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#3 Lionel Messi
After a tumultuous 2020-21 footballing season at his boyhood club, Lionel Messi finally laid hands on his first-ever international trophy for Argentina's senior side.
The Argentine wizard has established his name among the greatest in footballing history and has also been one of the best big-match players for Barcelona. Lionel Messi is the all-time top scorer in one of the most iconic fixtures in football, El Clasico, with a tally of 26 goals and 14 assists in 45 matches. The six-time Ballon d'Or winner has also been responsible for some of the most incredible individual performances in Champions League history.
Messi put on a masterclass against Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in the 2011 Champions League finals and claimed his first goal on English soil. He also managed to get on the scoresheet in Barcelona's finale against the Red Devils in the 2009 Champions League campaign.
The Argentine also scored one of the most astonishing solo goals in CL history. La Pulga dummied one of the best defenders in world football at the time, Jerome Boateng, which led to the German twisting and tumbling onto the floor, while Messi chipped the ball over the best goalkeeper at the time, Manuel Neuer.
This breathtaking performance in the semi-finals of the 2014-15 Champions League would eventually guide Blaugrana to European glory that season.
#2 Sergio Ramos
Real Madrid have lost one of their most valuable assets in the past month when Sergio Ramos joined forces with the likes of Neymar and Mbappe at PSG on a free transfer.
The Spaniard is not only one of the best defenders in world football in the 21st century; he's an exceptional leader who always guides by example, especially in the big games. Ramos has played an indispensable role in every team he has represented, lifting all the major trophies available to him. The four-time Champions League winner has been a constant presence in Los Blancos' backline over the years and has a special knack for getting on the scoresheet in big matches.
Sergio Ramos has scored 7 goals in the knockout stages of his Champions League career - the most by any defender in CL history. This includes his two goals in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals against cross-town rivals, Atletico Madrid.
Ramos scored the all-important equalizer in added time through his hallmark towering header in the 2014 CL finals, while he opened the scoring in the 2016 CL finale.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the greatest footballers to have graced the beautiful game, but he somehow elevates his game a couple of levels higher when it matters the most.
The Portuguese paid huge dividends on his then-world record €117.00 million move to Real Madrid, amassing a whopping tally of 451 goals in just 438 appearances for the club. Some of these goals came about at the biggest stage of European club football, the UEFA Champions League. Ronaldo holds the record for most goals and assists, including a host of essential contributions in the tournament's knockout stages.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has the record for the highest number of appearances in the CL knockout stages (34) and is also the highest goalscorer in CL finals (four). Ronaldo has found himself on the scoresheet 25 times in 22 quarter-final appearances and 13 times in 21 semi-final encounters.
The Portuguese superstar has been an exceptional leader for his country in the international arena, making a vital contribution to Portugal's European glory in 2016. Ronaldo registered three goals and as many assists from seven appearances at Euro 2016.
Cristiano Ronaldo's other memorable performances for the national side included hat-tricks against Sweden in a crucial World Cup qualifier and Switzerland in the Nations League semi-finals.
