'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABQb/2gAIAQEAAAAAiT//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAD//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAhEAACAQMDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBQYAERIiMTJRkf/aAAgBAQABPwDHbhNdsWu81WsRMMU6Iqp0+Al7et9VOP0L1ErNEvIuSeKgD5r/xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgESIv/aAAgBAgEBPwB5ouT/xAAYEQACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEgEEEf/aAAgBAwEBPwCvDNp//9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Talk about consistency, and one has to look no further than Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Alongside Ronaldo, Messi is the only other player in the world to have scored 100+ goals in the UEFA Champions League and he will have an opportunity to add to that tally this season. Further, he has helped Barcelona lift 4 Champions League titles.
Trending
The 31-year-old was recently handed the captain's armband on a permanent basis, after Andres Iniesta's departure. Usually, the pressure of wearing the band and designation can pile up a lot of pressure on a player and affect their game.
Messi, though, looks to be unperturbed by it, and seems to be relishing it if nothing else. He has started this season from right where he left off last time around and has already scored 4 goals and assisted 2 more.
There is little doubt that Messi will continue to be Barcelona's talisman and that their chances in the competition depend heavily on how he plays. On the other hand, now that he's captain, Messi is bound to put in everything he's got to try and lead Barcelona toin a 5th Champions League trophy in his presence.
