With the Champions League Round 16 over and the quarterfinals officially announced, it is time to take a look at which were the top players in the first knockout stage of the champions league.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
If anyone had to pick the MVP of the current contest, most would likely choose the Portuguese superstar. With eight goals in eight contests, Ronaldo has carried Real Madrid throughout the Champions league this season. Nowhere was this more obvious than in his stellar turn against Manchester United. He scored on a gravity-defying header in the first leg that even drew tremendous reviews from united coach Sir Alex Ferguson. His tally proved to save Madrid's season as it gave the team a 1-1 draw heading into the second leg. He disappeared for much of the second game but wound up scoring the winning goal that sealed Madrid's quarterfinals berth. He did not celebrate a single one of his two goals despite having every reason to do so.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
The four-time Ballon D'Or winner was poor in the first leg against AC Milan but he answered questions about his clutch abilities with two lethal strikes to lead Barcelona to a 4-0 win in the second leg at the Camp Nou.
Burak Yilmaz (Galatasaray)
Yilmaz could make a special case for MVP of the tournament, as he has also been mostly responsible for Galatasaray's quarterfinals spot. With eight goals, he has been a timely and lethal striker that has confounded opponent's offense. His first goal against Schalke was a virtuosic display of skill and patience while his tally in the second leg showed off his lethal blast from long range.
Didier Drogba (Galatasaray)
Few expect the Turkish side to make much progress in this tournament, but Drogba could have a lot to say to doubters. The African star led Chelsea to a championship run last season and has been tremendous in his two Champions league tilts for Galatasaray. He provided an assist for Yilmaz's goal in the second leg and created a plethora of his own opportunities. His size and prowess made him difficult for Schalke to defend and Real Madrid will likely struggle to keep him in check during the quarterfinals.
The Entire Juventus Squad
No team has looked better in the tournament over the last few games than the Italian Champions. The team has not allowed a goal in five matches and has scored consistently. It is hard to single out a single player because the entire team has been a well-oiled machine.
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