After the first legs of the Champions League quarterfinals, we’ve picked out a handful of standout footballers based on five different categories: The Gamechanger (MVP), The Finisher (scorer of many/jaw-dropping goals), The Playmaker (creator of goals/chances), The Protector (standout defender) and The Stopper (top goalkeeper).
Here are our five selections from Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s matches, including another clutch performance from a certain No. 7 and a teenager who is making waves.
THE GAMECHANGER
Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid
Is anyone surprised?
With Bayern holding on to a 1-0 halftime lead and with a season-long home unbeaten streak on the line, Ronaldo broke out of a career-long Champions League scoring slump to bring it all crashing down around the Bundesliga leaders.
The comeback kicked off with a nifty volley goal to bring Madrid level in the 47th minute, not only cancelling out Arturo Vidal’s 25th-minute header but giving Los Blancos a crucial away goal.
The winner was part of history as No. 7 was on the end of a perfectly placed Marco Asensio cross in the 77th minute, giving Ronaldo his 100th goal in all European club competitions.
Real Madrid now return to the Bernabeu with a vital advantage over Bayern Munich and a Ronaldo who looks to have re-found his form.
THE FINISHER
Kylian Mbappe, AS Monaco
The French teenager has made waves in Ligue 1 this season, but on Wednesday in Dortmund the youngster made history and helped give Monaco a crucial 3-2 win and a big advantage heading back to the Principality.
Mbappe is in an incredible run of form: The Parisian had 11 goals in his previous 12 games heading into the quarterfinal, and added two more at the Westfalenstadion.
The first was more luck than skill (and offside), but there’s something to be said for being in the right place at the right time.
His second, though, was an absolute stunner. From the awareness to intercept the wayward pass to the emphatic finish, Mbappe put the match away in style.
Monaco is the top-scoring team in Europe and, right now, they’re led by their outstanding teenager. And although nothing is guaranteed against a team as dangerous as Dortmund, Monaco is well along thanks to the ever-impressive Mbappe.
THE PLAYMAKERS
Shinji Kagawa, Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund are in tough as they prepare for the second leg in Monaco after surrendering three away goals, but they’d be in a much deeper hole if not for Kagawa.
The 28-year-old Japanese midfielder created three key chances for Dortmund as it tried to mount a comeback against their Ligue 1 competition, and had a hand in both goals. On the first, Kagawa played the ball to a wide-open Ousmane Dembele after a brilliant back-heel pass from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
And on the second, Kagawa deked a Monaco defender out of his boots and finished with authority to pull his team within a goal.
If Dortmund are able to complete a comeback in south France, Kagawa’s efforts in Wednesday’s first leg will be the basis of Dortmund’s semifinal berth.
THE PROTECTOR
Saul Niguez, Atletico Madrid
It was a rough day for Leicester City in Madrid.
After multiple fans were arrested before the game, Atletico were awarded a questionable penalty and then the Foxes failed to manage a single shot on goal in 90-plus minutes at the Vincente Calderon.
It’s no surprise that Madrid was stout defensively on this day; it’s been a proud characteristic of the team under Diego Simeone, and Atletico have an impressive 15 clean sheets in 17 home Champions League matches.
Leading the way for Atletico in their 1-0 win on Wednesday was Saul Niguez, who played a key role in subduing a dangerous Leicester attack since Craig Shakespeare took over in February.
Atletico head to England next week with just a one-goal lead but will feel confident after the defensive effort put in at home.
THE STOPPER
Gianluigi Buffon, Juventus
Barcelona recorded 16 total shots in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to Juventus loss but managed just four on target, all of which were stopped by the world-class Italian ‘keeper.
None of those four stops were more crucial than the first, which came from Andres Iniesta in the 21st minute on a shot that could have changed the course of the game if not for the fingertip save from the 39-year-old.
Age is just a number to Juventus’s legendary netminder.
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