Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal meet at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday for the 2026 UEFA Champions League final.
PSG are aiming to join an exclusive list of clubs to successfully defend their European Cup/UEFA Champions League title following their maiden triumph in the competition last year.
Arsenal, on the other hand, seek their first-ever European crown as they contest only their second UEFA Champions League final.
Ahead of the showpiece in Budapest, we've assembled a combined XI featuring the current players from both teams, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation...
GK: David Raya
David Raya gets the nod as a result of his evolution into one of the world's elite goalkeepers.
A key component in a watertight Arsenal rearguard, the Spaniard has conceded just four goals in 13 UEFA Champions League appearances this season and boasts a 91% save rate - the best of any shot-stopper in the competition.
An excellent communicator and reassuring presence in possession, Raya's reflexes and cross-claiming ability are superior to Matvey Safonov.
RB: Achraf Hakimi
Jurrien Timber is a strong contender to feature but if the Dutch right-back was to miss out to anyone, it had to be Achraf Hakimi.
The Moroccan international has cemented his status as one of the world's best right-backs, if not the best during a glittering period at the Parc des Princes.
Influencing attacking proceedings with his remarkable acceleration, creativity and authority in possession, Hakimi has improved significantly from a defensive perspective and possesses the athleticism and anticipation to neutralise some of the most dangerous wingers.
CB: William Saliba
Willian Pacho was immense in PSG's second leg against Bayern, while Marquinhos will be remembered as one of the best defenders of his generation, but you simply cannot disband the impenetrable partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Physically dominant with impeccable positioning, it's frightening to think that at the age of 25, there's still plenty more growth in Saliba.
Saturday's UEFA Champions League final will be a stern test of his skillset, but one that he's capable of successfully navigating.
CB: Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal are one clean sheet in the final away from breaking the record for most shutouts in an individual UEFA Champions League season and Gabriel's flourishing partnership with Saliba has been a key reason for that.
Individually, Gabriel is a monster. The Brazilian is aggressive, relishes a duel and is very rarely bypassed. At the other end of the pitch he is a major threat, especially at set-pieces where Arsenal have maximised their productivity.
LB: Nuno Mendes
If you're having both Arsenal central defenders, then you have to pick both PSG full-backs.
Luis Enrique expects a certain degree of positional fluidity from his players and Nuno Mendes is capable of playing an array of positions for the Spanard, but it's at left-back where he's established himself as a household name.
His lung-bursting, overlapping runs add another dimension to Paris' attack, while Mendes flaunts the athleticism to recover from his enterprising missions into the opposition half and retrieve possession, making him the complete full-back.
CM: Vitinha
The mind boggles when you recall Vitinha's lack of game time at Wolves when you consider his evolution into Paris Saint-Germain's orchestrator and a Ballon d'Or nominee.
Enrique was integral to unlocking Vitinha's full potential as the perfect midfielder and the beating heart of PSG, but the Potuguese sensation hasn't looked back since establishing himself as one of the world's most immaculate midfield metronomes.
One touch give-and-go, two touch pass - Vitinha keeps PSG ticking cleanly and efficiently. The impeccable timing of his runs into the penalty area is also a huge asset, and his ability to conjure goals from spectacular distances has been a highlight in PSG's charge for successive European titles.
CM: Joao Neves
As Vitinha floats effortlessly dictating the game, Joao Neves will cover every blade of grass to engineer PSG attacks and disrupt opposition forays - the pair are intrinsically connected.
The prodigious Portuguese midfielder raises his team's pressing intensity and is equally ruthless when it comes to protecting his backline, racking up recoveries, interceptions and tackles.
Many questioned such an expensive outlay on the former Benfica academy graduate when PSG spent €60m to sign Neves in August 2024, but the Portugal international has already justified his price tag.
CM: Declan Rice
Completing the midfield triumvirate is one of the influential players in Arsenal's Premier League title success, Declan Rice.
Elevating himself into the conversation as one of the world's best midfielders, Rice is capable of excelling as an anchor to Mikel Arteta's midfield in the No.6 role, or as an adventurous No.8 that can drive his team forward and make late surging runs into the box.
His abundant energy and physicality will be key if the Gunners are to have any success in shutting down PSG's midfield double act.
RW: Desire Doue
It's a toss up between Bukayo Saka and Desire Doue for the starting berth on the right-hand side of the attacking three.
Parallels between the pair statistically this season, Doue receives the nod for his contributions to a ferocous, free-fllowing Parisian attack and with Saka yet to rediscover his exhilerating heights since undergoing surgery on his hamstring.
Doue's explosive acceleration, intricate control and untraceable movement make him a menacing figure that Arsenal will do well to contain.
LW: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been the star of Paris Saint-Germain's campaign.
The Georgian superstar has thrust himself into Ballon d'Or contention with a hugely productive UEFA Champions League with 10 goals and seven assists from 15 matches, but those numbers just scratch the surface of his relentlessly intimidating ability.
Gliding beyond opponents with mesmerising ease and fashioning abundant chances with his exceptional creativity, Kvaratskhelia has taken his game to another level this term.
CF: Ousmane Dembele
The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner completes the PSG-led front three, which means we boast a formidable backline and electrifying attack.
Operating as a false nine, Ousmane Dembele combines selflessness in the press with selfishness in the penalty area to create a monster in attack.
The numbers of Enrique's talisman fail to compare to the glut of goal involvements he recorded last season, and yet Dembele remains the one player PSG look to in the time of a crisis with his ability to transform matches with one sublime piece of skill.
