Champions League 2017-18 - Salah, Ronaldo & best team of the tournament

The Brazilian was ever-present in Roma's thrilling run to the Champions League semi-finals, establishing himself as one of Europe's elite goalkeepers in the process. His inspirational performances led former Roma coach Roberto Negrisolo to compare him to both Dino Zoff and Lionel Messi, and also led to links with Liverpool.

While PSG might have fallen short once again in the Champions League, their veteran right-back gave his all in every single game. Alves chipped in with two goals from defence and generally caused havoc down the flank, although his talents were not enough to avoid last-16 defeat to Real Madrid.

Only the dazzling Mohamed Salah found the key this season to dismantle Manchester City's defence, led by a rock-solid Otamendi. That quarter-final reverse was a rare blemish on what was a near-perfect season for the Argentine, who marshalled Pep Guardiola's backline throughout their record-breaking campaign.

Hummels proved why Bayern were so keen to repatriate their former youth-team star with a stellar season after completing a move back from Borussia Dortmund.

Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, the Brazilian is perhaps most responsible for taking Madrid to a third straight Champions League crown. A consistent rampaging presence on the left flank, Marcelo also chipped in with vital goals against Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Bayern Munich in the knockout phase, and set up both Gareth Bale's second-half strikes in the final win over Liverpool.

Usually an unheralded presence in the middle of the park, Milner has revelled at the axis of Liverpool's dynamic attacking team throughout the Champions League. No other player can match the nine assists laid on for his team-mates that the England international managed this term.

Perhaps the most impressive legacy of Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid tenure to date. Under the Frenchman's watchful eye the Brazilian has become one of the world's elite holding midfielders and he barely put a foot wrong in the Champions League this year.

Alongside Mohamed Salah, the stand-out performer from the Premier League this season. De Bruyne was in outrageous form over the course of 2017-18, chipping in with four Champions League assists in City's run to the quarter finals.

The revelation of the European 2017-18 season. Salah has had a year to remember, and his performances against Man City and Roma, in particular, will go down in Liverpool folklore. His fairytale was ended in the final with a dislocated shoulder early on which could also rule him out of the World Cup.

It hasn't just been Liverpool's new favourite son, however. Firmino has proved the perfect partner in crime for the Egyptian, smashing 10 goals and adding eight assists in the Champions League alone as he made the false nine spot his own, although he felt Salah's absence in the final as Sadio Mane took centre-stage.

What more can be said about this man? Ronaldo may not have enjoyed the best Liga season but he has been nothing short of a tour de force in the Champions League, top scoring once more - although he was well under-par in the final itself.