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We are at the initial stages of the new season of the UEFA Champions League with a good number of high-profile clashes and surprises already played off - Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo made his return to his former club Manchester United, Liverpool's dismal games so far this campaign, Real Madrid's resurrection...
The top clubs in Europe will be looking to lift the biggest, most elite club football title and are set to deliver phenomenal displays in the process.
While Spanish teams have been dominant in the competition's recent history, this season poses a new challenge as the departure and arrival of star players and managers, newly emerged domestic league champions and other factors will surely change the title-race.
The arrival of the new edition of the competition has prompted several players to pick their favourites to win the title.
Here, we take a look at four football superstars who have made their pick:
#1 Wayne Rooney
Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has named the team he thinks will take the UCL title home and it is not his former club.
The DC United man has picked Serie A side Juventus as the favourites to win the competition for the first time since 1996 mainly because of their new star recruit and his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking to CNN Sport about his UCL favourites, the Englishman said, "I think for any team to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, the excitement in that team will be massive, and I think for the Italian league it's a huge bonus to get him playing in the league."
"He'll do what he's been doing for the last 10 years, he'll bring goals to Juventus, and I fancy Juventus to win the Champions League this year solely for the fact Cristiano has gone there."
#2 Antoine Griezmann
France and Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann has named an English club as his Champions League favourites with reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at the top of his list.
Griezmann spoke to Kicker (via Marca) about his favourites to win the Champions League and being nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or.
Speaking about his favourites, the Frenchman said, "For me, Manchester City are the leading favourite because they have Guardiola as the coach."
"Then come Juventus and Barcelona because they have Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. And then I see us [Atletico Madrid]."
The World Cup winner also spoke about his Ballon d'Or prospects saying, "I didn't understand it, but we don't decide and other FIFA people do, so it's complicated. It seemed a shame to me. For me, a prize like this would have been an important distinction."
"It would have been compensation for the difficult moments I went through far away from my family when I was 13, 14 or 15. It wouldn't be a prize only for me, but also for my parents and siblings. It would be a reward for all the effort and all the separation."
#3 Gianluigi Buffon
Former Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has named the one team that could win Europe's elite title merely because they have 'the best player in the world'.
To the Paris Saint-Germain man, Catalan giants Barcelona are the ones to win the title because of the presence of their star ace Lionel Messi.
Speaking about competition favourites, Buffon said (via The Express), "Champions League favourites? You have to say Barcelona because they have the best player in the world."
"Then Juventus who signed the other player who is considered the best."
When asked about his future, the Italian said, "My Future? I want to play until I am competitive."
"I was lucky to receive offers from many big clubs and I want to continue. I have time to give up."
The Italian goalkeeper also spoke about his current club Paris Saint-Germain's UCL campaign saying, "I watched the first three games of PSG on TV from the dressing room, not from the stadium."
"I suffer too much. The Napoli game will be tough, Ancelotti has improved Napoli, they have certainties that they didn't know they had," he said.
"After the Real Madrid game [last season] I was very angry."
"I didn't know what to say, the young Buffon emerged."
#4 Lionel Messi
Barcelona ace Lionel Messi has also given his verdict on the team he thinks will win the UEFA Champions League.
The Argentine refused to name his own side Barcelona as favourites but instead picked his longstanding rival Cristiano Ronaldo's new club Juventus as the team that could win the competition.
Speaking to Catalunya Radio (via Sky Sports), Messi said, "Obviously they (Madrid) are one of the best teams in the world, they have great players and squad, but yes the departure of Cristiano from the squad makes them less strong."
"It makes Juventus a clear favourite to win the Champions League due to the squad they had before and now with him on top.
"I was surprised by his decision, I did not think he would go from Madrid nor that he would go to Juventus. There were so many teams and I heard less about Juve but it is a very good team."
Speaking of Barcelona's UCL chances, the Argetine said, "It is necessary because we have had three years where we have gone out in the quarter-finals and the last was the worst of the lot due to how it happened," said Messi."
"We are concentrating on this because it is possible, we have a squad where we can fight for this competition."
"In other years the Champions League evaded us, in the Guardiola era with Inter and Chelsea, due to small details."
"Each year the competition is more even with clubs investing more money to compete and bring in players. The two Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Madrid, us, PSG and several Italian clubs."
