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Defenders
Centrebacks
Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos has been an integral part of Real Madrid for over a decade and he was a key figure in the team last season as well. In defence, he was solid, with an impressive 2.3 tackles and 3 interceptions per game in Champions League 2016/17, as per WhoScored.com.
But his attacking contribution was what made him an asset, winning 11 points for Real Madrid with his headed winners in the dying minutes of games. He is strong in holding on to the ball and in aerial duels which he showed on numerous occasions last season.
Ramos headed in a winner in the El Clasico in the 89th minute to equalise, essentially robbing Barcelona of two points which proved crucial for Real Madrid in the end as they won La Liga by 3 points. He repeated similar feats in many other games, allowing Real to emerge victorious in the title race.
It's very sad that two of the best defenders in the world today will not be taking part in football's premier competition in Russia next year. Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have been absolute stalwarts in defence for Juventus and Italy over the last few years, but Italy could not make it to the showpiece event after losing to Sweden in the playoffs recently.
Bonucci and Chiellini were unbelievable for Juventus last year - 2 goals conceded until the final in the Champions League is a stat that sums up the season for the pair. Reminiscent of great defender pairs like Nesta and Maldini, these two defenders definitely deserve the praise and credit they have received for Juventus' run in the Champions League last season.
Giorgio Chiellini
Chiellini has been one of the most dependable figures in the backline for Juventus and Italy for a number of years. He is a paragon of concentration and grit. The Italian centre-back was impermeable at the back for Juve in the Champions League, averaging 5.1 clearances per game, along with a healthy average of 2 tackles and interceptions per game.
A big-game player, Chiellini scored a useful goal against Barcelona from a corner making use of his excellent heading ability, to take them through to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Leonardo Bonucci:
Hailed by many as the best centre-back in the world at the moment, Bonucci showed why he is rated so highly last season. An intimidating and lively presence at the back for Juventus, he has excellent defensive acumen and anticipation.
Not much of a tackler, Bonucci thrives by positioning himself well and making use of possession to start attacks with long balls. He is quite comfortable on the ball and never shies away from taking on opponents with the ball at his feet.
Gerard Pique
The fourth spot is up for debate and it goes to Gerard Pique because of his brilliant ability with the ball at his feet. His form was one of the few positives to take from what was a disappointing season for Barcelona.
A drastic improvement was seen in Pique's form and general game. An impressive player on the ball, his ability to start attacks from the defence makes him an asset. He has had an average pass accuracy of over 90% for the past few seasons along with 6 long balls per game.
He has made a name for himself as one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the world and his stats back it up. A good header of the ball, Pique also contributes often with opportune goals.
Fullbacks
Marcelo and Daniel Carvajal have been extremely impressive for Los Blancos for a long time, and have been instrumental in Madrid's back-to-back Champions League trophies. Frankly, they deserve more credit than they are given.
In a team filled with superstars, the two fullbacks make a strong impact in every game they play. Real Madrid's game involves a lot of heading, with 23 crosses per game.
Marcelo
Marcelo had 12 assists last season, which is a testament to his attacking ability. A livewire on the pitch, he never fails to disappoint no matter how the team is playing around him. He has the Brazilian touch in his game and he is not hesitant to show off his Samba moves often.
Defensively sound, he does not hesitate to make tackles with 2.3 tackles per game. He is pacy, hence covers ground to come back even though he spends most of his time further up the pitch. He had an impressive 3.9 long balls per game in the Champions League last season from a fullback position, which backs the fact that he is involved in most attacks for Real Madrid.
Daniel Carvajal
Dani Carvajal has become another undroppable player in the Real Madrid side. Recently diagnosed with a heart infection, it was evident what Madrid misses when he is not on the pitch. Always running up and down the right flank, Carvajal is involved in almost everything that Madrid does on the right side of the field.
Carvajal had an impressive tally of 9 assists last season with two important ones in the final of the Champions League against Juventus. With 2.5 tackles and 2 interceptions per game (according to WhoScored), he is defensively solid and an asset to have in any squad.
Dani Alves
Another player who makes this squad is Dani Alves, who had an amazing season at Juventus after leaving Barcelona. Making up a back four with some of the best defenders in the world, he contributed well defensively with 3 tackles per game.
Offensively, he was a star for Juve with an impressive return of 3 goals and 4 assists in the knockout stages of the Champions League. He has an average of 2.6 key passes since last season. His goal against AS Monaco in the semis of the Champions League is one that will be remembered:
Honorable Mentions:
Centre-backs: Thiago Silva, Diego Godin, David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels
Full-backs: Jordi Alba, Alex Sandro and Cesar Azpilicueta
