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Over the years, many fine players have performed consistently for some of the biggest clubs in the world.
Although the term 'big' is a subjective one, it generally refers to one of the top clubs in Europe's top-five leagues. Clubs from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 - not necessarily in that order - often do well in the biggest of competitions.
While most top clubs do not necessarily depend on one player for success, there have been a few players who pick themselves in their teams' starting lineups. And their absence tends to adversely impact their teams' performances.
On that note, here's a look at the most important player at each of the ten biggest clubs, in no particular order, in the continent:
#10 Sergio Busquets - Barcelona
After the departure of club talisman Lionel Messi this summer, Sergio Busquets has become one of the key players for Barcelona.
One of the most famous La Masia graduates of this century, Busquets proved his worth under Pep Guardiola, and hasn't looked back since. The 33-year-old doesn't tally too many goal contributions, as he often does the 'dirty' work in the center of the park.
However, the Barcelona captain, an eight-time La Liga winner, had one of his better campaigns in the league last season, registering five assists.
With three league games under his belt this season, Spain's Euro 2020 captain (632) is approaching the 650-game mark for Barcelona.
#9 Jan Oblak - Atletico Madrid
Jan Oblak has been a standout player for Atletico Madrid since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2014.
The 28-year-old custodian kept a league-high 18 clean sheets last season to help the Rojiblancos win their first La Liga title in seven years. Such is his importance to the Atletico cause that Oblak has missed only two league games in the last four seasons, and none in the last two.
The Slovenian international has kept an impressive 160 clean sheets in 307 appearances across competitions for Atletico. Oblak is a five-time Zamora Trophy winner - awarded to the goalkeeper who keeps the most clean sheets in a league season.
#8 Leonardo Bonucci - Juventus
Leonardo Bonucci has been a key player for Juventus for well over a decade. The 34-year-old is one of the premier goalscoring centre-backs in the Italian top flight.
Bonucci, an eight-time Serie A winner with the Bianconeri, has scored multiple league goals for the club in each of his last seven seasons. Suffice to say, the Italy international is a formidable presence at both ends of the field.
The veteran centre-back recently made news by becoming the oldest scorer in a European Championship final. Bonucci also scored in the subsequent penalty shootout as Italy beat England to win their second Euro title.
Bonucci is only five games away from playing his 450th game for the club, a milestone he should reach by the end of the year.
#7 Virgil Van Dijk - Liverpool
Virgil Van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs in the game at the moment. Since arriving at Liverpool in January 2018, the Dutchman has been a colossal presence in their rearguard.
He did not miss a single league game in his next two full seasons as Liverpool won their first-ever Premier League title in 2019-20. Van Dijk has also helped the Reds to successive Champions League finals (2018 and 2019), with Liverpool winning the second one.
Van Dijk rarely gets dribbled past and makes his presence felt at the other end of the pitch too. After suffering a season-ending injury last season, Van Dijk is back to his usual best this campaign. He has played four league games this season, helping Liverpool to a four-way tie at the top.
In his absence last season, holders Liverpool endured a wretched campaign before recovering to finish third.
#6 Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in the game at the moment. The 30-year-old is the crown jewel of Pep Guardiola's star-studded Manchester City team.
De Bruyne has made a name for himself as a premier assist creator in Europe's top five leagues. The three-time Premier League winner has registered an impressive 107 assists across competitions for City, while also scoring 67 times.
The Chelsea reject has also excelled in international football, making 62 goal contributions (22 goals, 40 assists) in over 80 appearances for Belgium.
#5 Karim Benzema - Real Madrid
Karim Benzema has been a standout player for Real Madrid since arriving at the club in the summer of 2009.
Despite operating under the shadow of his illustrious former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo for almost a decade, the three-time La Liga winner has been a steady performer for Madrid.
The 33-year-old Frenchman has upped the ante since Ronaldo's departure three summers ago. Benzema has scored 92 times across competitions during this period, including five in just three games this season.
The Frenchman, who has won four Champions League titles with Madrid, is only 16 strikes away from becoming only the third player to score 300 goals for the club. Considering his blistering start to the season, Benzema, who has also racked up 148 assists, should be able to achieve that milestone this campaign.
#4 Romelu Lukaku - Chelsea
Romelu Lukaku is one of the hottest strikers in the game at the moment. Last season, he became the first player in almost two decades to score 20 league goals and provide ten assists in a Serie A season. Thanks to his exploits, Inter Milan won their first league title in 11 years.
Since returning to Chelsea on a big-money transfer this summer, the 28-year-old striker has hit the ground running. He scored against Arsenal on his second debut for the club to become the 20th-most prolific scorer in Premier League history. Lukaku netted a brace against Aston Villa last weekend.
His arrival has already added a cutting edge to Chelsea's attack that was sorely missing last season. If he keeps up his early-season form, Thomas Tuchel's men would be serious contenders for the Premier League title, and could also go deep in Europe.
#3 Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski is arguably the hottest striker in the game at the moment. Bayern Munich's Polish goal machine has plundered 302 goals and 65 assists in only 334 appearances across competitions for the club.
Last season, the 33-year-old striker scored 41 times to break the late Gerd Muller's five-decade-old record of most goals (40) in a Bundesliga campaign. Lewandowski has already hit the ground running this season, scoring six times in only four games.
Suffice to say, Lewandowski is one of the first names in Julian Nagelsmann's XI, as the Pole looks good for another blistering goal-rich campaign.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo is widely regarded as one of the best players to have graced the game. During an illustrious, nearly two-decade-long career, he has scored goals and won big titles galore for club and country.
The 36-year-old recently scored on his second debut for Manchester United, 12 years after he left English shores to join Real Madrid. Last season, Ronaldo won his first Capocannoniere award - scoring 29 times - even as Juventus' nine-year Serie A reign came to an end.
After scoring five times at Euro 2020, Ronaldo has overtaken Ali Daie (109) to become the most prolific scorer in men's international football. With the kind of form Ronaldo is in, Manchester United will fancy their chances of a first Premier League title since 2013.
#1 Lionel Messi - PSG
Lionel Messi, along with Ronaldo, is arguably one of the finest players to have played the game.
After an illustrious 17-season stint with Barcelona, the 34-year-old arrived at Ligue 1 giants PSG this summer. Messi plundered almost 1100 goal contributions (672 goals, 305 assists) during his stay at Camp Nou.
He won ten La Liga titles, two continental trebles, eight Pichichi awards and six Ballon d'Or awards, among others.
That explained the warm reception Messi received at his unveiling as a PSG player last month.
The 2021 Copa America winner did not score on his PSG debut. But he is expected to inspire Mauricio Pochettino's charges to a maiden Champions League title this summer.
It remains to be seen how Messi fares at his new club. But expectations are abuzz that he will replicate his Barcelona exploits in an 'easier' league.
