What do the numbers say about the Bukayo Saka 'world-class' debate? Is Arsenal star outperforming Ousmane Dembele, Lamine Yamal or Raphinha?
Updated 17/04/2025 at 14:34 GMT+1
TNT Sports' Rio Ferdinand appeared to end the debate he had started around Bukayo Saka and whether the Arsenal star could be labelled "world-class". Or, perhaps it was Saka himself who called time on the argument, after he terrorised Real Madrid on the biggest stage over two captivating UEFA Champions League knockout ties. Ahead of the semi-finals, do the numbers support this assertion?
'100% world class footballer' - Ferdinand praises Saka after performance against Real Madrid
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I've debated it quite a lot over the years about, 'Is he world-class?'
"Saka, 100%, [he is] a world-class footballer who will decide matches now for the rest of his career at the top table alongside the best players."
The words of TNT Sports' Rio Ferdinand after Bukayo Saka's opener sent Arsenal on their way to a famous UEFA Champions League knockout win over reigning champions Real Madrid.
After missing an early panenka penalty, Saka rebounded with remarkable resilience at the Bernabeu, again tormenting opposite number David Alaba, before his second-half dink over Thibaut Courtois helped send his side to the semi-finals.
"They would have gone into this game and gone 'right, you've got Vinicius and [Kylian] Mbappe'. Saka would have been judging himself against those players; that's what happens," Ferdinand continued.
"They have come out on top today. It's only one game over two games, I get that. But it's a chance to go, 'right, I'm at the top table today, and I've actually sat here comfortably, and overshadowed the people that were meant to be better than me. Let's start talking, where am I?'
"I think it's a great confidence boost."
Was Ferdinand right? Was this the performance to end the 'world-class' debate around Saka?
We've run the numbers to see if they provide an answer on how the 23-year-old compares to some other stellar attacking talent in this year's Champions League...
The first point to note is that Saka - who became only the sixth English player in UCL history to score away at the Bernabeu - missed four UCL games during the winter as he nursed his torn hamstring.
As such, a fairer comparison for this season's competition can be arrived at using per 90 stats - and as far as goal involvements go, Saka is in some elite company - and even above a certain England colleague of his...
| Player | UCL goals + assists per 90 |
| Raphinha | 1.68 |
| Guirassy, Serhou | 1.41 |
| De Ketelaere, Charles | 1.15 |
| Lautaro Martínez | 1.11 |
| David, Jonathan | 1.09 |
| Saka, Bukayo | 1.08 |
| Kane, Harry | 1.05 |
| Gyokeres, Viktor | 1.04 |
| Lewandowski, Robert | 1.04 |
| Griezmann, Antoine | 0.98 |
Stats: Opta (min 500 mins)
How does Saka compare to rivals?
If Saka is world-class, then the same can surely be said about the likes of PSG's Ousmane Dembele, and the Barca pair of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
Dembele has had a breakout season in more ways than one but especially in terms of goals, hitting 32 in all competitions and seven in the UCL.
And Raphinha has delivered better returns than anyone, with the Barcelona forward on track to better Cristiano Ronaldo's record of the most goal involvements in a single UCL campaign, sitting on 19 - just two back from Ronaldo's 21, with the Brazilian still possibly having three games still to play.
Yamal is - somehow - still only 17, and after winning the Euros with Spain last summer, has kicked on this term to form one of the most feared attacking tridents on the continent, in tandem with Raphinha and the ever-productive Robert Lewandowski.
How, then, does Saka compare to his peers in terms of the data?
It's clear that Dembele, Yamal and Raphinha are having quite possibly the best seasons of their careers, and therefore represent a very high benchmark for Saka to reach.
And given the England star is only just back from a serious injury, it's already quite something that he found such a high level against Real Madrid.
But if he can stay fit for the two semi-finals - and the final, should The Gunners get there - these numbers could well be worth revisiting...
How could Ballon d'Or 2025 pan out?
With no international competitions this summer, the Ballon d'Or winner looks likely to come from a Champions League-winning club.
As such, that would seem to mean the candidates have thinned down to a pool of the aforementioned Barcelona attacking trio, Dembele, Saka, or Lautaro Martinez of Inter.
And after back-to-back player of the match awards v Real Madrid, Declan Rice could even be an outside shot at this stage.
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Rice on 'historic night' for Arsenal - 'club will do special things over next few years'
Video credit: TNT Sports
But what role could the Club World Cup play?
The 2025 edition of the competition sees 32 teams battle it out for the revamped competition this summer in the USA.
Of the last four teams still alive in the UCL, only two are heading to the CWC - Inter and PSG.
Would landing two significant club trophies potentially give Dembele or Martinez the upper hand in the eyes of the voters?
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'This place has absolutely erupted' - Martinez restores Inter's aggregate lead
Video credit: TNT Sports
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