The Champions League is the pinnacle of club football – the best players battling on the biggest stage.
When looking purely at performances in Europe’s elite competition – records, decisive moments and legacy – this XI stands out as the best of the best.
Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas
Few goalkeepers can match Iker Casillas’ Champions League legacy.
The Spaniard made 177 appearances in the competition, lifting the trophy three times with Real Madrid (2000, 2002 and 2014). No goalkeeper has won it more times.
Having made his debut as a teenager, Casillas was crucial in Madrid’s early 2000s dominance, with his most notable performance coming against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002.
Neuer may boast more clean sheets, and Courtois and Donnarumma have strong claims, but Casillas remains the benchmark.
Right-Back: Dani Carvajal
Carvajal was a consistent ever-presence during Real Madrid’s Champions League golden era. With over 80 appearances in the competition, Carvajal has played a decisive role in six final victories (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024).
The Spaniard is the epitome of the modern full-back, offering both defensive stability and attacking support. His link-up play with the midfield and forwards has been key across multiple seasons, managers and systems.
No one else comes close.
Centre-Back: Sergio Ramos
Continuing with the Real Madrid theme, Sergio Ramos is synonymous with the Champions League. As well as making 129 appearances and winning four titles, Ramos had a knack for scoring important goals when it mattered most – none more so than his 93rd minute equaliser in the 2014 final against Atlético Madrid.
This was the goal that kickstarted Real’s comeback on the night and the European domination that would continue for almost a decade.
Beyond the goals, Ramos was a leader at the back, combining aggression, technique with a match-winning mentality.
Centre-Back: Paolo Maldini
The only non-Real Madrid player to make it into the All-Time defence – Paolo Maldini’s Champions League career was nothing short of legendary. He played in eight European Cup / Champions League finals, winning the trophy on five occasions with AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1994, 2003 and 2007).
What made Maldini so special was his ability to adapt across eras and positions, performing at a world-class level from the late 80s to the early 00s as both a left-back and centre-back.
His early goal in the 2005 final put Milan on their way to a 3-0 lead at half-time, before Liverpool mounted the most iconic comeback of all time.
Left-Back: Marcelo
A very different type of full-back to Carvajal, but equally as important to Madrid’s European dominance in the 2010s. His attacking contributions from the back overloaded teams and fed the BBC trio in their prime. Marcelo contributed numerous important assists in finals, most notably to Gareth Bale in 2018.
Over 100 appearances in the competition and five titles, Marcelo deserves his place as one of the most entertaining and effective modern attacking full-backs.
Midfield: Toni Kroos
Kroos won the Champions League with Bayern Munich before adding five trophies to his collection during his time at Real Madrid.
For both teams, Kroos was the metronome in midfield who set the tempo and controlled the game. His pinpoint long balls and tactical intelligence were a lethal combination that put Madrid on the front foot in the final third. With over 140 appearances and six titles, Kroos will go down as one of the most iconic midfielders of his generation.
Midfield: Luka Modrić
Joining Kroos in the midfield is his old partner Luka Modrić. Together, alongside Casemiro, the trio dominated the middle of the park across Europe. Modric was in perfect sync with Kroos, dictating the tempo and ensuring the game was played exactly as Real wanted.
On the ball, Modrić would glide past opponents before delivering perfectly weighted balls through to the attacking trio.
A five-time champion, Modrić was instrumental in Real’s historic three-peat between 2016 and 2018 – consistently winning the midfield battles against Europe’s elite.
Midfield: Zinedine Zidane
A Madrid midfielder from a different era. Zidane’s Champions League trophy haul isn’t as impressive as others on this list, but his impact was unforgettable.
Zidane scored arguably the greatest final goal in history – a left-footed volley against Bayer Leverkusen that will be talked about for the rest of time.
Beyond that iconic moment, Zidane was the kind of player who defined the biggest European nights with grace, vision and unmatched technique.
Right Wing: Lionel Messi
The only Barca player to make the list, but among the first names on the All-Time XI teamsheet.
Lionel Messi scored 129 Champions League goals in 163 appearances, winning the trophy on four occasions with Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015).
The little magician tormented Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson in two finals, with goals in both the 2009 and 2011 victories.
Beyond the goals, Messi’s dribbling and playmaking remain in a league of their own.
We’ll never see another player like Lionel Messi.
Striker: Karim Benzema
Benzema is one of the modern game’s most underrated strikers.
For years he sacrificed personal acclaim to play alongside Ronaldo, only getting the recognition his consistency deserved once CR7 had left Madrid.
His Champions League record speaks for itself: 90 goals, five titles and countless clutch performances when it mattered most.
As a striker, he was the perfect foil – able to bring the best out of the talent around him while still delivering when it mattered most. In 2021/22, he silenced any doubters; dragging Madrid to glory with match-winning hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea.
Left Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo
The definitive Champions League player.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer with 140 goals and holds the record for the most assists. Many of these goal contributions came in important moments, including goals in three finals and numerous knockout stage goals.
Across more than 15 seasons at the very top of European football, no player was more consistent, decisive or influential in the Champions League than Cristiano Ronaldo.
