Champions League: Top 10 players

There's an endless supply of world-class players capable of dominating matches with breathtaking displays on the biggest stage of European football.

While there's bound to be an argument made for any number of players to be included, here's a list of the top 10 players of this year's the Champions League:

10. Luiz Adriano (Shakhtar Donetsk)

Despite all of his damage occurring in the group stage, Luiz Adriano remains one of the top scorers in the Champions League. Few would include the Brazilian in the same breath as Cristiano Ronaldo, but his record-matching performance to get Shakhtar Donetsk into the knockout stage saw him match the Portuguese superstar's group stage scoring record of nine goals.

Shakhtar came up short when they fell to Bayern in the round of 16, but his nine goals are still good enough for him to finish among the top five scorers.

9. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)

What Toni Kroos brings to the Real Madrid midfield won't always show up on the stat sheets, but his presence has undoubtedly improved the calibre of skill among an already talented group of players.

He was among the leaders in completed passes in the Champions League, including three helpers, yet his otherworldly intelligence up the centre of the pitch creates havoc for opposing teams as he dictates the pace of play.

8. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Gianluigi Buffon's impact on Juventus over the years is something to behold when considering the number of years he's excelled and continues to be one of the top 'keepers in the game.

He's owed just as much credit as any Juve player for their inspiring run to the Champions League final, where he produced a pair of outstanding saves to keep his club in the match against Barcelona.

The football universe should take comfort in the fact that he shows no signs of slowing down.

7. Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)

The task of winning the Champions League was almost doubled in terms of difficulty when news broke that Giorgio Chiellini would miss the fixture through injury.

The Italian international, along with Buffon, has been the driving force behind Juve's incredible defensive record and would likely have played a major role in thwarting Barcelona's relentless attack in Berlin.

6. Jordi Alba (Barcelona)

There's few things in football more dangerous than a full-back that possesses the skills and nose for goals like Jordi Alba.

The Spanish international is a nightmare for opposing teams with his lightning-quick runs into the other end of the park that cause mass confusion among defenders. While Barca don't neccessarily require Alba to make such runs on a frequent basis, his surge up the field always seems to produce a goal, whether it's for him or one of his many talented teammates.

5. Carlos Tevez (Juventus)

Carlos Tevez looked like a player on the downside of his career until his arrival in Turin, where's solidified himself as one of the top strikers in Europe. He may have been a non-factor during the Champions League final, but one could argue that Juventus wouldn't have progressed to these heights without him.

4. Neymar (Barcelona)

Neymar continues to flourish in the world's most lethal attacking system. It's a scary prospect for opposing teams to witness such a young player continuously grow into one of the world's best.

He will likely go down in history as one of the greatest of all-time, so let's just sit back and enjoy watching this special player progress into an unstoppable force.

3. Luis Suarez (Barcelona)

Despite missing the first two months of the season, Luis Suarez played an integral role in Barcelona's journey back to being the world's best team.

The former Liverpool striker showed his tremendous ability to adapt and fit into the world's most talented attack, growing his reputation along the way as a superb provider after recording the most assists in his career.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)

There's no denying Cristiano Ronaldo's greatness. A year after leading Real Madrid to its 10th Champions League title, the Portuguese superstar almost got them back to the final until a stubborn Juventus side ended their tournament.

Ronaldo, however, left his mark on the tournament with his incredible scoring record and will finish tied with Lionel Messi and Neymar for the scoring (10 goals) lead.

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Lionel Messi's place atop the list could have been predicted before the tournament even started.

He was always going to dominate in his traditional fashion, but few could have predicted he could lift his performances to a level above what he's displayed in recent years.

The Argentine has astonishingly managed to find another gear, producing devastating runs and continuing to show off his unmatched ability to find the back of the net. The inclusion of Suarez has certainly helped, and should set Barca up for years of dominance with Messi guiding the ship.