Real Madrid's Güler named 2025/26 Champions League Breakthrough Player

Real Madrid midfielder, Arda Güler, has been named the 2025/26 Champions League Revelation of the Season by UEFA.

The award was announced on Sunday. It replaces the Young Player of the Season award.

This new award highlights young players who have a standout season in the competition. It focuses on their growth, impact, and steady performance rather than established stars.

Güler, 21, made a big step up in the 2025/26 season. Last season, he played very little. He started just one match and made seven appearances, totaling 142 minutes.

This season, he played in 14 matches, starting 13 of them and clocking in 1,030 minutes.

UEFA said, “The Turkish international ended the campaign with four assists together with his first two goals in the Champions League, which both came in Madrid’s quarter-final second leg at Bayern.”

The Real Madrid midfielder also covered a total distance of 126.12 kilometres and recorded a top speed of 32.12 km/h.

According to UEFA, players must be 21 or younger at the start of the season to be eligible for this award. They can only win it once.

Players who have won the previous Young Player of the Season award cannot win this new one.

The winner is chosen based on individual talent, impact on the team's performance, and their growth, maturity, and consistency throughout the season.

Previous winners of the Young Player of the Season award include Désiré Doué (2024/25), Jude Bellingham (2023/24), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2022/23), and Vinícius Júnior (2021/22).