Ex-England captain backs Real Madrid to win Champions League

With the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League returned on Tuesday night, former England international David Beckham has revealed his favourites to win the tournament and tipped Kylian Mbappé to shine on the biggest stage.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Beckham picked Real Madrid and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain as the two sides most likely to lift Europe’s most prestigious club trophy this season.

What Beckham said

Beckham, who previously played for Real Madrid during the famous Galácticos era, leaned slightly toward Los Blancos.

“I think PSG will go close again this year, but I am going to go with Real Madrid,” he said.

Madrid strengthened their squad while the French champions are chasing back-to-back European crowns after finally breaking their Champions League curse last season.

Mbappé backed as top scorer

The Inter Miami co-owner also threw his support behind his former club’s star signing, Kylian Mbappé, to finish as the competition’s leading goalscorer.

“I am going to go with Kylian as top goalscorer. I think Kylian, last season, he scored the goals that he scored. I really believe that this season is going to be his season in La Liga and the Champions League,” he said.

Beckham also spoke glowingly about Barcelona’s teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who has quickly become one of Europe’s most talked-about talents.