The 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup gets underway in February, and two Canadian Premier League teams will be going toe-to-toe with some of the top clubs in the region. CanPL.ca will be covering the tournament extensively, with in-depth guides on the CPL teams and their opponents, plus more on the whole tournament. For more of CanPL.ca’s coverage of the Concacaf Champions Cup, click here.
With the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup set to get underway this week, many of the most exciting stars in North and Central American club football are preparing to battle for continental supremacy.
Two Canadian Premier League teams — Forge FC and Cavalry FC — are among that mix, as some of the top players in Canada are set to butt heads with some big names.
With that in mind, the CPL Newsroom crew thought it would be fun to play a little fantasy football. The game is simple: Pick your dream five-a-side team (four outfield players plus a goalkeeper) made up entirely of players in this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.
One key rule, however: You must include one Canadian Premier League player.
While there was some crossover, only one player appeared in all four of our dream teams. Can you guess who?
Let us know on social media who would be in your team! Tell us your picks on Twitter/X or on Instagram!
RELATED: 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Guide: Who’s playing, how does it work and what’s on the line?
Benedict Rhodes:
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union); Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF), Brandon Vázquez (CF Monterrey)
Benedict’s team features reigning CPL Player of the Year Daan Klomp anchoring the diamond, with a fellow player for a Canadian club in Ryan Gauld just ahead.
Leo Messi, naturally, plays on the left here, with recent Monterrey signing Brandon Vázquez — who has already hit the ground running in 2024 with his new club — leading the line up top.
Charlie O’Connor-Clarke:
Roman Bürki (St. Louis City SC); Daan Klomp (Cavalry FC), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF), André-Pierre Gignac (Tigres UANL)
The 2023 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, Roman Bürki, gets the nod between the sticks, and Klomp is Charlie’s CPL pick as well. On the right side of midfield, though, is Nashville star Hany Mukhtar, who was MLS MVP in 2022.
Messi plays in the same spot as in Benedict’s team, but this time he’ll be feeding one of the longest-serving superstars in Liga MX, French striker André-Pierre Gignac, who won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot when he led Tigres to win the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2020.
Kristian Jack:
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union); Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson (Forge FC), Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF), André-Pierre Gignac (Tigres UANL), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
With the second team to pick three-time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year André Blake, Kristian has opted for a little more defensive cover in his side.
Four-time CPL champion Alex Achinioti-Jönsson lines up alongside a World Cup and three-time UEFA Champions League winner in Sergio Busquets. Up top, Messi and Gignac combine again in what looks like another very dangerous side.
Mitchell Tierney:
Luis Malagón (Club América); Héctor Moreno (CF Monterrey), Ali Musse (Cavalry FC), Luciano Acosta (FC Cincinnati), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami CF)
Mitchell’s team is the only one to feature a Liga MX goalkeeper, as América stalwart Luis Malagón lines up in net here behind an El Tri teammate in Héctor Moreno.
The CPL selection here is reigning Players’ Player of the Year Ali Musse, who might link up well with MLS MVP Luciano Acosta of FC Cincinnati. Of course, the pair of them will be feeding Messi, so the goals should flow for this team.
Send us your own picks! Let us know who you’d choose on Twitter/X, Instagram or Facebook (all @cplsoccer).
The 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup begins Feb. 6, 2024. Forge FC will take on C.D. Guadalajara (beginning Feb. 7), and Cavalry FC will play Orlando City SC (beginning Feb. 21). The matches will be available to watch in Canada on OneSoccer.