Champions League unveils Team of Season as Real Madrid, Liverpool players dominate

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The 2021-22 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season was revealed on Tuesday as Real Madrid and Liverpool players dominated the best 11.

UEFA announced on its website that from Real Madrid, the 2022 champions, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, French forward Karim Benzema, and Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior are in the best starting 11 of Europe's top-tier club tournament.

Champions League runners-up Liverpool's English right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, Scottish left back Andy Robertson, and Brazilian midfielder Fabinho were also selected for the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season.

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 on Saturday to win the 2022 Champions League title at Paris' Stade de France.

Record holders Real Madrid added the 14th Champions League trophy to their cabinet.

UEFA said the team was named by its Technical Observer Panel "based on performances in the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League."

- UEFA Champions League team of 2021-22 season

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Andy Robertson (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Fabinho (Liverpool), Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

- Benzema named player of season

The UEFA Technical Observer panel named Real Madrid's French forward Benzema as the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.

The 34-year-old star scored 15 goals in 12 Champions League appearances to become this season's top scorer.

UEFA added that Benzema's teammate Vinicius Junior was selected as the Champions League Young Player of the Season.

Vinicius Junior, 21, scored the winning goal for Madrid in Saturday's final against Liverpool.

This season, he played in 13 matches to score four Champions League goals.