Having made it to the FIFA World Cup and setting a new bar for the nation on the sport’s biggest stage, Canadian footballers have proven that they’re ready to compete at the highest level.
Already, much of the core of the Men’s Canadian National Team is playing in the prestigious top-flight leagues of Europe, with some even competing in the UEFA Champions League this season.
While goalie Milan Borjan just missed out on the competition this year, with Red Star Belgrade failing to escape the qualifiers, there are still five other Canadians playing in the Champions League this season.
These are those stars, as well as a bonus Canadian-born player who has been snapped up by another national team.
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
Easily Canada’s brightest soccer star, Alphonso Davies continues to impress in the Bundesliga and Champions League with Bayern Munich.
Davies may only be 22-years-old, but he’s already a contender in the world’s best left-back conversation, adding to his already-mighty legacy with five Group Stage appearances and an assist in the Champions League this season.
In his time with the German giants, Davies has amassed 26 games, seven assists, and a winners’ medal in the UEFA Champions League.
The Canadian is central to the dominance of the Bavarians and is a major reason why FC Bayern Munich are the second-favourites to win the Champions League this season at +600 in the soccer betting.
Unforgettable Alphonso Davies assist 🤤@AlphonsoDavies || @FCBayernEN || #UCL pic.twitter.com/qC0Oat8lhN
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 26, 2022
Tajon Buchanan (Club Brugge)
After recovering from an injury that kept him out for the bulk of the start of the season, the versatile Tajon Buchanan has come roaring back to establish himself as a regular starter for Club Brugge.
While the Ontario native missed the first two wins of the group, he returned to start in the win against Atlético Madrid as well as the two ties and the loss to FC Porto to secure Blauw-Zwart’s very unlikely progression to the next round.
This is Buchanan’s first stint in the UEFA Champions League, sitting on four appearances and an assist before the highly-anticipated last-16 games against Benfica.
Number 17 it is. 🤩 Can’t wait to see you shine in January, Tajon! 👊🏼#WelcomeBuchanan pic.twitter.com/1UYXBOxzY8
— Club Brugge KV (@ClubBrugge) August 25, 2021
Stephen Eustáquio (FC Porto)
It took a few games, but this season, Stephen Eustáquio has established himself as a regular starting XI central midfielder for Portuguese giants FC Porto.
In Group B of the UEFA Champions League, the Canadian maestro proved pivotal to the Dragões’ resurgence from two losses to four wins on the bounce, scoring against Club Brugge and Atlético Madrid.
Now, the Canadian and Porto midfielder faces a strong-but-struggling Internazionale side, with the Portuguese team out at +325 to win the first leg in Milan, and +125 to qualify for the next round in the betting markets.
⚽24' 𝙂𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊! É de STEPHEN EUSTAQUIO!
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) November 1, 2022
🔵⚪ FC Porto 2-0 Atlético Madrid#FCPAM #UCL #EASportsFifa pic.twitter.com/mDEJLls3gQ
Scott Arfield (Rangers)
When Scott Arfield last played for Canada (November 2019), he was the team captain playing on the right of midfield, but since then, John Herdman has leaned more heavily on his up-and-coming talents.
The Scottish-born Canadian is 34-years-old now, but is still playing for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership and featured in four of their six UCL group games. He scored against Liverpool, but Rangers wouldn’t go on to win a single game.
RANGERS LEAD LIVERPOOL WITH A GOAL FROM SCOTT ARFIELD 👀 #UCL pic.twitter.com/S4QYBvU6Iv
— DAZN Canada (@DAZN_CA) October 12, 2022
Cyle Larin (Club Brugge)
In the summer, Cyle Larin selected Club Brugge as his next destination, but it hasn’t gone swimmingly for him in Belgium, only amassing one goal in 13 mostly-cameo appearances.
One of those games was an 11-minute showing against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, qualifying him for this list of Canadians playing in the UCL this season. Now, he’s out on loan to Real Valladolid.
2 games, 2 goals, 2 game-winners: Cyle Larin can’t be stopped 💪#CanMNT | @realvalladolidE pic.twitter.com/HXG58Ow7Ns
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) February 5, 2023
Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Fikayo Tomori was born in Calgary, Alberta, and had the chance to play for Canada, Nigeria, or England. However, when the Three Lions came knocking, he accepted the call from the country he’d started his soccer career in.
After progressing through the Chelsea youth ranks, as many top talents find at Stamford Bridge, big-money signings took precedence.
So, he went to AC Milan, became the Italian side’s go-to centre-back, and played in the UCL this season against Chelsea twice. Next, the Canadian-born defender will face Spurs in the last-16.
With some of Canada’s other top talents tipped for big-money moves in the near future – especially Jonathan David – this list of Canadians in the Champions League might increase by this time next season.
Fikayo Tomori with one of the cleanest recovery tackles you will see 🤯
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 4, 2021
They know a good defender when they see one at AC Milan... pic.twitter.com/7zd2Nwa60l
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 9th February 2023
