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Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer & Micah Richards have ranked their top 10 Champions League captains
By Matthew Guyett
37 – 47 minutes
Three-time UEFA Champions League-winning coach Jose Mourinho once claimed that “many times the captain is not the leader”. When you have leaders such as Chelsea icon John Terry and Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti, they “become a coach”, focusing on the coaching side of captaincy.
Those two were proper leaders under Mourinho and left their mark in Europe’s elite club competition, and their leadership qualities were vital for their respective clubs. The most-watched club tournament in the world can be a daunting prospect for debuting players, youngsters, and under-fire big-money signings, and usually, the skipper will take the lead en route to potential glory.
Gary Lineker, Micah Richards, and Alan Shearer ranked a pool of 10 world-class leaders and decided on the greatest captains in Champions League history while speaking on BBC Sounds. Mourinho evidently saw Terry as his skipper, but the trio opted for the man who lifted the trophy for the Blues for the first time in the club’s history in 2012.
Frank Lampard
Clubs: Chelsea, Manchester City
Frank Lampard is the only vice-captain included in the list, and that speaks volumes about just how influential the English midfielder was for Chelsea in the Champions League. The greatest night in the Blues’ history came in 2012, when they beat Bayern Munich in the final in the Germans’ backyard.
John Terry missed the final through suspension, and the armband was handed to Lampard. He didn’t disappoint on the night, leading by example with a classy performance in an extremely inferior West London outfit compared to a then-dominant Bayern side. He more than deserved to get his hands on the European title.
Richards spoke about Lampard’s footballing IQ and how that’s translated into punditry and management:
“Sometimes when you do analysis (as a pundit), the average piece is a minute thirty. He did it for three minutes, and he didn’t stutter once. His football brain, I was like, he’s too good to be a pundit.”
Lineker similarly waxed lyrical:
“He’s the one from that era where I always thought he’s got something (in management)… you could see that intelligence in his game.”
Frank Lampard’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
Chelsea
Manchester City
Appearances (as captain):
102 (10)
3
Goals:
23
0
Assists:
25
0
Yellow Cards:
13
0
Red Cards:
0
0
Best Finish:
Winner (2011-12)
Last 16 (2014-15)
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal player and Arsenal manager) and two images of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United manager). Could the images of the two players be behind and to the side of the two managers
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Carles Puyol
Club: Barcelona
There was nothing quite like watching Barcelona in the late 2000s and early 2010s because of the glittering array of talent at Camp Nou. Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Sergio Busquets were a joy to watch, but Carles Puyol, a phenomenal centre-back who played the game with grit and determination, steered the Blaugrana ship.
Puyol was a world-class defender whose reading of the game often gave him the edge over the opposition. Leadership came naturally to the Spaniard, who not only captained Barca but also Spain, doing so with enormous commitment. He skippered the Catalans in three Champions League-winning seasons.
Lineker called him:
“The epitome of a captain.”
Shearer delved into Puyol’s playing characteristics:
“Old roll the sleeves up and get a bit angry, he could do that and didn’t mind that. Still an unbelievable player.”
Carles Puyol’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
Barcelona
Appearances (as captain):
115 (76)
Goals:
2
Assists:
1
Yellow Cards:
25
Red Cards:
1
Best Finish:
Winner (2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11)
Paolo Maldini
Club: AC Milan
Another of Europe’s legendary defenders and perhaps the best to ever play the game was Paolo Maldini, who claimed the European title on five occasions, twice as captain. The iconic Italian was the ultimate role model for his teammates, constantly organising his AC Milan team. His partnership with Alessandro Nesta was an immovable brick wall for the Rosseneri.
Maldini was strong and agile, and his versatility allowed him to play left back. There arguably hasn’t been a more dominant defender in the Champions League than Milan’s ‘Il Capitano’, and such a nickname perfectly described just how important he was with the armband.
Richards explained how influential Maldini was during his childhood:
“In school I just wanted to be Maldini even though I’d never seen him play. I used to say Maldini when I was running around in the park.”
Lineker highlighted his trophy success:
“Five wins, what a player… Great footballing family, incredible career”
Paolo Maldini’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
AC Milan
Appearances (as captain):
116 (78)
Goals:
3
Assists:
6
Yellow Cards:
15
Red Cards:
0
Best Finish:
Winner (1993-94, 2002-03, 2006-07)
Sergio Ramos
Clubs: Real Madrid, PSG, Sevilla
The catalyst behind Real Madrid’s period of Champions League dominance from 2014 to 2018 was Sergio Ramos. He came up trumps in the 90+3rd minute of the 2014 final to equalise against rivals Atletico Madrid before Los Blancos got the job done with a 4-1 win in extra-time.
Ramos wasn’t just a colossal presence at the back; he was a force going forward, netting important goals during four trophy-winning campaigns. When you think of Madrid and Europe’s elite club competition, the Spaniard often comes to mind, a passionate and tough-tackling Los Merengues hero.
Lineker summed up Ramos as a captain:
“What a leader he is. S***housery specialist.”
Richards pointed out an impressive statistic:
“He had 142 Champions League (games) for a defender to do that, especially with the amount of red cards, that’s why I put him top.”
Sergio Ramos’ Champions League Career
Clubs:
Real Madrid
Sevilla
PSG
Appearances (as captain):
129 (55)
5 (0)
8 (0)
Goals:
15
2
0
Assists:
9
1
0
Yellow Cards:
38
0
2
Red Cards:
2
0
0
Best Finish:
Winner (2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18)
Group Stage (2023-24)
Last 16 (2022-23)
Xavi
Club: Barcelona
Xavi took the captain’s armband from Carles Puyol, but he’d already earned a reputation as one of the Blaugrana’s generals. He was a constant voice in the dressing room, matched by his sensational playmaking ability on the pitch. He lifted the Champions League trophy a year after becoming his boyhood club’s permanent skipper in 2014.
The Spanish midfield maestro constantly made history in the competition, including becoming the first player to reach 150 appearances. He starred for the Catalans in the 2-0 win over Manchester United in the 2009 final. His time with the captaincy may have been short but he more than made his mark.
Lineker hailed the midfield trio Xavi formed at Camp Nou:
“Xavi was part of that incredible midfield triumvirate at Barcelona with (Andres) Iniesta and (Sergio) Busquets.”
Richards said:
“Xavi changed the game didn’t he.”
Shearer explained how tough facing Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets was:
“Imagine trying to get the ball off those boys. It’s crazy how good they were.”
Xavi’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
Barcelona
Appearances (as captain):
151 (35)
Goals:
11
Assists:
31
Yellow Cards:
9
Red Cards:
0
Best Finish:
Winner (2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15)
Ranking the greatest Barcelona players in history featuring Carles Puyol, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta
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Steven Gerrard
Clubs: Liverpool
Steven Gerrard was the man for the big occasion and loved nothing more than coming up with heroic performances in the Champions League. The Reds arguably wouldn’t stage the Miracle of Instanbul without the iconic former England midfielder, whose all-rounded playing style made him the perfect option to captain the Merseysiders.
The miraculous 2005 Champions League final will always be associated with Gerrard and his vital role in that feat. But he’d spent that entire campaign thriving in high-pressure games and moments. During this period, the late great Pele insisted he deserved to win a Ballon d’Or.
Lineker alluded to his trophy-winning campaign:
“He’ll forever be remembered for the comeback in Istanbul. Miraculous, he basically dragged it back as the captain. It’s quite hard for captains to actually make a difference on the field but that was an example of where they can grab the game by the scruff of the neck.”
Shearer recalled Gerrard’s late volley against Olympiacos to ensure Liverpool advanced from the group stage. Just one of many times he was the Reds’ captain fantastic.
Steven Gerrard’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
Liverpool
Appearances (as captain):
73 (52)
Goals:
21
Assists:
14
Yellow Cards:
9
Red Cards:
0
Best Finish:
Winner (2004-05)
Philipp Lahm
Clubs: Bayern Munich, Stuttgart
Captaincy is hugely important in German football, and 1990 World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaus is proof of this. You often get compared to Matthaus when wearing the armband for Germany and Bayern Munich, and Philipp Lahm took leadership in his stride.
Lahm was arguably the last of a dying breed of leaders in the Die Mannschaft camp, and he was sensational throughout his time at Bayern He was the Bavarians’ Mr Versatility, playing right-back in central defence and midfield, but even more impressive was how he pioneered the inverted wing-back role while lifting the European title in 2013.
Richards discussed how Lahm was Bayern’s ‘main man’:
“Lahm was the first true (inverted wing-back) he could do it really comfortably. Lahm was the one, and when I played against him, I was in awe of him. He’s only about five-foot-seven… it was effortless for him, his touch, his technique, he was the main boy in that team.”
Philipp Lahm’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
Bayern Munich
Stuttgart
Appearances (as captain):
105 (73)
7 (0)
Goals:
0
0
Assists:
13
2
Yellow Cards:
11
0
Red Cards:
0
0
Best Finish:
Winner (2012-13)
Last 16 (2003-04)
Roy Keane
Club: Manchester United
Roy Keane’s view on captaincy is still relevant today. He questions certain players wearing the armband because they don’t fit his criteria of the ideal skipper. The Irishman was a fighter who lived and breathed football, and while his fiery temper often got him in trouble, he was so effective at leading Manchester United.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better sole performance from a United player in the Champions League than his exploits against Juventus in the 1998-99 semi-finals. He scored in Turin and dominated the middle of the park with a man-of-the-match performance still spoken of today.
Richards recalled that outing and how the yellow card he picked up meant he missed the final:
“You could tell when he got the decision and he knew he was going to be suspended for the final. But he still did a job and still carried.”
Lineker touched on Keane sitting out the dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Bayern Munich:
“Imagine being captain of your side that’s going to a Champions League final to win a treble and not being allowed to play.”
Rou Keane’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
Manchester United
Appearances (as captain):
74 (62)
Goals:
14
Assists:
6
Yellow Cards:
11
Red Cards:
1
Best Finish:
Winner (1998-99)
Javier Zanetti
Clubs: Inter Milan
We’ve already heard what Jose Mourinho thinks about Javier Zanetti. The Argentinian icon was Inter Milan’s complete package at right back. He was a versatile and ridiculously hardworking defender who could also play in midfield because of his talent.
Zanetti was one of the main men in Inter’s treble-winning 2009-10 campaign, captaining the Nerazzuri to European glory in a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the final. He became the club’s first captain since 1965 to lift Europe’s major trophy and did so proudly.
Lineker spoke about Zanetti’s approach to the game:
“Zanetti looked like one of those real good pros.”
Richards compared him to his former Manchester City teammate and Zanetti’s fellow Argentinian, Pablo Zabaleta:
“He reminds me of Zabaleta, just like temperament, give 100%.”
Javier Zanetti’s Champions League Career
Clubs:
Inter Milan
Appearances (as captain):
97 (88)
Goals:
2
Assists:
3
Yellow Cards:
6
Red Cards:
0
Best Finish:
Winner (2009-10)
Iker Casillas
Clubs: Real Madrid, Porto
Goalkeepers aren’t often appointed captains because they are restricted from leaving their box, but Iker Casillas’ leadership qualities gave him the responsibility. The Spaniard was the ultimate professional who had the respect of his teammates because of his legacy and devotion to Los Blancos.
Casillas won the Champions League on three occasions, and no goalkeeper has won the trophy more. His athleticism and shot-stopping abilities were astounding, and he took the captain’s armband in his international career, captaining Spain to the European Championship and World Cup.
Shearer praised Casillas’ appearance record in Europe’s elite club competition and captaincy credentials:
“177 games in the Champions League? Bloody hell… When you look at some of the players he’s played with and for him to be captain in and amongst those players… shows you a lot about his character that we might not know about.”
Richards hailed the former Porto goalkeeper:
“You’ve got to look the part (to be a captain)… football-wise he was incredible though and he was good on the ball.”
Iker Casillas’ Champions League Career
Clubs:
Real Madrid
Porto
Appearances (as captain):
150 (54)
27 (0)
Clean Sheets:
52
7
Goals Conceded:
169
32
Yellow Cards:
5
1
Red Cards:
0
0
Best Finish:
Winner (1999-2000, 2001-02, 2013-14)
Quarter-Finals (2018-19)
Alan Shearer and Micah Richards’ Top 10 UEFA Champions League ‘Captains’
Rank.
Alan Shearer’s Top 10
Micah Richards’ Top 10
1.
Paolo Maldini
Sergio Ramos
2.
Sergio Ramos
Paolo Maldini
3.
Carles Puyol
Carles Puyol
4.
Xavi
Xavi
5.
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
6.
Frank Lampard
Roy Keane
7.
Roy Keane
Javier Zanetti
8.
Javier Zanetti
Frank Lampard
9.
Philipp Lahm
Iker Casillas
10.
Iker Casillas
Philipp Lahm
Gary Lineker’s Verdict:
The Barcelona icon decides the best Champions League captainGary Lineker
Gary Lineker gave his take on which of Paolo Maldini or Sergio Ramos was the best captain in Champions League history. He showed his allegiance to Bar
celona with his verdict:
“Because he (Ramos) plays for Real Madrid I’m gonna go for Paolo Maldini. One of the greats.”
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – correct as of 27/04/2025.
uefa-1
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