Oh the Champions League. Just mentioning it is enough to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Watching the players march through the tunnel, led by the the referee who picks up the ball before seeing the teams line up at center field as the epic anthem titled simply ‘Champions League’ booms through the speakers. Epic.

Despite the current absence of the most important commodity in football, the fan, the Champions League still never fails to impress. Most recently, the five goal thriller seeing Porto knock of perennial finalists Juventus and, despite having little chance of progressing, seeing Barcelona’s Leo Messi laser a left foot special into the top corner flying past former Real Madrid nemesis Kaylor Navas. It was truly emblematic of the elevated standard even the greatest players aim to put on display in this tournament of consistent masterclasses.

Off the top of my head I can recall Zinedine Zidane’s volley vs. Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenals 5-1 masterclass over Inter Milan, Luis Garcia’s ghost goal for Liverpool that knocked Chelsea out in 2005, Gareth Bale’s overhead kick vs. Liverpool, Ronaldo’s overhead kick vs. Juventus (who he then joined a year later), Jose Mourinho’s sprint down the touchline when Porto knocked out Man. Utd and finally, the greatest comeback in history when Man Utd. scored two goals in injury time to beat Bayern Munich in 1999 leaving Samuel Kuffor pounding the turf in agony.

Wow, what a walk down memory lane. My opinion is it’s the greatest tournament in sport the world over. Year after year, it never fails to surprise and unleash the most passionate reactions. The home/away goals rule increases the tension while the uncertainty of tactics from different methodical approaches indicative of the team’s home country create examples of strategic mastery.

Next time you’re watching, relish the opportunity to watch the greatest of the greats play for the honor of raising big ears above their heads in magnificent glory come May.