French journalist Vincent Duluc, a prominent contributor to L'Équipe, has selected his all-time best Champions League XI, and Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was not included. The Champions League's all-time leading scorer is not the only Ballon d'Or winner absent from the list.

Duluc's 11-player lineup brings together many legends from over 70 years of the Champions League, spanning from the creation of the European Cup in 1955 to the modern Champions League era. He aimed to strike a balance between the European Cup era before its 1992 reform and the modern competition after the restructuring.

Salah misses out

Real Madrid duo face Inter Milan

Goalkeeper: Ray Clemence, Liverpool

Right-back: Dani Carvajal, Real Madrid

Centre-back: Franz Beckenbauer, Bayern Munich

Centre-back: Franco Baresi, AC Milan

Left-back: Paolo Maldini, AC Milan

Midfielder: Luka Modrić, Real Madrid

Midfielder: Andrés Iniesta, Barcelona

Left winger: Lionel Messi, Barcelona

Attacking midfielder: Johan Cruyff, Ajax

Right winger: George Best, Manchester United

Forward: Alfredo Di Stéfano, Real Madrid

The prestigious European top competition kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday. The standout matches of the day are Real Madrid against Inter Milan at the Bernabéu, Porto facing Manchester City, and Borussia Dortmund playing Villarreal.

Paris Saint-Germain won the last two Champions League titles, defeating Inter Milan and Arsenal in the finals respectively.

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