Cristiano Ronaldo has been omitted from Vincent Duluc’s all-time European Cup and Champions League XI for L’Équipe despite being the competition’s record goalscorer.
Cristiano Ronaldo left out of all-time Champions League XI as Messi makes the cut
Cristiano Ronaldo has been sensationally left out of an all-time European Cup and Champions League XI published by L’Équipe journalist Vincent Duluc.
The selection spans more than 70 years of European Cup history and includes some of the biggest names ever to play in the competition.
But the most controversial decision is impossible to ignore.
The competition’s record goalscorer, five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo, does not make the team.
The full all-time Champions League XI
Duluc’s selection is built around a formation close to a 4-2-3-1.
The XI is:
GK: Ray Clemence
RB: Dani Carvajal
CB: Franz Beckenbauer
CB: Franco Baresi
LB: Paolo Maldini
CM: Luka Modrić
CM: Andrés Iniesta
RW: Lionel Messi
CAM: Johan Cruyff
LW: George Best
ST: Alfredo Di Stéfano
The team deliberately combines players from both the old European Cup era and the modern Champions League.
Ronaldo omission becomes biggest controversy
Ronaldo’s absence immediately became the defining talking point.
The Portuguese icon is the leading goalscorer in Champions League history and has won the competition five times.
He also holds several extraordinary records, including the most goals scored in a single Champions League season and an incredible knockout-stage scoring record.
That makes his omission from any all-time XI extremely difficult to ignore.
Duluc deliberately chose not to pick Ronaldo
The most important detail is that Ronaldo was not simply forgotten.
Duluc openly explained that he deliberately left Ronaldo out of the XI.
The French journalist argued that an all-time team should not be selected purely on statistics and records.
He also suggested that Ronaldo became less creative and less involved in dribbling as his career developed, which influenced his decision to select George Best instead.
Duluc even acknowledged that the choice would likely anger a large number of readers.
Messi named among the greatest ever
While Ronaldo was left out, Lionel Messi was an automatic inclusion.
Duluc went even further by describing Messi as the greatest player in European Cup and Champions League history in his personal view.
The Argentine was praised for his combination of goalscoring, passing, creativity and dribbling.
Messi won four Champions League titles with Barcelona and produced some of the competition’s most memorable individual performances.
The contrast between Messi’s inclusion and Ronaldo’s omission has inevitably intensified debate among supporters.
No French player makes the XI
Another surprising detail is the complete absence of French players.
Despite the XI being selected for L’Équipe, there is no Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema, Thierry Henry or Michel Platini.
Benzema’s omission is particularly notable given his major role in Real Madrid’s modern Champions League success.
Zidane also scored one of the most iconic goals in competition history in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Yet neither was selected.
Ray Clemence beats Casillas and Neuer
The goalkeeper position is another major surprise.
Duluc selected Liverpool legend Ray Clemence ahead of more modern names such as Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer.
Clemence won the European Cup three times with Liverpool in 1977, 1978 and 1981.
The decision underlines Duluc’s desire to represent the full history of the competition rather than focusing only on the Champions League era after 1992.
Carvajal rewarded for historic Real Madrid run
Dani Carvajal’s inclusion at right-back is another eye-catching selection.
However, his Champions League record makes a strong case.
Carvajal has played a central role in one of the most dominant eras in Real Madrid’s European history and has won the competition six times.
He also scored in the 2024 final against Borussia Dortmund.
His place reflects both longevity and success at the highest level.
Real Madrid dominate the XI
Real Madrid provide more players than any other club in the selection.
Carvajal, Modrić and Di Stéfano all represent the Spanish giants.
AC Milan and Barcelona each contribute two players, while Bayern Munich, Ajax, Manchester United and Liverpool provide one each.
Despite Madrid’s dominance, several legendary figures from the club are missing.
Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Iker Casillas all fail to make the XI.
Ronaldo debate will not disappear
The selection was always likely to create disagreement, but Ronaldo’s omission has ensured the debate is far bigger than usual.
Leaving out the competition’s record goalscorer and one of its most successful players is a decision that directly challenges the way many fans judge Champions League greatness.
Duluc’s argument is based on style, influence and the balance of an all-time team rather than statistics alone.
For many supporters, however, Ronaldo’s Champions League record makes him impossible to exclude.
And that is exactly why this XI has become one of the most controversial selections of the new Champions League season.
