Selecting a 2011 UEFA Champions League Dream Team XI

When I think of the UEFA Champions League I think of the best of the best. More specifically, the best players on the best clubs, which is no coincidence.

The top European clubs that come to mind include the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, AC Milan, Internazionale, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

The top players? Well, the following slides reveal my 2011 UEFA Champions League dream team. But before looking at the dream XI, here is the honorable mention XI.

GK: Petr Cech

RB: Sergio Ramos

CB: Vincent Kompany

CB: Tiago Silva

LB: Fabio Coentrao

RCM: Cesc Fabregas

CDM: Bastian Schweinsteiger

LCM: David Silva

RW: Arjen Robben

ST: Sergio Aguero

LW: David Villa

Now let's take a look at the 2011 UEFA Champions League dream XI.

GK: Iker Casillas

Was there any doubt as to who would be in between the sticks? Surely not.

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas is the world's best goalkeeper at the moment. He is a proven winner, winning the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 European Championships with Spain.

RB: Dani Alves

Positioned at right-back is Barcelona's Dani Alves. The Brazilian is unquestionably the best right in the world and is renown for his attacking prowess.

CB: Gerard Pique

Alves' teammate Gerard Pique is the first centre-back on the UEFA dream team. Pique is a rock at the back for Barcelona, but his underrated link-up play and distribution is what sets him apart from other center-backs.

CB: Nemanja Vidic

United skipper Nemanja Vidic rounds out the centre-back position. Vidic is arguably the top defender in Europe. Marking and tackling are his greatest strengths, which bode well for any defender.

LB: Philipp Lahm

German international Philipp Lahm settles in at left-back. Like right-back Dani Alves, Lahm is exceptional going forward and he also happens to be the captain of the German national team. That settles that.

RCM: Xavi

No surprise here. Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez is the best play-making midfielder in Europe, which is why he is an easy choice for the 2011 dream XI.

CDM: Yaya Toure

Manchester City's Yaya Toure is the centre-defensive midfielder in the dream XI's 4-3-3 formation.

Toure has the ability to dominate the game with both his physical strength and technique, making him the perfect holding player for City and the 2011 UEFA Champions League dream team.

LCM: Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta joins his Barcelona teammate and partner in crime Xavi in central midfield. Iniesta has impeccable ball control and his vision is second to only Xavi when picking out teammates runs.  

RW: Lionel Messi

Regarded as the world's best footballer, Lionel Messi was an obvious selection.

Messi can do it all. He's a winger that can make plays for others or poach goals from anywhere inside the box. Like most wingers, he is renown for his tremendous dribbling skills.

ST: Wayne Rooney

Rooney beat out Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero by the slimmest of margins to be selected as the front-man of the 2011 UEFA Champions League dream XI.

The Manchester United striker has scored a Premier League leading nine goals this season.

LW: Cristiano Ronaldo

Rounding out the 2011 UEFA Champions League dream team is Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo is the most complete forward in world football. He can shoot from long-range, dribble around full-backs, rise above centre-backs, and is the best set-piece taker in the game.

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