Ronaldo, Messi, De Bruyne: what are the best individual performances in the history of the quarter-finals of the Champions League?

We have dropped to eight in the Champions League as the competition continues under unprecedented circumstances.

Instead of double comparisons in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, in Lisbon it is the “winner who stays on” situation to determine the European champions.

So away goals are out of the picture, but there’s still a lot of excitement to be had from one-legged matches.

The action kicks off today (12 August) with Atalanta’s surprise package facing the French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Here’s what the quarter-finals look like:

• Atalanta vs Paris Saint-Germain (August 12)
• RB Leipzig vs Atletico Madrid (13 August)
• Barcelona vs Bayern Munich (August 14)
• Manchester City vs Lyon (August 15)

It is time for the best players in the world to step up and earn their titles, which we have seen several times over the years.

Cristiano Ronaldo will not be in attendance but the Portuguese is responsible for some of the most sublime quarter-final performances ever seen.

We tried to rank our eight favorite individual performances at this stage of the competition. Take it away, Cesc Fabregas …

8. Cesc Fabregas | Arsenal 2-0 Juventus | 2006

Arsenal’s path to the final in 2006 included victories against Real Madrid and Juventus.

A superb performance from 18-year-old Cesc Fabregas helped Arsene Wenger win 2-0 against a Juventus team that had former gunner Patrick Vieira in the center of his midfield.

Fabregas scored the first goal and subsequently set up Thierry Henry in a good performance at Highbury.

7. David Beckham | Manchester United 2-0 Inter | 1999

It’s easy to forget how good a footballer David Beckham was.

His performance was exceptional and he showed it at Old Trafford in 1999 with two point crosses on which Dwight Yorke scored.

“We had a lot of good performers and David Beckham was absolutely brilliant,” Sir Alex Ferguson told the BBC full time.

“I am not surprised that he tormented them all night. He is the best crosser in Europe.”

6. Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur | 2019

Kevin De Bruyne was at the height of his powers when Tottenham traveled to the Etihad Stadium in 2019.

The Belgian director recorded three assists – THREE – in a return button.

It was a sublime performance that confirmed De Bruyne’s status as the best midfielder in the world.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid 4-2 Bayern Munich (AET) | 2017

Cristiano Ronaldo can often be relied upon to step up when needed and this was the case during Real Madrid’s return against Bayern Munich three years ago.

Ronaldo scored to put Los Blancos in the driver’s seat in the equalizer, but Sergio Ramos’ own goal sent the match into extra time.

But Ronaldo put Madrid back in the 105th minute – his 99th in the Champions League – and reached 100 by completing his hat-trick five minutes later.

4. Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich 1-2 Real Madrid | 2017

Real’s path to the semi-final would have been easier had it not been for Manuel Neuer’s heroism in the first leg.

The German shooter made 11 saves at the Allianz Arena, including a nice one-handed stop from Ronaldo.

Neuer’s highlights serve as a reminder of how good he was in his prime.

3. Ronaldo | Manchester United 4-3 Real Madrid | 2003

Ronaldo defeated Man United alone in a truly iconic Champions League performance.

The Brazilian striker scored a splendid hat-trick at Old Trafford to secure Real Madrid’s place in the semi-final, leaving the field to a standing ovation from all four corners of the stadium.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid 3-0 Wolfsburg | 2016

A 2-0 first-leg defeat would have meant the end for many teams, but not for Real Madrid.

They had Ronaldo, after all.

The Portuguese put his team on his shoulders and took them to the semifinals with a brilliant hat-trick, complemented by a nice free-kick.

Ronaldo delivered when Real Madrid needed him most.

1. Lionel Messi | Barcelona 4-1 Arsenal | 2010

“I think we have lost against a team that is better than us and that has the best player in the world.”

That was Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s assessment after Lionel Messi ended the Gunners’ Champions League hopes with one of his best performances in the competition.

Messi scored four goals, three of them before half-time, to send Barcelona to the final four.

The first goal was a ferocious burst that Manuel Almunia could not keep away and the third was also good; the Argentine casually threw the ball over the Arsenal goalkeeper to unleash the Camp Nou crowd.

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