season, scoring twice against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga. Team-mate Raphinha (€9.5m) is also in excellent form, hitting five goals in three games. while Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (€9.0m) has scored a Premier League hat-trick already this season.

No midfielder registered more assists in last season’s Champions League than Vinícius Júnior (€9.5m), and with a goal and two assists in 2026/27, the Real Madrid winger is proving popular again. Bayern München's Michael Olise (€9.0m) is the most-selected midfielder heading into Matchday 1 with an ownership of over 40% – no surprise following his 13 goal involvements in Europe last season, the Frenchman finishing level with Vinícius Júnior on eight Fantasy assists.

MID-PRICED OPTIONS

Jude Bellingham (€8.5m) has made an excellent start to the season for Real Madrid with two goals and two assists in his first three Liga matches, while Bukayo Saka (€8.5m) has scored in each of Arsenal's opening two Premier League fixtures. After ten Champions League goals for Newcastle last season Anthony Gordon (€8.0m) has made an immediate impact at new club Barcelona with three assists in as many appearances.

Paris midfielder Vitinha (€7.5m) followed his 80 Fantasy points in 2024/25 with 100 last season. Only team-mate Kvaratskhelia managed more in his position, with Vitinha scoring six goals – half of which came from outside the box – along with an assist, 80 ball recoveries and two Player of the Match awards.

Lower-priced options in the mid-tier bracket include Dominik Szoboszlai (€7.0m), who managed five goals and four assists for Liverpool in Europe last season, Manchester City's Rayan Cherki (€7.0m), who has four attacking returns already in 2026/27 and Hans Vanaken (€6.5m), scorer of three goals for Club Brugge in last season's league phase.

Lens' Florian Thauvin (€6.5m) and Anis Hadj Moussa (€6.5m) of Feyenoord also warrant consideration having both opened their goalscoring accounts for the season in domestic action.

BUDGET OPTIONS

After a star showing for Champions League debutants Como against Napoli in Serie A, attention should be drawn to attacking midfielder Martin Baturina (€5.5m). The Croatian scored one goal and set up another in Naples and with a home fixture on Matchday 1, could prove an inexpensive difference-maker.

Those looking for a cheap route into the Paris midfield could focus on João Neves (€6.0m), whose 60 Fantasy points in 2025/26 included five goal involvements and 57 ball recoveries. Another midfielder capable of significant ball recoveries and points from multiple avenues is Maxi Araújo (€5.5m), who already has a goal and assist for Sporting CP this campaign. Like Baturina and Neves, Araújo has a home Matchday 1 fixture.

Zlatko Tripić (€5.5m), Aleksandar Pavlović (€5.0m) and Rodrigo Zalazar (€4.5m) are also worth considering for Fantasy managers, with Tripić instrumental in Norwegian side Viking qualifying for the first time. The 33-year-old winger scored in both legs of the play-off round triumph against GNK Dinamo, including a penalty to further enhance his Fantasy appeal.