Mesut Ozil makes Champions League Group stage best XI alongside Lionel Messi

Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has been included by Uefa.com in the best XI of the Champions League group stage alongside Barcelona ace Lionel Messi and Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez. However, there is no space for newly crowned Ballon D'or Cristiano Ronaldo or any of his Real Madrid teammates.

Ozil has enjoyed an impressive start to the season despite speculation regarding his long-term future at Arsenal. The former Real Madrid playmaker has already scored nine goals and provided a further six in 21 appearances, while was specially productive in the Champions League group stage to lead his side to the top of the Group A ahead of Paris Saint Germain.

The 28-year-old star scored four goals and set up further three in the six group stage games, netting an impressive hat-trick during the 6-0 victory over Ludogorets.

Uefa.com has thus given the Arsenal star a place in the midfielder of the "fantasy team of the group stage" alongside Leicester's Mahrez, Porto starlet Andre Silva and Besiktas winger Ricardo Quaresma.

Ozil's recognition came amid Arsenal attempts to secure his long-term future to the Emirates Stadium with a new deal, as his current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2018. Daily Mail is now reporting that Arsenal are optimistic that the player will soon put pen to paper on a five-year deal worth £200.000-a-week.

Meanwhile, Messi leads the attack of the Uefa's team alongside Edinson Cavani and Dries Mertens after the Barcelona star scored 10 goals in his five appearances, including hat-tricks against Manchester City and Celtic.

Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak is between the sticks while Copenhagen duo Mathias Jørgensen and Ludwig Augustinsson make the back-line alongside Sevilla left-back Sergio Escudero.