Arda Güler has been named the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Revelation of the Season by UEFA, a newly introduced accolade recognising the competition’s most improved young standout performer.
The award was announced on Sunday, May 31, 2026, and replaces the former UEFA Young Player of the Season category as part of a revised end-of-season honours structure.
The distinction is reserved for emerging players who make a clear competitive leap during the campaign, with assessment focused on consistency, development, technical ability, and overall influence on matches rather than established status.
Arda Güler, 21, enjoyed a significantly expanded role for Real Madrid in the 2025/26 Champions League season after a relatively limited involvement in the previous year.
In the 2024/25 campaign, he featured seven times, started one match, and played a total of 142 minutes.
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This season, however, he became a regular fixture in the squad, making 14 appearances, starting 13 matches, and accumulating 1,030 minutes in Europe’s elite club competition.
Güler’s output reflected his increased responsibility, contributing four assists and scoring his first two Champions League goals, both coming in Real Madrid’s quarter-final second-leg clash against Bayern Munich.
UEFA also recorded his physical and technical output across the tournament, including a total distance covered of 126.12 kilometres and a top speed of 32.12 km/h.
Eligibility for the award is limited to players aged 21 or under at the start of the season. It can only be won once, and previous winners of the Young Player of the Season award are not eligible.
Selection is based on performance metrics, consistency, development, and overall impact on team success.
Previous winners of UEFA’s Young Player of the Season award include Désiré Doué (2024/25), Jude Bellingham (2023/24), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (2022/23), and Vinícius Júnior (2021/22).