UEFA Champions League: 10 Most Important Players Remaining in Quarterfinals

Eight teams remain in Europe's premier club competition. These 10 players will help decide who advances and who goes home.

These aren't necessarily the best 10 players, mind you. Instead, this is a list of the players who are most important to their team's chances.

At this level, the difference between winning and losing can be microscopic. That makes these 10 players all the more important.

10. Steve Mandanda

Sure, he sometimes he makes things look a lot harder than they have to be. But at this point, goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is Marseille's most important player.

Currently ninth in Ligue 1, Marseille has advanced disproportionately far in Europe with defense. In eight matches, they've allowed seven goals while keeping four clean sheets.

Bayern Munich will present perhaps their biggest test yet, with an offensive that's in outstanding form. The Bavarians knocked seven past Basel in the second leg of their Round of 16 clash, and they also scored six this weekend in the Bundesliga against Hertha.

Marseille, who has scored nine goals in Europe all season, can't hope to keep up with that. Their only hope is a stout defensive performance, led by their goalkeeper.

9. John Terry

Didier Drogba showed last week that he's still vital to Chelsea's plans, but no player at Stamford Bridge is more important than John Terry.

Whether or not you like him, the 31-year-old Terry in the post-Andre Villas-Boas era has become something close to a player-manager. One can debate his value off the pitch, but on it, he's still influential for the Blues.

Terry scored in the win against Napoli midweek, and he was solid defensively as well. If Chelsea can get past Benfica in the quarterfinals, all of Terry's good qualities (and none of the bad ones) will be needed, in what will likely be a showdown with Barcelona.

8. Philipp Lahm

Bayern Munich's offense is purring, and because of that, guys like Arjen Robben, Thomas Müller and Mario Gomez are reaping glory by the bushel. But defender and captain Philipp Lahm might hold the key to European progress.

If the Bavarian giants have a weakness, it's defense. And while that shouldn't be too much of a problem against Marseille, it could be huge in a potential semifinal matchup with Real Madrid.

Assuming both teams make it that far, Bayern will need a big performance from their captain to keep Real at bay.

7. Andres Iniesta

Messi is the king, and Xavi his right-hand man, but don't forget about Andres Iniesta.

The diminutive, unassuming midfielder serves as the third member of Barcelona's holy trinity, and while he can sometimes be overlooked, Iniesta's contributions are key.

Iniesta assisted Lionel Messi's 25th-minute goal against Sevilla on Saturday with a neat through-ball, and that was exactly the kind of contribution that makes him so valuable.

When he's on his game, Iniesta helps Barca reach top gear.

6. Iker Casillas

He's here for almost the same reasons as Steve Mandanda, but the main difference is that Iker Casillas and his team have a chance to win it all.

Behind Barcelona, Real Madrid is probably the second favorites to win the competition. But before they can face Barca in an El Clasico finale, Real will have to see off APOEL and probably Bayern Munich.

Cristiano Ronaldo is Real's best and most important player, and Mesut Özil provides vital creativity in the middle of the park. But Casillas, 30, has mountains of European experience, including winner's medals from 2000 and 2002.

Still one of the planet's best keepers, Casillas could provide Real the edge they need to finally overtake Barca in the Champions League.

5. Arjen Robben

Arjen Robben showed it with his stunning goal last month against England, and reiterated it with his hat-trick over the weekend against Hertha Berlin.

The Dutchman is in form, both for club and country.

Mario Gomez and Thomas Müller also pose a threat, but Robben is the key for Bayern right now. Opponents must respect Robben's deft dribbling, passing and shooting from the wing, and when they do, they open themselves up to more danger all over the pitch.

It's a double whammy for defenses, and it's one reason Bayern's offense is currently so powerful.

4. Xavi

It's been said a million times before, but it's worth repeating one more time.

Xavi is Leo Messi's right hand, the Robin to Messi's Batman, the Edge to Messi's Bono.

There's not a better player in the world than Messi, but Xavi has more to do with that than perhaps anyone but Messi himself.

3. Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic can't stop scoring. And if he has his way, he'll take personal revenge on the team that let him go.

Ibra flopped at Barcelona, and because of that, it's no secret that he has a personal stake in AC Milan's quarterfinal tie with the Catalan giants.

That should ensure fireworks, and if everything falls right, it could mean an upset.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is having a season for the ages at Real Madrid with more than 40 goals already for the runaway La Liga leaders.

In any normal season, Ronaldo would stand miles above all as the best player in the world. But this is no normal season.

1. Lionel Messi

That's because Lionel Messi is having perhaps the best season in modern memory.

Messi stunned the world with his five-star performance against Bayer Leverkusen, and as the season progresses, his ability to influence a match only seems to strengthen.

As long as Messi is on his game, no one will beat Barca.