'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Sergio Ramos (Spain/Paris Saint-Germain)
One of the greatest captains in the history of the UEFA Champions League, Sergio Ramos led the Real Madrid side to three back-to-back European titles from 2016-2018.
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He was also a standout performer for Los Blancos in their famous La Decima triumph, scoring a stoppage time equalizer in the final. Despite being a defender, Ramos has scored two goals in Champions League finals.
Ramos has always displayed his warrior spirit and he is quite simply not the man who is going to be intimidated on a football pitch. In fact, he is the one who intimidates others.
Ramos' uncompromising displays have made him a divisive figure but there's no denying the fact that he's a serial winner and a champion footballer.
It is this exact quality that made Paris Saint-Germain want to give Ramos a lucrative contract this past summer despite him being 35-years-old.
#2 Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has had an extremely successful club career and finally earned his first major international trophy this past summer. Messi was chosen as the player of the tournament as Argentina lifted the Copa America after a gap of 28 years.
He has scored in two Champions League finals and has time and again produced the goods for his side when they need him to do it the most. He has scored 49 goals and provided 12 assists in 73 Champions League knockout stage appearances as well.
Messi scored an incredible hat-trick against Ecuador in a must-win World Cup qualifier for Argentina in 2018.
He was also heavily criticized during the early stages of the 2018 World Cup. Argentina desperately needed to win against Nigeria in their final group game. He opened the scoring in that game for La Albiceleste and produced a match-winning performance.
These are just a few snippets from a career replete with moments like these. After all, one doesn't win a record six Ballons d'Or by doing the ordinary.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United)
Is there a better big game player than Cristiano Ronaldo? We don't think so. There are actual studies which show that Ronaldo doesn't seem to feel any sort of pressure. Whether it be late goals or comebacks or scoring in Champions League finals, Ronaldo seems to be taking it in his stride as if it's no hassle.
The Portuguese international was the top scorer in the Champions League in each of the four editions where Real Madrid emerged as champions. He is the player with the most number of goals in Champions League finals with four to his name.
Ronaldo has scored a whopping 67 goals and provided 15 assists in 83 Champions League knockout stage games. That's a goal contribution rate that's just short of one per game.
The 36-year-old's iconic 'Calma, Calma' celebration is a fair representation of how his team's fans should feel when he is on the pitch. Ronaldo thrives in high-pressure situations. On Wednesday night, he scored a last-minute equalizer for Manchester United against Villarreal when all hope seemed lost.
It's just the kind of thing that makes Ronaldo one of the greatest footballers of all time.
