Ranking the top 10 players in the Champions League semifinals

The Champions League semifinals are finally here. Ahead of this week’s enticing matchups, we’re scrolling through the four respective squads to determine which of the remaining players are the tournament’s best.

Honorable mentions: Christian Eriksen, Dusan Tadic, Andy Robertson, Jordi Alba

10. Gerard Pique (Barcelona)

Despite a sparkling CV that is nearly unrivaled in world football, the Catalan defender still has detractors unwilling to acknowledge what is glaringly obvious every week: Pique is the glue that holds Barcelona together. He’s calm and composed, yet authoritative, anchoring a defense that’s been increasingly stretched thin over the years as the midfield in front of it continues to age. The 32-year-old, who also chips in with his share of tallies at the other end, never seems to be in the conversation for the game’s best center-backs, which begs a simple question: Why not?

9. Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

Many have framed Barcelona’s tilt with Liverpool as a battle between Virgil van Dijk and Lionel Messi – both of whom we’ll get to shortly. To an extent, that’s fair. One side’s best attacker against the other’s most unassailable defender is a natural narrative on which to focus. In truth, though, it’s likely Suarez who’ll need to do the heavy lifting against the Dutchman. The 32-year-old Uruguayan is slowly declining, yet whenever one thinks it’s finally time to write him off for good, he springs back to life with a dominant performance – recall his hat-trick against Real Madrid earlier this season. He’s scored just once in his last five matches. Perhaps he’s just revving his engine ahead of another memorable showing?

8. Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax)

A transcendent defensive talent. Their bags of cash at the ready, every marquee club in Europe is banging on Ajax’s door right now, desperate to pry the teenage superstar from his boyhood side. Only 19 years old, the prodigious captain is already a colossal force; quick, decisive, positionally sound, and dominant in the air, De Ligt will be the centerpiece around which his new club builds its defense for the next decade. For now, though, his sole focus is leading the lovable Dutch giants to an unexpected Champions League title.

7. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

The prototypical modern forward. Ostensibly a No. 9, Firmino is the hinge of Liverpool’s attack. His ability and willingness to drop deep, link up with the midfielders, and then play provider for his celebrated attacking peers makes him arguably the most critical player in Jurgen Klopp’s system. Without him pulling the strings, the team has a noticeable lack of fluidity. The Brazilian can score a few himself, of course, making him the Renaissance man of the Reds’ explosive frontline.

6. Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

He just keeps getting better. The 27-year-old, who could previously frustrate with his decision-making in the crucial moment, has become a devastating player inside the penalty area this season. In contention for the Premier League’s Golden Boot, Mane has taken some of the scoring pressure off Mohamed Salah, and in doing so has made Liverpool a more terrifying prospect for opposing backlines. The electrifying Senegalese international has looked unstoppable at times this year.

5. Heung-Min Son (Tottenham)

It’s truly a shame the South Korean forward is suspended for the opening leg against Ajax after earning a yellow card in the topsy-turvy clash with Manchester City earlier this month. An absolute joy to watch, the 26-year-old is unique in his ability to produce moments of brilliance with either foot, making him an unpredictable nightmare for defenders. Quick stepovers, feints, and jukes highlight his balance and body control, and the ferocity with which he actually strikes the ball – even from a standstill – is incredible. Son has never been the center of attention when it comes to transfer rumors surrounding Tottenham, but maybe he should be.

4. Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)

The smoothest player remaining in the tournament. De Jong, the quarterback of Ajax’s slick, incisive passing game, dictates tempo like few others in the world at the moment. It’s no wonder Barcelona fought desperately with Paris Saint-Germain – a battle the Catalans ultimately won – to secure the 21-year-old’s signature in January. His 90 percent pass completion rate in the Champions League this season is absurd for someone who isn’t simply moving the ball backward and sideways; the Dutch phenom is often the one to make the crucial pass that sets his team’s attack into motion.

3. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

In a word, a titan. Van Dijk, in the midst of a dominant campaign, has almost singlehandedly rectified any defensive woes Liverpool had prior to his arrival. Becoming the first defender in 14 years to win the PFA Player of the Year award is proof of just how spectacular he’s been. His tour de force has few comparables, and he’ll now face his greatest task yet when he stares across the pitch at Messi in the semifinal. Figuring out a way to stop the Barcelona talisman would be a crowning achievement to cap his remarkable season.

2. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Sitting on 21 domestic tallies, Salah is closing in on his second consecutive Premier League Golden Boot award. And yet, some think he’s having a down season. Such is the incredibly high standard he set last year when he broke the single-season scoring record for a 38-match campaign in England’s top flight. He’s yet to catch fire in the Champions League, but there’s no better time than the present for a player who is undeniably one of the most exciting to watch.

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

What’s left to say about him? The tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals in just eight matches, the magical Argentine is also near the top of the heap in almost every other key statistical category. Yet the numbers don’t tell the full story. Not even close. Nobody can take over a game like Messi. Watching him take a few minutes to identify the opposition’s weakness, and then simply burst into life and exploit them whenever he sees fit, is astounding. When he flips the switch, everyone else might as well go home. It’s equal parts grace and ruthless, and it makes him the best player remaining in the Champions League by a significant margin.