The Champions League returns on Tuesday evening and what an opening couple of nights we have to look forward to.
Borussia Dortmund v Barcelona, Napoli v Liverpool and Chelsea v Valencia are Tuesday’s standout fixtures, while Wednesday sees Atletico Madrid host Juventus, and Real Madrid travel to Paris Saint-Germain.
With a few exceptions, most of the world’s top players will be competing in this season’s Champions League. But who are the most expensive players in this year’s tournament?
Thanks to Transfermarkt.com, we’re able to tell you.
Their database lists the most expensive players competing in this season’s Champions League and we’ve listed the top 50 below.
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To show you just how many talented footballers are playing for club’s in this year’s competition, here’s a short list of the players who missed out on a place in the top 50: Luis Suarez, Aaron Ramsey, Karim Benzema, Samuel Umtiti, Angel Di Maria, Edinson Cavani, Robert Lewandowski, Gareth Bale, Luka Jovic, Andrew Robertson, Thibaut Courtois and Lorenzo Insigne.
50. Sergio Aguero | Manchester City
Market value: £58.5 million
The Argentine has scored 237 goals in 343 games for Man City and will be remembered as one of their greatest ever players when he eventually leaves the Etihad Stadium.
49. Ederson | Manchester City
Market value: £63 million
One of the best goalkeepers in the world and pivotal to the way Man City play under Pep Guardiola.
48. Arthur | Barcelona
Market value: £63 million
The next Xavi? it’s a big season for the talented Brazilian midfielder.
47. Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich
Market value: £63 million
The versatile 24-year-old is unlikely to leave Bayern any time soon.
46. Koke | Atletico Madrid
Market value: £63 million
The 27-year-old Spanish midfielder has spent his entire professional career with Atleti.
45. Gabriel Jesus | Manchester City
Market value: £63 million
Jesus has the potential to become one of the world’s best forwards.
44. Miralem Pjanic | Juventus
Market value: £63 million
A class act. Pjanic joined Juventus from AS Roma three years ago.
43. Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid
Market value: £63 million
Looked sensational at times last season but needs to rediscover his best form under Zinedine Zidane.
42. Lucas Hernandez | Bayern Munich
Market value: £63 million
The most expensive signing in Bundesliga history.
41. Thiago Alcantara | Bayern Munich
Market value: £63 million
The one that got away for Barcelona. Thiago has plied his trade with Bayern since 2013.
40. Raphael Varane | Real Madrid
Market value: £63 million
Varane has won just about everything with Real Madrid and France.
39. Jose Gimenez | Atletico Madrid
Market value: £63 million
Uruguayan centre-back who joined Atletico in 2013.
38. Marco Verratti | Paris Saint-Germain
Market value: £67.5 million
A wonderfully talented footballer, Verratti is often a joy to watch.
37. Romelu Lukaku | Inter Milan
Market value: £67.5 million
Has a real point to prove this season after ending his disappointing spell with Manchester United.
36. Aymeric Laporte | Manchester City
Market value: £67.5 million
It’s now become patently clear just how important Laporte, who is currently injured, is to Man City.
35. Kalidou Koulibaly | Napoli
Market value: £67.5 million
Linked with a host of top clubs in recent years, Koulibaly remains a Napoli player.
34. Matthijs de Ligt | Juventus
Market value: £67.5 million
Juventus won the race for the Dutch defender’s signature this summer. Has the potential to become the world’s best centre-back.
33. Roberto Firmino | Liverpool
Market value: £72 million
Worth his weight in gold to Liverpool.
32. Alisson | Liverpool
Market value: £72 million
Won the Champions League in his first season at Anfield after replacing Loris Karius in goal.
31. Rodri | Manchester City
Market value: £72 million
Has already settled in well at Man City.
30. Mauro Icardi | Paris Saint-Germain
Market value: £72 million
Currently on a season-long loan deal (with an option to buy) at PSG from Inter Milan.
29. Son Heung-min | Tottenham
Market value: £72 million
The South Korean forward was excellent last season, scoring 20 goals in 48 games for Spurs.
28. Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool
Market value: £72 million
Just 20 years old. It’s frightening to think how good he might become.
27. Frenkie de Jong | Barcelona
Market value: £76.5 million
Looked a future world-beater last season at Ajax. Watching him play alongside Lionel Messi and co. in the Champions League this season will be fascinating.
26. Paulo Dybala | Juventus
Market value: £76.5 million
Strongly linked with a move away from Turin in the summer, Dybala remains a Juventus player.
25. Dele Alli | Tottenham
Market value: £81 million
Can Dele take his game to the next level this season?
24. Saul Niguez | Atletico Madrid
Market value: £81 million
The midfielder has produced some special moments in this competition for Atletico in recent seasons.
23. Philippe Coutinho | Bayern Munich
Market value: £81 million
The Brazilian will be desperate to get his career back on track this season after ending his Barcelona nightmare.
22. Cristiano Ronaldo | Juventus
Market value: £81 million
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is 34 now but you wouldn’t bet against him ending the season as the Champions League’s top scorer.
21. Marc-Andre ter Stegen | Barcelona
Market value: £81 million
A world-class goalkeeper and perfect for the style of football Barcelona play.
20. Kai Havertz | Bayer Leverkusen
Market value: £81 million
One of the youngest players on this list, keep a close eye on the 20-year-old during this season’s Champions League campaign.
19. Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool
Market value: £90 million
£90 million? And the rest. The 2019 Ballon d’Or favourite is the best centre-back in the world right now.
18. Jadon Sancho | Borussia Dortmund
Market value: £90 million
The 19-year-old has flourished since leaving Man City for Borussia Dortmund in 2017, scoring 17 goals in 60 games.
17. Leroy Sane | Manchester City
Market value: £90 million
Linked with a move to Bayern Munich in the summer, Sane has a big role to play this season as City aim to win the Champions League for the first time.
16. Christian Eriksen | Tottenham
Market value: £90 million
This could be the Danish playmaker’s final season with Spurs.
15. Joao Felix | Atletico Madrid
Market value: £90 million
The 19-year-old became the fourth-most expensive player ever when he joined Atletico in a £113 million move from Benfica in the summer. The teenager will be looking to make an impact in the Champions League.
14. N’Golo Kante | Chelsea
Market value: £90 million
Every club in the world would jump at the chance to sign the lovable Frenchman.
13. Ousmane Dembele | Barcelona
Market value: £90 million
Has struggled to justify his astronomical transfer fee since joining Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 but the 22-year-old still has bags of potential.
12. Jan Oblak | Atletico Madrid
Market value: £90 million
Arguably the world’s best goalkeeper right now.
11. Bernardo Silva | Manchester City
Market value: £90 million
Nicknamed ‘Bubble Gum’ because of the way the ball sticks to his foot, Bernardo is a sensational footballer.
10. Sadio Mane | Liverpool
Market value: £108 million
Mane continues to get better and better. Liverpool wouldn’t swap him for anyone right now.
9. Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City
Market value: £117 million
On his day, De Bruyne is probably the best player in the Premier League.
8. Antoine Griezmann | Barcelona
Market value: £117 million
Griezmann finally decided to leave Atletico for Barcelona in the summer and has scored two goals in his first four appearances for the Catalan giants.
7. Raheem Sterling | Manchester City
Market value: £126 million
Sterling has been transformed into a world-beater under Pep Guardiola and now scores goals for fun.
6. Lionel Messi | Barcelona
Market value: £135 million
The GOAT. Nothing more needs to be said.
5. Harry Kane | Tottenham
Market value: £135 million
A striker who lives for scoring goals, Kane is probably the best No. 9 on the planet right now.
4. Eden Hazard | Real Madrid
Market value: £135 million
Left Chelsea after seven years in the summer, Hazard will be under pressure to inspire Real Madrid to silverware this season.
3. Mohamed Salah | Liverpool
Market value: £135 million
Seventy-five goals in 111 games means Salah has exceeded all expectations since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017.
2. Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain
Market value: £162 million
The Brazilian was reportedly left devastated after his proposed return to Barcelona fell through in the summer. Can he pick himself up and inspire PSG to Champions League glory this season?
1. Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain
Market value: £180 million
Still just 20 years old, Mbappe will be desperate to add a Champions League winners’ medal to his growing silverware collection.