UEFA Reveal 2017 Champions League Team of the Year as Chosen by 8.8m Fan Votes

UEFA have revealed the 2017 Champions League Team of the Year, as voted for by fans.

As many as 8.8m votes were cast in deciding which superstar players deserve to take their place among the elite XI. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Real Madrid are the dominant club represented following their back-to-back triumphs.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠 ⚽️
Introducing your 2017 all-star XI after a record 8.8m votes! pic.twitter.com/MTpF7U37Yz
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

In goal, Juventus and Italy living legend Gianluigi Buffon, who played in his third Champions League final in May, got the nod ahead of the rest.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ GOALKEEPER
🇮🇹 Gianluigi Buffon
👕 Juventus pic.twitter.com/AHKvhrAcvs
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

Long serving Real defenders Sergio Ramos and Marcelo featured in the back four, alongside Juventus veteran Giorgio Chiellini and marauding full-back Dani Alves, who excelled with both Juve and new club Paris Saint-Germain in Europe during the course of 2017.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ LEFT-BACK
🇧🇷 Marcelo
👕 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/Xcee1gcaQJ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ CENTRE-BACK
🇮🇹 Giorgio Chiellini
👕 Juventus pic.twitter.com/k1DkUUIRDJ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ CENTRE-BACK
🇪🇸 Sergio Ramos
👕 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/qEmUGniEKa
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ RIGHT-BACK
🇧🇷 Dani Alves
👕 Paris pic.twitter.com/UYJ9tiVl6O
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

Eden Hazard only returned to the Champions League in the latter half of 2017 after Chelsea had failed to qualify for the 2016/17 edition of the competition, but his popularity among fans based on just the last few months was enough to earn him a place in TOTY anyway.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ MIDFIELD
🇧🇪 Eden Hazard
👕 Chelsea pic.twitter.com/CpQlXxDMfK
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have both been so important for Real Madrid on the elite stage. The latter was earlier individually recognised as 'Best Midfielder' in the Champions League at the annual UEFA awards in August.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ MIDFIELD
🇭🇷 Luka Modrić
👕 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/yW71UK9xl7
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ MIDFIELD
🇩🇪 Toni Kroos
👕 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/ay9rqYXOvf
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

Manchester City maestro Kevin de Bruyne is the fourth and final midfielder.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ MIDFIELD
🇧🇪 Kevin De Bruyne
👕 Manchester City pic.twitter.com/8ZYGdFZe5C
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

No prizes will be given for guessing that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two forwards named in the 2017 Champions League Team of the Year.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ FORWARD
🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo
👕 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/sddIqsfRhM
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

Ronaldo of course won the competition with Real last season and is also the top scorer after the group stage of 2017/18 after nine goals in six games.

⚽️🌠 #TeamOfTheYear 🌠⚽️

▶ FORWARD
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
👕 Barcelona pic.twitter.com/HQvnWIOG81
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 11, 2018

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