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With the UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea just a few hours away, the excitement is palpable.
Regarded as the premier club competition in Europe, the Champions League is the biggest stage of them all. The best players in the world showcase their talent and ability in the Champions League, and the biggest clubs in the world aim to play in the tournament on a consistent basis.
Greatest Champions League XI of all time
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Certain players have made their legacy after some stunning performances in Europe's premier club competition. It is hard to pick the greatest UEFA Champions League XI of all time, but without further ado here it is.
Goalkeeper - Iker Casillas
One of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Iker Casillas has a legacy and a trophy cabinet that speak for themselves.
A product of the Real Madrid academy, Saint Iker, as he is popularly known, made 725 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos. Casillas was a constant presence in the Real Madrid backline, with his composure, concentration and athleticism endearing him to fans and critics alike.
Casillas won three Champions League trophies with Real Madrid and joined Porto in 2015, where he spent another five seasons. The Spain international holds the record for most consecutive seasons played in the Champions League, as well as the most appearances in the competition.
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Right-back - Dani Alves
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold has been rightly praised for his attacking verve and creative play. But it is sometimes easy to forget that Dani Alves created the perfect blueprint for an attacking right-back.
The Brazil international made his name at Sevilla before earning a move to Barcelona in 2008 for £32 million. Alves immediately became Barcelona's first-choice right-back, with his excellent technical skills, offensive abilities and world-class creativity key cogs in Barcelona's success.
Alves won three Champions League titles with Barcelona. He made 391 appearances in all competitions for the Camp Nou outfit, scoring 21 goals and providing 101 assists. The 38-year old currently plays for Sao Paulo, where he has often been used as an attacking midfielder.
Centre-back - Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos' time at Real Madrid seems to be coming to an end, but the centre-back will forever be etched in the club's history for his incredible contributions.
Eyebrows were raised when Real Madrid paid Sevilla £24.3 million in 2005 to sign Ramos. A right-back during his early days, Ramos began playing as a centre-back for Los Blancos, to devastating effect. A rugged centre-back with good ball-playing skills and leadership ability, the Spain international has been useful on both sides of the pitch for Real Madrid.
The 35-year old has made 671 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring an astounding 101 goals. Ramos, whose contract with Real Madrid expires in the summer, has won four Champions League trophies with the Spanish giants.
Centre-back - Carles Puyol
A one-club man, Carles Puyol was renowned for his leadership and was a part of the core for Pep Guardiola's Barcelona, which is regarded by many as one of the greatest sides of all time.
While not a tall centre-back, Puyol made up for it with his intelligent play, intensity and physical ability. One of the leaders in the Barcelona dressing room, the Spain international has earned heavy praise from his teammates regarding his captaincy and the way he conducted himself throughout his playing career.
Puyol made 593 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan club. He won three Champions League titles, and played an important role in development of Gerard Pique as a centre-back.
Left-back - Paolo Maldini
Arguably the greatest defender of all time, Paolo Maldini was a one-club man who made over 900 appearances in all competitions for AC Milan.
After making his debut in 1984, Maldini spent his next 25 years representing the Italian giants. A left-back for the majority of his career, the Italy international was a technically gifted player with good crossing ability. In his latter years as a player, Maldini was shifted into a centre-back role, where he excelled as well.
The 52-year old won five Champions League/European Cups with AC Milan, accumulating 25 trophies in total with the club. He retired in 2009 and is currently the technical director at AC Milan.
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Defensive midfielder - Clarence Seedorf
A highly decorated midfielder, Clarence Seedorf was a product of the Ajax academy and won the Champions League with three different clubs.
Having made his name at Ajax, where he won his first Champions League trophy, Seedorf spent a season with Sampdoria before joining Real Madrid in 1996. Here the Netherlands international won his second Champions League title, with his physical attributes and intelligence standing out.
With AC Milan, Seedorf won two Champions League titles. The midfielder enjoyed a storied career at the very top, also spending time with Inter Milan and Botafogo. Seedorf retired in 2014 and embarked on a managerial career. He has managed the likes of AC Milan, Deportivo de La Coruna and the Cameroon national team so far.
Central midfielder - Xavi
Xavi was already regarded as an excellent player before Pep Guardiola's arrival at Barcelona. However, under the Spanish manager, he reached phenomenal heights.
A product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, Xavi was renowned for his technique, passing and vision. The Spain international formed a formidable Barcelona midfield with Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta under Guardiola's guidance as Barcelona swept teams aside.
Xavi won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and made 767 appearances in all competitions for the club. The 41-year old is currently the manager of Al Sadd, but has been heavily linked with the Barcelona job for quite some time.
Central midfielder - Andres Iniesta
Xavi's partner in crime, Andres Iniesta is another player who enjoys legendary status in the world of football.
Like Xavi, Iniesta was the product of La Masia. He made his debut for Barcelona in 2002 and became a first-team regular during the 2004-05 season. A creative midfielder with excellent control and balance, Iniesta stood out for his dribbling and match intelligence.
The Spain international won four Champions League trophies with Barcelona and departed the club in 2018. The 37-year old currently plays for Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
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Right-winger - Lionel Messi
Arguably the greatest player to have played the game, Lionel Messi is an obvious member of this XI.
Like Xavi and Iniesta, Messi was a product of Barcelona's academy. A one-club man, the Argentina international is a world-class creator, dribbler and goalscorer, and it is hard to imagine where Barcelona would be without Messi's contributions this century.
The 33-year old, who has won four Champions League titles, could leave Barcelona this summer. Messi's contract with the club expires soon, although there have been suggestions that he would be willing to sign a new deal with his beloved club.
Centre-forward - Samuel Eto'o
One of the greatest strikers of all time, Samuel Eto'o is the frontman in the greatest UEFA Champions League XI of all time.
Having began his career wit Real Madrid, Eto'o made his name at Mallorca and joined Barcelona in 2004. The Cameroon international made 199 appearances in all competitions for the club. He scored 130 goals and won two Champions League titles with Barcelona, including the 2008-09 treble.
Eto'o moved to Inter Milan in 2009, where he won another treble. Thus he became the first player to win two consecutive trebles, and the fourth player to win two consecutive Champions Leagues trophies with different teams.
Eto'o enjoyed spells with Chelsea, Everton and Sampdoria among other clubs and retired in 2019.
Left-winger - Cristiano Ronaldo
Creating a greatest Champions League XI without including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is not possible.
The Portuguese superstar has represented some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. Ronaldo is Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer, while he is regarded as a Manchester United great by the Old Trafford faithful.
The 36-year old has won five Champions League titles. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ronaldo has been in the news recently. His stint with Juventus is not going to plan and he has been linked with a return to Manchester United.
Ronaldo is the leading goalscorer and the highest assist provider in the history of the Champions League.
Honorable Mentions: Steven Gerrard, Zinedine Zidane, Sergio Busquets, Victor Valdes, Edwin van der Sar, Karim Benzema
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