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The greatest front threes in Champions League history
In Champions League lore, strikers get the accolades, but behind every famous goalscorer are teammates whose movement, supply and interplay help turn out magic.
When three forwards combine chemistry, timing and complementary strengths, they become more than a sum of parts.
Below are seven front-three combinations that defined European nights in club football's greatest competition.
Kaka, Shevchenko & Inzaghi (AC Milan)
Milan in the mid-2000s exemplified forward balance. Kaka’s ability to drop deep, orchestrate with radiant passing, and burst into space complemented the predatory instincts of Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi’s poacher’s sixth sense.
Against Champions League elite competition, their interplay allowed Milan to press, counter and overload defences.
While Inzaghi’s Champions League goal returns were more modest than the others, his instinctive finishing was crucial in tight knockout ties and Shevchenko’s scoring pedigree is was the stuff of legend.
Messi, Pedro & David Villa (Barcelona)
This trio produced scintillating link-up football during Barcelona’s dominant run in the early 2010s. Lionel Messi, already evolving into a dual threat of scorer and creator, found Pedro’s darting runs and David Villa’s finishing the perfect complement.
In the 2010-11 Champions League final, Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley, with Villa, Messi and Pedro all scoring goals.
Their blend of width, interior penetration and off-ball movement made them a nightmare to defend – even opponents who knew them well often couldn’t stop their motion.
Mane, Salah & Firmino (Liverpool)
Under Jurgen Klopp, this frontline delivered devastation in Europe. Firmino’s deeper positioning and selfless pressing created space for Salah’s lethal runs and Mane’s finishing instincts.
That balance allowed Liverpool to contend at home and in the Champions League. In 2019 they won the club’s sixth European Cup, with this trio central to their pressing transitions, counter-attacks and ability to break deadlocks.
Their synergy was not just about scoring but about how they defined the team’s style.
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Robben, Ribery & Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Bayern’s vaunted attacking unit paired the wing mastery of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery with Robert Lewandowski’s clinical edge in the middle.
Through multiple Champions League campaigns, this trio terrorised defences with width, diagonal switching and finishing. In 2013, when Bayern won the European Cup, that front three were core to the attack and Lewandowski’s conversion was the key final touch.
Their blend of flair and lethal finishing elevated Bayern into perennial Champions League contenders.
Rooney, Ronaldo & Tevez (Manchester United)
This United trio was built on raw power, unpredictability and star quality. Cristiano Ronaldo’s aerial and finishing brilliance, Carlos Tevez’s tenacity and pace and Rooney’s all-around craft made them among Europe’s most feared.
In Champions League ties, they were capable of beating the best defences via sheer dynamism.
Their collision of personalities and styles made them potent, especially in the knockout phases, peaking with their run to Champions League glory in 2008, the first of just two seasons together as a triple-threat package.
Bale, Benzema & Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
This isn’t just a front three – it’s a trophy factory. This “BBC” trio was central to Real Madrid’s multiple Champions League titles from 2014 to 2018.
Ronaldo’s goalscoring, Karim Benzema’s link play and late runs and Gareth Bale’s explosiveness on the break combined into a lethal trident.
Their Champions League tallies speak for themselves, and they were instrumental in Madrid’s ability to win back-to-back European Cups in 2017 and 2018.
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Messi, Neymar & Suarez (Barcelona)
Routinely called one of the greatest front threes of all time, Barcelona’s “MSN” trio from 2014 to 2017 was seismic in European football.
Their telepathic passing, relentless creativity and ability to stretch defences made them virtually unstoppable.
In the 2015 Champions League final, Barcelona beat Juventus 3-1 with goals from Ivan Rakitic, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, while Neymar, although not a scorer, also shone.
Across multiple seasons, they not only smashed defences but rewrote expectations of how three top forwards can coexist. The pressure was immense and they delivered repeatedly.
How to watch the Champions League in the U.S. on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch select teams in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
Between September 25 - October 3, 2025 new customers can get a 20% discount on annual subscription.
An annual upfront payment is now $179.99 reduced from $224.99, while paying monthly for 12 months is $15.99 (down from $19.99) and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high-definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
Between September 25 - October 3, 2025 new customers can get a 20% discount on annual subscription.
An annual upfront payment is now $119.99 reduced from $149.99, while paying monthly for 12 months is $11.99 (down from $14.99) and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, offering differing selections of sports in each. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
