Forwards
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Since we have adopted a 4-3-3 formation, the choices for the wide forwards is pretty much obvious. On the right is Lionel Messi – the Champions League’s top goalscorer with 11 goals in seven appearances so far. The Barcelona talisman is six goals away from the unique achievement of 100 goals in the competition (second only to Cristiano Ronaldo who is on 95 goals).
Messi lit up the group stages with two hat-tricks – against Celtic and Manchester City – in dominant performances where the Catalan club walked away with 7-0 and 4-0 wins. In all, he has been involved in 13 goals – so good luck trying to pick Juan Cuadrado ahead of him.
On the left is Barcelona’s second-best player in the competition with four goals and eight assists (involved in 12 goals) – Neymar. While Messi was marked out of the game in the second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, it was the Brazilian who stepped up, kept his cool to score a goal and grab two assists – including the final lob that saw Roberto score the crucial sixth goal to win the tie.
Also read: All rise for Prince Neymar, the imperfect heir to Messi's throne at Barcelona
Neymar also had a goal and an incredible four assists to his name in that same game Messi scored a hat-trick against Celtic. The battle between him and compatriot Alves will be one to look out for in the game.
Picking a striker to lead the line was the toughest job and it’s a dilemma most manager would not want to face. Do you pick Juve’s so-called mercenary striker who jumped ship from Napoli to effectively complete a winning team or do you go for the Barcelona frontman who has scored 36 goals for the club in all competitions?
In the end, we had no choice but to go with Luis Suarez. Because if you were building the best team from the players available, you would rather go with the trio of MSN up front since they have won trophies together for nearly three seasons now.
Still sceptical? Then ask yourself “Who would Messi pick?” while the highlights of the World Cup and Copa America finals run in the back of your mind.
