Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the most popular rivalries in sports, was spotted in a completely different avatar during Thursday's Champions League draw in Monaco.

Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi's bromance lights up UEFA awards

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk pipped Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi to win UEFA Men's Player of the Year award on Thursday. The Reds defender was a vital cog in Liverpool's first major trophy since 2012 last term after defeating Tottenham Hotspur in final.

'Awkward': Virgil van Dijk talks about defeating Barcelona is semi-final last season in front of Lionel Messi

Barcelona will have to come through a section containing both Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan after the three former winners all came out together in Thursday's UEFA Champions League group stage draw in Monaco, while holders Liverpool will face Napoli again.

Barcelona handed tough Champions League draw as Liverpool face Napoli again

Pep Guardiola has dominated English football in his time at Manchester City, winning five of the six domestic trophies in the last two seasons, and once again is putting Premier League glory at the top of his list of ambitions for the new season.

Pep Guardiola values Premier League title above gambling all on Champions League

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson addressed media on Thursday ahead of their pre-season friendlies in the United States. The Reds trained at the University of Notre Dame as they are set to face Borussia Dortmund on July 20 (5:30 am IST).

Liverpool want more trophies, says captain Jordan Henderson

Manchester City have launched a legal bid to stop UEFA banning them from the 2020-2021 Champions League, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Monday.

Manchester City appeal against possible Champions League ban

Liverpool's Champions League goal hero Divock Origi is hoping he will get to stay at the club but conceded on Wednesday he has an uncertain future at Anfield. The Belgian striker scored the second goal in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the final in Madrid and is now preparing for his country's Euro 2020 qualifiers against Kazakhstan on Saturday and Scotland next week.

Champions League hero uncertain of Liverpool future

Major takeaways from UCL final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool star striker Mohamed Salah scored in the second minute to give his side an advantage in the UEFA Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.

Watch: Mohamed Salah's penalty strike against Tottenham Hotspur in Champions League final

Mohamed Salah is keen to make a decisive contribution in Saturday's Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur and help lay to rest the demons of Liverpool's nightmare defeat by Real Madrid a year ago.

Liverpool's Salah seeks Champions League final redemption

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino should be fit to face Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday's Champions League final in Madrid.

Roberto Firmino 'will be fine' for final says Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane has entered the final stages of recovery from an ankle injury and manager Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic the striker will be fit enough to play in the Champions League final in Madrid.

Mauricio Pochettino optimistic Harry Kane will play in Champions League final

Lucas Moura's last-gasp strike took Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League final for the first time in their history on Wednesday, completing his hat-trick and sealing an incredible 3-2 win over Ajax to leave the Dutch side heartbroken.

Last-gasp Lucas Moura winner sends Tottenham into Champions League final

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said the 4-0 win over Barcelona on Tuesday was "unbelievable" and paid tribute to the belief his players had shown to secure the shock 4-3 aggregate win and a place in the Champions League final.

Emotional Juergen Klopp hails 'unbelievable' triumph over Barcelona

Lionel Messi left Anfield in tears after Barcelona's humiliating 0-4 defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg that saw them miss out on a place in the final.

Lionel Messi broke down in tears in dressing room after Barcelona's Champions League exit

Liverpool will be without top scorer Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino as they attempt to overturn a 3-0 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Mohamed Salah to miss Champions League second leg against Barcelona

Major takeaways from Liverpool 0-3 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg

Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi struck twice to secure a convincing 3-0 victory for the Catalan side in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Liverpool at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Watch: Messi completes 600 goals for Barca with super free-kick in Champions League tie against Liverpool

Lionel Messi had a brace here Wednesday as FC Barcelona inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal tie. The Reds were better than the score showed, but will need some magic next week at Anfield to give themselves a chance at victory in Europe's elite club competition a year after losing in the final to Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi leads Barcelona over Liverpool in Champions League semi-final first leg

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that Barcelona great Lionel Messi is the best out of the players he has seen in his career but his side have a chance against the Spanish giants in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday.

Messi 'best player ever' but we have a chance, says Klopp ahead of UCL tie

Major takeaways from Tottenham 0-1 defeat to Ajax in the Champions League semi-final first leg

Ajax Amsterdam took a massive stride towards a first Champions League final for 23 years as Donny van de Beek's early goal earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their semi-final on Tuesday.

Champions League: Ajax edge Tottenham in semi-final first leg

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted he was at fault as Ajax closed in on a first Champions League final for 23 years thanks to Donny van de Beek's early goal to win the first leg of their semi-final 1-0 on Tuesday.

Mauricio Pochettino accepts blame for 'sloppy' Spurs after 0-1 defeat to Ajax

FC Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic said on Tuesday that his captain Lionel Messi's enormous desire to win the Champions League has spread across the club. The Catalan side is set to host England's Liverpool at Camp Nou stadium in the first leg of the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Rakitic on Lionel Messi: 'Our captain takes the lead and we follow him'

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