The Champions League is normally billed as the head, however it additionally has a behavior of throwing up some forgotten stars from the previous. Some are nonetheless producing, whereas others are simply hanging on, however all of them will make you do a double-take once you see the staff sheets.
Loads of family names are nonetheless round, solely you in all probability stopped paying consideration as soon as they drifted away from the Premier League or Europe’s elite golf equipment.
We’ve pulled collectively an inventory of Champions League forgotten stars who’re nonetheless plying their commerce throughout the continent.
Paul Pogba (Monaco)
Pogba deserves high billing in our recollection of Champions League forgotten stars.
He’s again within the competitors with Monaco after a doping ban threatened to finish his profession. For a participant as soon as billed as one of the best midfielder on this planet, it’s fairly a twist.
At Juventus, he reached the 2015 last and have become well-known for spectacular targets, dabs and flashes of brilliance. He later lifted the Europa League with Manchester United however by no means absolutely justified that £89m return.
Now 32, he stays soccer’s maverick. From backheel misses on the aim line to outlandish celebrations, Pogba at all times finds a technique to seize consideration.
David Luiz (Pafos)
Sure, that David Luiz.
At 38, he’s nonetheless within the Champions League, lining up for Cypriot aspect Pafos in what is likely to be the competitors’s strangest subplot.
He peaked with Chelsea, successful the Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League a yr later, earlier than spells at PSG and Arsenal introduced extra silverware. Few defenders mixed magnificence and calamity so seamlessly.
Now he’s in Cyprus, nonetheless flying into tackles from the flawed postcode and pinging Hollywood passes prefer it’s 2014. If nothing else, the hair ensures he’ll by no means really be forgotten.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marseille)
Aubameyang continues to be strutting his stuff within the Champions League, main the road for Marseille after a whirlwind few years that took in Barcelona, Chelsea and even a stint in Saudi Arabia.
At Dortmund, he scored for enjoyable and reached a Champions League semi-final, then at Arsenal, he fired them to a Europa League last.
Now 36, the legs aren’t what they have been, however the of entirety stays. If Marseille create possibilities, Auba will nonetheless be there, grinning via one other trademark celebration.
Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal)
Pepe is making an attempt to rebuild his profession in Spain with Villarreal after the chaos of being Arsenal’s £72m report signing. He’s nonetheless solely 30 and has the stage once more.
At Lille, he shone brightly, firing them into the Champions League with targets and dazzling dribbles. At Arsenal, he had his moments in Europe, together with some sensible free-kicks, however by no means hit constant kind.
Now in Spain, the left foot nonetheless sparkles even when the aura has dimmed. On his day, Pepe can nonetheless conjure the form of moments that after made him elite.
Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven)
Perisic has seemingly performed all over the place and now finds himself at PSV, nonetheless popping up within the Champions League at 36. His versatility means he can fill nearly any position.
He reached the 2020 Champions League last with Inter, having already lifted a Europa League trophy with Sevilla earlier in his profession. He additionally performed a key position in Croatia’s 2018 World Cup run.
PSV use his expertise to information a youthful squad, and he nonetheless delivers in bursts. A aim or two on the massive stage would shock no person.
Simon Mignolet (Membership Brugge)
Mignolet has been at Brugge since 2019 and continues to be their primary within the Champions League. He’s now not within the highlight, however stays a dependable presence.
He performed in a Europa League last with Liverpool and featured of their Champions League campaigns earlier than shedding his place to Alisson. At Brugge, he’s received home titles and the followers’ Participant of the Yr.
Now 37, he now not makes headlines, however he makes saves that preserve relative minnows Brugge aggressive towards a few of Europe’s greatest and greatest.
Sofiane Boufal (Union SG)
Boufal resurfaced in Belgium with Union SG, removed from the glamour of his Southampton days. At 32, he’s nonetheless able to lighting up video games together with his dribbling.
He first emerged at Lille and later returned to Ligue 1 with Angers, whereas additionally representing Morocco at World Cups. European nights have been at all times the place his ability might shine, even when consistency was lacking.
Union SG lean on his aptitude to create possibilities in tight video games. Boufal would possibly frustrate, however he can nonetheless make defenders look silly in a second.
Youssoufa Moukoko (Copenhagen)
Moukoko is barely 20 however already looks like a forgotten man after leaving Dortmund for Copenhagen. As soon as Europe’s hottest prospect, he’s now making an attempt to restart his profession in Denmark.
He turned the youngest Champions League participant ever in 2020 and was billed as Dortmund’s subsequent famous person. Objectives got here early, however so did accidents and fierce competitors for locations.
Copenhagen presents an opportunity to reset. If he rediscovers his contact, he might nonetheless change into the striker everybody anticipated. For now, he’s a forgotten star in a smaller highlight.
Wout Weghorst (Ajax)
Weghorst is again at Ajax and nonetheless main the road in Europe at 33. He offers this aspect a focus and loads of operating up high.
He made his identify with Wolfsburg within the Bundesliga earlier than heading to Burnley after which a surreal mortgage at Man Utd. He’s additionally scored at World Cups for the Netherlands.
Ajax followers know precisely what they’re getting. He received’t outpace anybody, however he’ll battle and nick important targets. Someway, that retains him within the Champions League image.
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