Ronaldo is an all-time great in the Champions League, but does he deserve the title of best player? The debate has been raging since he was a teenager, but who will the record-holder be? Here’s a look at the top contenders in this debate. Read on to find out who’s number one. And who’s number two. If you’re looking for the best, Messi is clearly the man.
Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the history of the Champions League, and his stats back this claim. Ronaldo has won the competition twice, won three Golden Boots and scored in all three finals. He also has the most knockout goals in the competition and is the only player to score in eleven consecutive Champions League games. The statistics are simply amazing, and if you’re looking for the definitive list of Ronaldo’s achievements in this competition, then this article is for you.
When it comes to goals, Ronaldo is slightly ahead of Messi. He has more Champions League goals, but Messi has more assists. However, Ronaldo has more Champions League goals and has excelled with Manchester United and Real Madrid. While Messi has dominated the World Cup, Ronaldo’s Champions League record is far superior. While the former has the edge in goals scored, his record-breaking assists have helped him to become the best player in the Champions League.
Messi
It’s no secret that Lionel Messi is one of the world’s most prolific players. Having scored 36 goals in 56 Champions League appearances, Messi has an 81% strike rate since the age of 20. It is therefore fair to say that he is among the best in history. This award is not without its controversy, however. Messi’s father, Jorge, has been accused of tax fraud after using offshore shell companies to avoid paying tax. Nevertheless, Messi was able to pay the Spanish state EUR5 million to cover their legal debts and avoid paying tax. Both of them are now on trial for tax fraud.
Apart from Messi, there are several other players who have made their mark in the Champions League. Abidal, who played for Barcelona for over three decades, is the most experienced of them all, with 177 Champions League appearances. While Xavi is arguably the best midfielder of all time, Xavi holds the record for most Champions League games played. Xavi won eight La Liga titles with Barcelona and four Champions League trophies with the team.
Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o is arguably the best European footballer of all time. The former Mallorcan starred for Barcelona, earning two UEFA Champions League titles, and scoring the winning goal in both of the UEFA Champions League finals. A key part of Inter Milan’s greatest triumph, Eto’o is now one of the world’s highest-paid players, earning an estimated PS350,000 a week from his club Anzhi Makhachkala.
The 2009/10 season saw Eto’o become the first player to win two European continental trebles. He was the first player in the history of the competition to win back-to-back Champions Leagues with Barcelona and Inter. The second season of the competition, Eto’o scored his 30th league goal against Real Valladolid. After winning the Champions League with Barca, he spent time with Chelsea, Anzhi Makhachkala, Everton, Sampdoria, and Antlyaspor. He scored 31 league goals and received the Golden Foot Award in 2015.
At the age of sixteen, Eto’o made his international debut for Cameroon, playing for Kadji Sports Academy in Douala. He then signed a professional contract with Real Madrid. His debut with Real Madrid came in 1996, while he was 16 years old. His performance earned him a place in the team’s history with Real Madrid and Barcelona. In 2007, he made a record-breaking 78 goals, while at the same time completing the league with Barcelona.
Casillas
The Spanish goalkeeper made 177 appearances for Real Madrid, and Iker Casillas is the most capped goalkeeper in Champions League history. Casillas was the youngest player to play in the final and win it three times. His consistency and ability made him one of the best goalkeepers in Champions League history. And he was one of the most popular players in the competition.
Real Madrid won their ninth European Championship in 2002. Casillas was the substitute for an injured Cesar Sanchez, and made three vital saves late in the game. His performance in that game made him a regular starter for Real Madrid. And in the World Cup, he became one of only four players to have won the competition four times. While it may be difficult to pinpoint the best players in the Champions League, there are a few that deserve recognition.
Raul is an incredible player who played for Real Madrid from 1995 to 2011. He won the Champions League three times with the club and was named man of the match in the final against Juventus in 2003. While many players have scored more goals in the Champions League, few have had as much impact as Raul. In fact, he was part of the Real Madrid squads that won four titles in five years. And in the 2014 semi-final, he scored two headers to win the match 4-1 in extra time.
Van Nistelroy
It is hard to find a player who has played more Champions League games than Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman is one of the all-time greatest. He scored 56 goals but never won a trophy. He came close with Manchester City but was forced to retire due to a heart condition. Van Nistelrooy is the best player in Champions League history, according to his record.
The Dutch winger has played for several teams in Europe and scored more goals than anyone else in the competition. During his time at Manchester United, he managed to score a hat trick five times. He was a true goal machine, netting 95 goals in the competition. This incredible feat made him the best player in Champions League history. And it wasn’t just in the Champions League.
His first Champions League match for Netherlands was an underwhelming 1-0 win against Romania. He was substituted during the game against Ireland and Portugal after missing a penalty. Van Nistelrooy was also a part of the Dutch squad in the 2006 World Cup finals. He served as an official FIFA/SOS ambassador and scored against Ivory Coast in the tournament.
Xavi Hernandez
In recent years, Xavi Hernandez has become one of the most popular and successful players in Champions League history. He led Barcelona to three La Liga titles and two Champions League titles. His impressive performances also earned him the title of Best Player at the 2004 World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008. His best season came in 2006, when he scored four goals in a 2-0 win against Manchester United. His outstanding performances in the Champions League have earned him the title of Best Players of All Time.
The midfielder has won the Champions League three times. His performance against Juventus in the 2009 final was the best in this competition, with three goals and four assists. In the 2011/12 season, he became the first player to reach 150 appearances in the Champions League. At just 18, he became the first player in history to score a Champions League goal. Xavi has been one of the best players in the Champions League for eight years. He has played in the Champions League for eight different clubs and the Spanish National Team.
Shevchenko
Ukrainian striker Shevchenko is currently the top scorer in the Derby della Madonnina with fourteen goals. He also made an impressive 14 goals in the 2003 UEFA Champions League semi-final against Internazionale. Her first touch was perfect, and she expertly finished past Internazionale’s Francesco Toldo. Shevchenko is a legend in Italy, where he is the most capped player.
Shevchenko has won the Ballon d’Or twice, and was twice voted Serie A’s top scorer. He is a former player who became head coach of his native Ukraine and has been inducted into FIFA’s 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time list. Shevchenko is one of the most celebrated players in the Champions League, and his performance this season is proof of that.
Her great skill has led her to be ranked among the world’s greatest players. Shevchenko played for three of the world’s leading clubs and he is now the best in Europe. The Ukrainian also plays alongside Juventus and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Shevchenko is the best in Europe for a reason. Shevchenko is a natural goalkeeper, with great control of the ball.
Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has already scored more goals than anyone in Champions League history. His 32 goals in 52 games have been for Paris Saint-Germain, although he also scored six for Monaco. However, if he was to get into the list of the greatest Champions League players of all time, he would need to score at least 16 goals. The list below shows the other players in the top 10.
Messi and Ronaldo have scored a combined 114 goals in the Champions League, while Mbappe is just behind them with thirty-two. But Messi and Ronaldo are legends of football, so it’s hard to argue with their goal totals. If we compare Mbappe to their goals, he has the star quality to be the greatest in the Champions League. But he won’t be able to match their totals.
While Messi and Ronaldo won the tournament last season, Mbappe has already shown that he is the perfect big-game player. He made his Champions League debut at 18 against Manchester City and scored in every knockout round but the final. This makes him the best Champions League player ever, and he could set a new standard for future generations. A decade of dominance could be in his future.