Champions League players to watch

Mesut Ozil: The German playmaker looks to be a brilliant addition for Arsenal after all the outrage from a quiet off-season from Arsene Wenger. Ozil is a silky smooth, creative midfielder with composure and outstanding vision – and he’s still only 24.

Gareth Bale scored in his Real Madrid debut Saturday and the talented Welsh attacking midfielder looks to put the distractions of his huge-money move to the Spanish capital from Tottenham behind him with a win in Turkey against Galatasaray (AP/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Gareth Bale scored in his Real Madrid debut Saturday and the talented Welsh attacking midfielder looks to put the distractions of his huge-money move to the Spanish capital from Tottenham behind him with a win in Turkey against Galatasaray (AP/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is still king for the Catalan giants, using lightning quick runs and remarkable ball skills to be a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. A rumoured move to Bayern Munich was quickly put to bed, and rightly so, as the Argentine is one of the world’s best (AP/Alberto Saiz)
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is still king for the Catalan giants, using lightning quick runs and remarkable ball skills to be a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. A rumoured move to Bayern Munich was quickly put to bed, and rightly so, as the Argentine is one of the world’s best (AP/Alberto Saiz)
Arturo Vidal of Juventus is as versatile a midfielder as there is on the planet, but what he is best known for is taking no prisoners when it comes time to battle for a ball. The Chilean international is also certainly a threat going forward and was voted the Italian champions’ player of the year last season (AP/Massimo Pinca)
Arturo Vidal of Juventus is as versatile a midfielder as there is on the planet, but what he is best known for is taking no prisoners when it comes time to battle for a ball. The Chilean international is also certainly a threat going forward and was voted the Italian champions’ player of the year last season (AP/Massimo Pinca)
Manchester United’s Robin van Persie ranks among the top pure finishers in the world, but the Netherlands international is also comfortable creating. Whenever the Red Devils need a goal, RVP always seems to be front and centre (AP/Kin Cheung)
Manchester United’s Robin van Persie ranks among the top pure finishers in the world, but the Netherlands international is also comfortable creating. Whenever the Red Devils need a goal, RVP always seems to be front and centre (AP/Kin Cheung)
The Brazilian Bernard was only recently signed by Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported €25 million and he’s worth that much cash or not is up for debate, what is not is that when he’s on the pitch, it’s hard not to watch him. At only five-foot-four, the 21-year-old winger has blazing speed and he loves to push the tempo (AP/Eraldo Peres)
The Brazilian Bernard was only recently signed by Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported €25 million and he’s worth that much cash or not is up for debate, what is not is that when he’s on the pitch, it’s hard not to watch him. At only five-foot-four, the 21-year-old winger has blazing speed and he loves to push the tempo (AP/Eraldo Peres)
Mesut Ozil had a strong debut in Arsenal colours on the weekend and the German star looks to be a brilliant add after all the outrage from a quiet off-season for Arsene Wenger. He’s a silky smooth, creative midfielder with composure and outstanding vision – and he’s still only 24 (AP/Matthias Schrader)
Mesut Ozil had a strong debut in Arsenal colours on the weekend and the German star looks to be a brilliant add after all the outrage from a quiet off-season for Arsene Wenger. He’s a silky smooth, creative midfielder with composure and outstanding vision – and he’s still only 24 (AP/Matthias Schrader)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not showing his age as the powerful 31-year-old forward has an impressive strike rate of 31 goals in 39 appearances so far for Paris Saint-Germain. A world class finisher, the six-foot-five Swedish international is a load to handle anywhere in the box, especially since he also possesses a deft touch and tremendous instincts (AP/Christophe Ena)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not showing his age as the powerful 31-year-old forward has an impressive strike rate of 31 goals in 39 appearances so far for Paris Saint-Germain. A world class finisher, the six-foot-five Swedish international is a load to handle anywhere in the box, especially since he also possesses a deft touch and tremendous instincts (AP/Christophe Ena)
Benfica defender Steven Vitória was born in Toronto, but has played for Portugal at the U-19 and U-20 levels despite not committing for either country at the senior level yet. At six-foot-five, Vitória is imposing and is equally effective in either box (AP/Francisco Seco)
Benfica defender Steven Vitória was born in Toronto, but has played for Portugal at the U-19 and U-20 levels despite not committing for either country at the senior level yet. At six-foot-five, Vitória is imposing and is equally effective in either box (AP/Francisco Seco)
With all the talent in the world and after the drama of moving from Dortmund to Bayern Munich, attacking midfielder Mario Götze is still only 21 years of age. Equally as dangerous on the wings as he is in behind the strikers, the German international will make his Champions League debut for the team that beat his old club in the final of the event last year (AP/Matthias Schrader)
With all the talent in the world and after the drama of moving from Dortmund to Bayern Munich, attacking midfielder Mario Götze is still only 21 years of age. Equally as dangerous on the wings as he is in behind the strikers, the German international will make his Champions League debut for the team that beat his old club in the final of the event last year (AP/Matthias Schrader)
England seems to be filled with quality Belgians and Chelsea’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is no exception. He is a strong passer that excels at sending balls into the box, especially from free kicks, and was named man of the match for the London club in the team’s first league contest of the year (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
England seems to be filled with quality Belgians and Chelsea’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is no exception. He is a strong passer that excels at sending balls into the box, especially from free kicks, and was named man of the match for the London club in the team’s first league contest of the year (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Kevin-Prince Boateng has already scored in his short career at Schalke since coming over in the transfer window from AC Milan. The German-born Ghana international midfielder plays a tough, speedy game from box-to-box and has the strange distinction of facing his own brother (Jerome, who plays for Germany) at the World Cup (AP/Martin Meissner)
Kevin-Prince Boateng has already scored in his short career at Schalke since coming over in the transfer window from AC Milan. The German-born Ghana international midfielder plays a tough, speedy game from box-to-box and has the strange distinction of facing his own brother (Jerome, who plays for Germany) at the World Cup (AP/Martin Meissner)
Gonzalo Higuain’s strike rate of two goals in three games so far in his Napoli career is all you need to know about the Argentina international. After over 100 goals for Real Madrid, the six-foot striker is as pure a finisher as any in world soccer and is fantastic at exploiting gaps and utilizing his speed. Borussia Dortmund would be wise to know where he is at all times (AP/Felice Calabro)
Gonzalo Higuain’s strike rate of two goals in three games so far in his Napoli career is all you need to know about the Argentina international. After over 100 goals for Real Madrid, the six-foot striker is as pure a finisher as any in world soccer and is fantastic at exploiting gaps and utilizing his speed. Borussia Dortmund would be wise to know where he is at all times (AP/Felice Calabro)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has wasted no time in becoming a favourite among Borussia Dortmund fans as the Armenian international already has notched three goals in only four appearances for last year’s Champions League runners up. The attacking midfielder is electric, making plays at high speeds and creates problems for any type of defender in the final third (AP/Michael Probst)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has wasted no time in becoming a favourite among Borussia Dortmund fans as the Armenian international already has notched three goals in only four appearances for last year’s Champions League runners up. The attacking midfielder is electric, making plays at high speeds and creates problems for any type of defender in the final third (AP/Michael Probst)
F.C. Porto’s Jackson Martínez is a sniper – plain and simple. The Colombian international has scored everywhere has gone, including at home, in Mexico and in Portugal, where he has appeared in 34 contests and has hit the back of the net 30 times (AP/Paulo Duarte)
F.C. Porto’s Jackson Martínez is a sniper – plain and simple. The Colombian international has scored everywhere has gone, including at home, in Mexico and in Portugal, where he has appeared in 34 contests and has hit the back of the net 30 times (AP/Paulo Duarte)
Built like a fire hydrant, Givanildo Vieira de Souza – also known as Hulk – is a load for anybody facing his Zenit St. Petersburg club. He has not scored as much with the Russian outfit as in past years (eight goals in 21 games), but the striker is still highly dangerous (AP/Clint Hughes)
Built like a fire hydrant, Givanildo Vieira de Souza – also known as Hulk – is a load for anybody facing his Zenit St. Petersburg club. He has not scored as much with the Russian outfit as in past years (eight goals in 21 games), but the striker is still highly dangerous (AP/Clint Hughes)
There’s never a dull moment when it comes to star striker Mario Balotelli, but the Italian international has been filling the net since arriving at AC Milan. A turbulent end to his time in England has turned into 14 goals in 16 games for the powerful and highly talented 23 year old (AP/Luca Bruno)
There’s never a dull moment when it comes to star striker Mario Balotelli, but the Italian international has been filling the net since arriving at AC Milan. A turbulent end to his time in England has turned into 14 goals in 16 games for the powerful and highly talented 23 year old (AP/Luca Bruno)

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