But who will be part of their final trio in the UEFA Champions League?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the first names to grace the board as pundits on TNT Sports engaged in a lively debate over the greatest attacking trio in UEFA Champions League history. However, the inclusion of other players sparked a spirited discussion among the experts.

As the 2025/26 Champions League quarter-finals approach, a distinguished panel of analysts gathered in London to film The Breakdown: UEFA Champions League Special, where they dissected the most formidable front threes from both past and present.

Owen Hargreaves kicked off the conversation with the obvious choices, stating, “We’ll start with the obvious two, it’s Ronnie (Cristiano Ronaldo) and Messi.” The discussion then turned to Brazil’s legendary striker Ronaldo Nazario, affectionately known as R9, and the charismatic Ronaldinho, both of whom were suggested to join the illustrious duo.

Rio Ferdinand chimed in, asserting, “If it was just down to the best players, that’s it.” He proceeded to place R9’s picture alongside Messi and Ronaldo, adding, “Forget who won what, these are the best players to play in the Champions League.”

The conversation then shifted to the current crop of talent in the Champions League, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior emerging as the first two consensus names on the board. However, the battle for the third spot was far from straightforward. The likes of Barcelona’s Raphinha and Lamine Yamal were mentioned, alongside Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, while PSG’s rejuvenated Ousmane Dembele also received a nod.

Joe Cole expressed his preference, stating, “I think Dembele is better than Yamal, at the moment. I like Dembele.” Joleon Lescott humorously remarked on Dembele’s work rate, saying, “There is zero work rate up there. No one’s getting closed down.” Cole agreed, adding, “That is what PSG thought for many a year.”

The panel was nearly unanimous in their belief that Mbappe stands as the best player remaining in the competition. Cole noted, “The best player left is Mbappe, but on form I’d say it’s Dembele.” This sentiment was echoed by the majority, while Joe Hart and Steve McManaman playfully suggested that Hargreaves would opt for Joshua Kimmich as the best remaining player.

“Hey, who’s got the most assists in the Champions League? Joshua Kimmich, thank you Macca,” Hargreaves quipped, eliciting laughter from the group.

Hargreaves also pointed out that Raphinha was “unlucky to miss out,” highlighting his status as the top scorer in the Champions League.

As the competition gears up to return on April 8, fans can look forward to the first of several thrilling quarter-finals, with Bayern Munich set to face Internazionale live on TNT Sports. Arsenal and Aston Villa will represent the Premier League, while La Liga rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid have positioned themselves as favourites, closely followed by Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.