BT SPORT pundits have each picked a Champions League “Immortal XI” – with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in EVERY team.
But across the XI’s from seven of BT’s most high profile pundits, only TWO Englishmen feature.
Cristiano Ronaldo makes all seven BT pundits’ ‘Immortal XI’ Credit: AP
Lionel Messi joins Roanldo in all seven ‘Immortal XI’s’ Credit: AFP Looking back through the 30 years of the Champions League era, Ronaldo and Messi were ever-present in the teams selected by BT Pundits.
Former pros Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, Joe Cole, Michael Owen, Owen Hargreaves, Glenn Hoddle and Steve McManaman all offered their expert opinions.
While the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Andres Iniesta and Xavi all featured regularly, two selections they all agreed on were Ronaldo and Messi.
CR7 has lifted the famous trophy FIVE times in his career, on four occasions with Real Madrid and once with Manchester United.
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Ronaldo and Messi’s 2021-22 stats compared but which GOAT rival comes out top? Messi meanwhile has won Europe’s most prestigious competition four times, all in the colours of Barcelona.
Classy Italian defender Paolo Maldini is the only other player to feature in all seven ‘Immortal XI’s’.
But with three titles in the Champions League era, and two in the old European Cup days, you can see why.
One notable theme from the ‘Immortal XI’s’ was the lack of an English contingent, despite the success Prem clubs have enjoyed in the competition.
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Peter Crouch’s Champions League ‘Immortal XI’ features Steven Gerrard
Joe Cole’s side includes former Arsenal and Chelsea star Ashley Cole Only two Three Lions feature in the seven XI’s, with Crouch picking former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard in the centre of his midfield.
Gerrard single-handedly dragged Liverpool back into the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, lifting the trophy in what is possibly the most famous Champions League final of all time.
Meanwhile Cole picked his namesake, Ashley Cole, at left-back in his XI.
The two played together at Chelsea, and Cole was instrumental in helping the Blues lift the trophy in 2012.
But the likes of John Terry and Wayne Rooney, both winners of the competition, went unpicked.
BT Sport pundits Champions League ‘Immortal XI’ Rio Ferdinand : Edwin van der Sar, Dani Alves, Sergio Ramos, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Clarence Seedorf, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho
Michael Owen : Gianluigi Buffon, Cafu, Ramos, Maldini, Carlos, Xavi, Iniesta, Gerrard, Zidane, Messi, Ronaldo
Owen Hargreaves : Van der Sar, Alves, Ramos, Maldini, Carlos, Xavi, Iniesta, Seedorf, Zidane, Messi, Ronaldo
Glenn Hoddle : Buffon, Cafu, Cannavaro, Maldini, Carlos, Pirlo, Xavi, Zidane, Messi, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo
Steve McManaman : Neuer, Alves, Ramos, Maldini, Carlos, Makelele, Iniesta, Zidane, Messi, Ronaldo Nazario, Cristiano Ronaldo
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
