Former Real Madrid full-back Roberto Carlos has won practically everything in the game, from the Turkish Super Cup with Fenerbache, to the World Cup with Brazil, so there are few players more knowledgeable about what would make a successful team.
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Carlos won the Champions League with Madrid in 1998, and would be one of the few survivors of the ruthless transformation into the Galatico era that reaped two more more wins in the competition, before his departure from the Bernabeu in 2007.
The Brazilian has selected his all-time eleven from Europe’s premier club competition in the Daily Mail, which includes seven former teammates – and himself – as well as some of the other most famous names from the competition.
GK- Iker Casillas
The current Real Madrid captain was one of the few products of the youth academy that was able to flourish in the new era of “Galaticoism”. He has won the competition three times, including last season’s La Decima.
RB- Cafu
The World Cup winning captain from 2002 played alongside Carlos at international level. His only triumph in the Champions League came with AC Milan in 2007, when they beat Liverpool 2-1 in Athens.
CB- Fabio Cannavaro
He may have won the 2006 World Cup as Italy’s captain, and would subsequently be voted for the Ballon d’Or in the same year, but surprisingly the centre-back never won the Champions League. He is one of two players in the team who can’t boast the title on his CV.
CB- Paolo Maldini
The AC Milan legend incredibly won the competition on five occasions, and reached another three finals during his illustrious career. He also opened the scoring in the first minute of the 2005 Final, only to miss out in dramatic fashion on penalties against Liverpool.
LB- Roberto Carlos
It may be deemed as slightly arrogant that the full-back has included himself in the team, but you can hardly argue. As mentioned, he won the competition three times whilst with Madrid.
DM- Claude Makelele
A player so good, they basically renamed the holding midfield role in his honour. Before his time with Chelsea, the midfielder won the Champions League at Hampden Park in 2002.
CM- Clarence Seedorf
Famously, the Dutchman is the only man to have the competition with three different clubs. He was part of exciting, and somewhat revolutionary, Ajax side that thrashed AC Milan in 1995. He would then win alongside Carlos in 1998, before two wins with Milan in 2003, and 2007.
CM- Zinedine Zidane
It’s a shame that a player of Zidane’s quality didn’t win more at club level. A decorated international – having already the World Cup in 1998, and Euro 2000 – he moved to Madrid in 2001, and was criticised for his early performances. But he silenced those doubters with one of the greatest goals in the 2002 Champions League Final, to give Madrid the win over Bayer Leverkusen.
RW- Luis Figo
Like Zidane, Luis Figo only has the 2002 triumph to speak of. But the winger was one of the greatest, and most naturally gifted players of his generation, if not all-time. His value to Madrid was highlighted when they spent a then world record fee on the player to bring him from arch-rivals Barcelona in 2000.
LW- Ronaldinho
Another great of the game who only won the Champions League once, as Arsenal fans will remember. Though he had a quiet game in 2006 Final, he was an integral part of Barcelona’s success in the mid-2000s, and it’s a shame therefore that his career seems to have fizzled out in the way it has.
ST- Ronaldo
Incredibly, Ronaldo never won the Champions League as a player, despite becoming the blueprint for the modern number nine, that all strikers look to emulate, but arguably no-one has since his best days. Arguably, the highlight of his career in the competition came from a sensational hat-trick at Old Trafford in 2003.