As the days get shorter and colder and the group stage concludes, the continent’s best No10s distract us from the wintery gloom with their precious skills. This issue celebrates the playmakers, past and present, who have delighted us with their creativity, vision and joyous mastery of the ball. Displaying an artist’s sensitivity among workhorses and hatchet men, they sway in and out of tactical fashion, often infuriate their coaches and frustrate fans, but truly possess something special. Let’s marvel at the playmakers who have lit up the European Cup and UEFA Champions League with their rare sorcery. Is your favourite in our top 50?

We also pay tribute to some of the game’s other free spirits, including Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis ‘Lucho’ Enrique and his love of extreme sports, Milan flyer and budding music artist Rafael Leão, plus fashionista and eco-warrior Héctor Bellerín. And our very own dynamic duo Sam and Swaz take a trip out of their comfort zone to Antwerp. You could say this issue is a 10 out of 10. 

We’re down to the business end of the season and how better to savour the knockouts than by celebrating some of the greatest ties this competition has served up down the years. We’ve asked our writers to tell us their top ties – get in touch and let us know yours after taking a trip down memory lane and reliving some of the finest bits of action from seven decades of drama. 

Relishing his first taste of the knockout rounds now is teenage Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who talks to Graham Hunter about life in the fast lane. Also this issue, we learn why the Stadio Olimpico is so dear to the hearts of Roma and Lazio fans, examine the pressures of the game as Jürgen Klopp steps away from Liverpool and give the floor to Ivan Provedel, while Paolo Menicucci speaks to Carlo Ancelotti about the secrets of his longevity.

We have Manuel Neuer and Jude Bellingham on our covers this issue, both of whom made their mark in the semi-finals, with Bellingham winning the battle to make it through to the final on 1 June. Neuer reflects on his 2013 Champions League win as well as his battle back from injury to lead his side once again. For Bellingham, life in Madrid could not have got off to a better start and he tells us why the 14-time champions are such a perfect fit for him.  

London dominates this issue. We look back at the seven previous finals held at Wembley, recommend a few of our favourite pubs to watch the final for those without a ticket, and we shine a spotlight on Arsenal and their own corner of north London. We have also selected some of our favourite fan imagery of the season in this issue’s gallery — only two teams can reach the final, but it’s been a spectacular ride for fans across the continent.  

It doesn’t seem like five years since the first issue of Champions Journal was published, but here we are with our 20th issue. Back in 2019, we kicked off with then-rising star Trent Alexander-Arnold and new Real Madrid signing Eden Hazard on our covers.

Five years on and Madrid are back on the cover – as Carlo Ancelotti adorns the front this time, explaining how it feels to win club football’s greatest prize for a record fifth time as coach. We’re also thrilled to speak with Stormzy and to hear about how football has been such a key part of his life; and why his #Merky FC project could be so fundamental to changing attitudes in the game.

We also head to the beaches of San Sebastian and explore Leipzig on our summer break; we talk maths and the method with one of the team behind the new competition format coming into play this season; recall a different time when Nottingham Forest’s miracle men were kings of Europe while also checking out Arsenal’s past fashionistas. And, of course, plenty more besides!