Cristiano Ronaldo omitted from Duluc’s Champions League XI

Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of Vincent Duluc’s all-time Champions League XI, despite ranking as the competition’s leading scorer and assist provider. The decision drew criticism across social media and in messages to the French journalist, who acknowledged that the omission was deliberate.

Duluc said his selection combined measurable achievements with personal judgment rather than following a purely statistical ranking. His attacking line features George Best, Johan Cruyff, Lionel Messi and Alfredo Di Stefano. The choice, he explained, reflected a distinction between Ronaldo’s records and the sense of magic he associates with other players.

Ronaldo’s performances in the later rounds also influenced the decision. Duluc considers the Portuguese forward’s impact stronger in the earlier knockout stages than in Champions League finals. Ronaldo scored four times across six finals, while Puskas and Di Stefano each scored seven, and Gareth Bale registered three goals in finals for Real Madrid.

Duluc was also unsettled by Ronaldo’s celebration after scoring Real’s fourth goal in the 2014 final, when Sergio Ramos had played the decisive role in rescuing the team, and by Ronaldo’s comments about his future after the 2018 final. He still praised Ronaldo’s longevity, record-setting drive and transformation from dribbler to prolific striker.