Top ten all time greatest legends of the Champions League, Manchester United duo included…
The Champions League has given us some of the greatest footballing displays in history, all thanks to the world class legends who perform on the greatest stage in European football.
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Here are the top ten greatest legends of the Champions League according to the DailyMail:
10) Edwin van der Sar – Ajax & Manchester United – Won: 1995, 2008
The Dutch goalkeeper won his first Champions League trophy at just 24 with Louis van Gaal’s incredibly young Ajax side.
13 years later he managed it again, van der Sar’s penalty save against Nikolas Anelka in 2008 ensuring Manchester United their third European trophy when they beat Chelsea.
9) Clarence Seedorf – Ajax, Real Madrid & AC Milan – Won: 1995, 1998, 2003, 2007
As the only player in history to win the Champions League with three different clubs, the Dutchman truly has gone down as a legend.
Also part of Louis van Gaal’s 1995 winning side, Seedorf went on to lift the trophy with Real Madrid three years later.
Having beaten AC Milan in the final to clinch his first trophy, he then won a European trophy with the Italian side; beating Liverpool 2-1 in 2007.
8) Iker Casillas – Real Madrid – Won: 2000, 2002, 2014
Three Champions League trophies in a 14 year spell with the same club is an incredible feat. Casillas has been loyal to Madrid his entire career, and it has certainly paid off for him.
He may have come in for some criticism recently, but you can’t take anything from the Spanish international’s fantastic career.
7) Steven Gerrard – Liverpool – Won: 2005
Liverpool’s unlikely comeback in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan is etched in the anals of history. Steven Gerrard’s Man of the Match performance dragging his side back from 3-0 down to take it to penalties.
With Gerrard heading towards the twilight of his career, he would no doubt love to add another European trophy to his collection now that Liverpool are back in the Champions League.
6) Xavi – Barcelona – Won: 2006, 2009, 2011
For a large period of the last decade Barcelona have been the dominant force in Europe, and on several occasions looked like they would be the first club to retain the Champions League.
Xavi, Iniesta, and of course Lionel Messi, were an integral part of this dominance.
Beating English teams in the finals three times in five years, Xavi was a rock in the heart of the Barcelona midfield.
5) Raul – Real Madrid – Won: 1998, 2000, 2002
Three Champions League winner’s medals in five years, Raul was a vital part of the Real Madrid side that was so dominant for years.
Scoring in the 2002 final which was made so memorable by Zinedine Zidane’s unbelievable volley, Raul went down as a legend of the Champions league; currently holding the record for most appearances.
4) Ryan Giggs – Manchester United – Won: 1999, 2008
The Welshman is the only player to play a part in both of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Champions League-winning teams.
Holding his nerve when taking the final penalty of the 2008 final after Nikolas Anelka’s miss, he ensured the trophy didn’t escape United’s grasp.
3) Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United & Real Madrid – Won 2008, 2014
Crowned World Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2014, the Portuguese forward scored in both finals, clinching the trophies for his respective sides.
Looking likely to break Raul’s record of most goals in the Champions League, Ronaldo is sure to go down as a legend of the competition; as if he wasn’t already going to be.
2) Paolo Maldini – AC Milan – Won: 1994, 2003, 2007
Playing in a massive six Champions League finals, Maldini holds three titles in his lengthy spell with the Italian giants.
Known as one of the world’s greatest ever defenders, he was a massive part of Milan’s stability and rigidity at the back.
1) Lionel Messi – Barcelona – Won: 2009, 2011
Battling with Ronaldo for a number of Champions League goalscoring records, age is on his side which gives him a huge advantage.
He outclassed his rival in the 2009 final, scoring during his side’s win over Real Madrid to clinch his first European trophy.
Scoring again two years later, Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 in the final. Messi’s second Champions League trophy of his career.
The Argentine still has plenty of time to win more, with Barcelona’s forward line looking arguably deadlier than any other in Europe this season.
Liverpool And Man United Stars Included In Top Ten Greatest Legends Of The Champions League List
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