With the 2022/23 Champions League final taking place this weekend, it will be interesting to see if any of the players on the pitch can produce a performance that rival these stars.
Down through the years, quite a few different stars have stood up to be counted on the biggest stage of them all, leading their sides to European Cup glory.
With that in mind, we have selected an all-time Champions League final performance XI by considering each of the finals since the competition was rebranded in 1992/93.
A couple of ground rules. Firstly, we could only select one player from each final. In other words, we could not pick two performances from the same season.
Secondly, a player could only be selected to the team once. While the likes of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo produced numerous top class performances in the decider, it didn't make much sense to have them appear multiple times in the same team.
With that in mind, here's what we came up with.
All-Time Champions League Final XI
GK: Petr Cech - 2012 (Chelsea)
There was plenty of competition for this position, with Thibaut Courtois and Edwin van der Sar in with a shout for their performances in 2022 and 2008 respectively.
However, few had the individual impact in deciding the game that Petr Cech did in 2012. Not only did he did he make a number of key saves in the game (including a penalty), but he would then go on to stop two penalties in the shootout to lead Chelsea to their first Champions League triumph.
RB: Joshua Kimmich - 2020 (Bayern Munich)
Joshua Kimmich has split his time at right back and central midfield over the course of his career, although he lined out in the back four for Bayern's victory over PSG in 2020.
The German would provide the winner for Kinglsey Coman's winning goal and produced an excellent overall display.
🔴 The last time Bayern met Paris...
🇵🇹 2020 final, Lisbon
⚽️ Kingsley Coman
🤔 Who'll be the hero this time?@FCBayernEN | #UCLdraw | #UCL pic.twitter.com/1YLHWEwj9Z— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 19, 2021
CB: Ricardo Carvalho - 2004 (Porto)
The Porto team of 2004 were the perfect example of what Jose Mourinho wanted to achieve at his peak, with Ricardo Carvalho epitomising that.
He was an absolute Rolls Royce at the back throughout that campaign, including in the 3-0 victory over Monaco in the final. It is no coincidence that he was one of Mourinho's first signings when he moved to Chelsea later that summer.
CB: Paolo Maldini - 2003 (AC Milan)
Paolo Maldini played in a record eight European Cup finals over the course of his career, winning five of them. While the 2003 edition was hardly a classic, it was arguably his finest individual performance of the bunch.
He was absolutely stellar at the back in the 0-0 with Juventus, winning man-of-the-match honours for his efforts.
LB: Roberto Carlos - 2002 (Real Madrid)
The 2002 Champions League final is most commonly remembered for Zinedine Zidane's stunning winning goal at Hampden Park, meaning Roberto Carlos' contribution in the game is often overlooked.
The Brazilian star would provide the assist for Raul's opener, producing an incredibly accurate long throw-in to release the Spaniard in behind. He also provided the assist for Zidane's wonder strike, although we will still have to give the Frenchman most of the credit for that one.
CM: Xavi - 2009 (Barcelona)
The Barcelona team from 2009 was unlike anything the game had seen before. The brand of football they played was out of this world, completely playing Manchester United off the park in that final.
While Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi would score the goals in the game, it was Xavi that was handed the man-of-the-match award. That sums up just how much impact he he, with everything that Pep Guardiola's side did going through the Spaniard.
🔵🔴 Xavi & Iniesta dominate the 2009 #UCL final 😍#TBT | @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/rLqgPPVORS
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 17, 2020
CM: N'Golo Kante - 2021 (Chelsea)
Without N'Golo Kante, there is no way Chelsea would have won the Champions League in 2020/21. The French midfielder was absolutely sensational during the latter stages of the competition, producing remarkable performances against Real Madrid in the semi-final and then Manchester City in the decider.
He completely played City's midfielders off the pitch in the final, nullifying their attacking threat and then getting his own team playing once he got on the ball. He was the best player on the night by quite a distance.
CM: Steven Gerrard - 2005 (Liverpool)
This is certainly up there with one of the greatest individual performances in any Champions League game, much less a final.
Steven Gerrard was nothing short of sensational in Liverpool's famous comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul. Not only did he score the first goal and then win the penalty that made it 3-3, but he was the spiritual leader in the team throughout the remainder of the game. Without him on the pitch, they would have had no chance of getting over the line.
He even slotted in as a fullback for long periods in an effort to see his team through to penalties.
An often forgotten about part of Istanbul 2005 when Gerrard played full back. pic.twitter.com/aV1Em1shyZ
— Davolaa (@Davolaar) May 25, 2023
RW: Angel Di Maria - 2014 (Real Madrid)
On a pitch where there was no shortage of star power, Angel Di Maria stood head and shoulders above his peers in the 2014 final against Atletico Madrid.
The Argentine produced perhaps the greatest performance oh career to lead Real Madrid to their first Champions League triumph in 12 years.
🍿 The Di María show #OTD in 2014! 👏👏👏#UCL | #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/fRLtU0cUcO
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 24, 2021
ST: Lionel Messi - 2011 (Barcelona)
Lionel Messi had a number of Champions League performances that could have qualified for this team, but his showing in the 2011 decider is certainly the standout.
Two years on from terrorising Manchester United in Rome, he repeated the trick at Wembley Stadium. On this occasion he produced an even better showing as Barcelona ran out convincing winners.
🔵🔴 Iconic display by Leo Messi in 2011 #UCL final at Wembley ⚽️#MondayMotivation | @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/gFdiIGRndU
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) July 20, 2020
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo - 2017 (Real Madrid)
A winner of five Champions League titles, Cristiano Ronaldo is another player who produced on a number of occasions in the final. 2017, his third triumph at Real Madrid, was likely his best individual showing.
The Portuguese superstar scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Juventus, with both goals coming when the game was still very much in the balance.
📅 #OTD in 2017, Real Madrid lifted their 12th European Cup 🏆
⚪️⚽️ Ronaldo (2) Casemiro, Asensio#UCL | @realmadriden pic.twitter.com/xt6t1FfkuI— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 3, 2020
The Team In Full
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