The UEFA Champions League has seen the world's best compete at the highest level for what's considered to be the best, most prestigious club competition in the world.

From Liverpool's historic comeback against AC Milan Istanbul in 2005 led by Steven Gerrard's header, Barcelona's famous Remontada against Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou in 2017, to Manchester United's treble in 1999 after scoring two late, late goals to beat Bayern Munich in Barcelona, the competition has seen it's fare share of glorious, memorable moments.

We've been blessed by the past two decades having been able to bear witness to the eras dominated by serial successes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for their exploits predominantly at Real Madrid and Barcelona. We've also seen different clubs go on to lift ol' big ears for the first time in quite some time, if not ever a la PSG in 2026 and 2025, Bayern Munich in 2020, Manchester City in 2023, and Liverpool in 2019.

Alex Ferguson's Champions League Legacy

Sir Alex Ferguson, without a trace of doubt, is one of the greatest ever managers to have graced the earth and he's no stranger to difficult battles and successes in the Champions League. He won the competition with Manchester United in both 1999 in Barcelona over Bayern and 2008 in Moscow over Chelsea in penalties.

The Scot achieved success in an era when footballers were at the peak of their powers across European football in a way that's indescribably different than it is now as there's a certain allure and nostalgic beauty about early and mid 2000's European competition. Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Kaká, and Ronaldinho were among those at the top of their game in an era that was far less commercialized than it is now and there was more freedom with individual brilliance over ball retention.

Throughout his career in the Champions League, Ferguson amassed an overall record of 50 wins, 28 draws, and 27 losses ever since it was officially named the Champions League, moving on from the European Cup. Across all European cup competitions, Ferguson managed over 190 matches over the span of his managerial career and came up against Europe's best.

Ferguson Revealed Favourite Champions League Opponent

While Ferguson spoke highly of Messi and Zidane he made clear his admiration of another icon of Europe's elite club competition. In the May 2009 edition of UEFA's 'The Technician' newsletter, he named former AC Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini as his favourite opposition player in the Champions League - perhaps a less expected answer.

When I think of the current generation, Lionel Messi is top-level and, although he has never really taken my breath away, Kaká has impressed. Zinedine Zidane was brilliant, but without a doubt, Paolo Maldini has been my favourite opposition player during my time as a Champions League coach.

In the Champions League, Maldini made a total of 135 appearances with AC Milan, winning the European Cup a total of five times (2 European Cups in 1989, 1990 + 3 UEFA Champions Leagues in 1994, 2003, 2007). He also recorded an impressive 63 clean sheets across his career in the competition as a stalwart in Milan's back line.

He's the quintessential type of player that comes to mind when reminiscing on the defensively tactical brilliance from Serie A in the early and mid 2000s - a time when Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d'Or in 2006, the last defender to have won the honor.