The Champions League final sees Real Madrid's famous BBC trio face Liverpool's fab three - are they among the best triumvirates ever?
#1 MSN
Neymar may have broken up Barcelona's band of brothers this season when he fled to France after a shock €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain, but the legend of the MSN partnership will live on.With the brilliant Brazilian lining up in attack alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the Blaugrana won the Champions League, Club World Cup and La Liga (twice), tearing defences to shreds with their incredible pace, skill and movement
#2 BBC
While MSN was forming at Camp Nou, Real Madrid saw their own attacking triumvirate become an institution within the Spanish capital.Cristiano Ronaldo was the undisputed star of the show but the addition of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema added more blistering pace, power and, of course, goals to the Blancos forward line.
#3 BBC2
Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini formed a formidable defence in front of legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as Juventus set about re-establishing themselves as a major European force.Together, the BBC provided the foundation on which the Bianconeri's resurgence was founded, helping the Old Lady win six successive Scudetti before Bonucci departed for AC Milan last summer.
#4 AC Milan's Dutch gold
The arrival of Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit at San Siro in 1987 proved instrumental in AC Milan winning a first Serie A title in nine years, but the signing of Frank Rijkaard propelled the Rossoneri to glory on a world stage.The Dutch trio became the stars of Arrigo Sacchi's wonderful team, helping the Italian outfit win two European Cups and two Club World Cup crowns.
#5 Man Utd's Holy Trinity
There seemed to be something miraculous about Manchester United’s spectacular triumvirate of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton even before they helped the club break ground as the first English team to win the European Cup in 1968.Indeed, Law and Charlton had already won the Ballon d’Or for their exploits at United, before Best collected the award after their historic continental success.
#6 MEH?
The deadly attacking line of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry were anything but what their acronym suggested, as they carried Pep Guardiola’s era-defening team to a treble of trophies.Still just 21 years old, Messi took over as the star of the side in 2008 as his clinical ability became clear, but his more experienced partners were not far behind him as three unpredictable and almost unstoppable forwards combined perfectly to put the Blaugrana back on top of European football.
#7 The Beatles (minus Ringo)
The band broke up when Philippe Coutinho left Liverpool in January, but the rest of the group are still going strong.Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane are still rocking as hard as ever without the Brazilian and have guided Jurgen Klopp’s team to the Champions League final, suggesting the new Barcelona boy’s role at Anfield was more akin to Ringo Starr’s than John Lennon’s.
#8 Inter's German heroes
Lothar Matthaus and Andreas Brehme had already won Serie A with Inter before Jurgen Klinsmann united with his compatriots in 1989 and made an immediate impact in Italy.As the spine of the Milan club, as they went on to beat Roma over two legs in the UEFA Cup final.
#9 Barca's midfield maestroes
As a midfield trio, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets were the heart of Pep Guardiola’s iconic Barcelona side.Each star graduated from the club’s youth academy and they would win the Champions League three times and the Club World Cup twice before Xavi left in 2015.Now, following Iniesta’s departure, Busquets is the last man standing.
#10 Brazil's three Rs
The symbols of Brazil’s most recent golden age, the phenomenal attackers Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho made up the greatest attacking partnership that international football has ever had the luxury of witnessing.They all played their part as the Selecao stormed to World Cup glory in Japan and South Korea in 2002 but the narrative was dominated by Ronaldo, who enjoyed the perfect redemption for the pain he had suffered in France in 1998 by netting twice in the final win over Germany.
aqib_10_
210
MSN were the best trio and no trio can be better than them
Gokuljr1_0
125
For me its MSN for sure because of the quality...... Messi...we all know how great he is,there is certainly no need to describe his natural talent and his abilities on the football field. In short he is the BEST Neymar with all his skills and trickery makes life very difficult for the defenders although his finishing can be questionable some times....but his skills are world class. Suarez as we all know is a great finisher....and with Messi and Neymar providing quality balls....no doubt should be left in one's mind about his scoring ability...although he was not that successful in his first season but surely with time he is only going to get better and better.....
29356899(deleted)
113
For me the Holy Trinity were unforgettable. Around there time we got to see them in action. Best, Charlton and Law were the essence of Manchester United. After that it has got to be the Tree R’s. Ronaldo , Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. When I first saw theses guys in action, it was a truly awesome experience. The level of skill, talent and creativity was out of this world. I had never seen anything like it. Oh how I wish their level of football could be watched nowadays. Then I couldn’t miss out on the midfield dynamos of Barcelona. Busquets, Xavi and Iniesta. This trio really ruled midfield. Will we ever see their likes again.
samappah
99
All are great!! BBC2 is probably the best trio defense ever. For the attackers, there has been so many good trios to specifically claim one as the best. In my opinion, the three R's were absolutely classy and ingenious, they dominated b2b world cup which is known to be the world's most awarding trophy. On the other hand, The Fab three are doing well but they need to keep doing it consistently to establish themselves as Icons.
De_executive
78
Guess these trios did not deserved any mentioned here, viz :- Rooney Ronaldo & Tevez, Beckham Giggs & Andy Cole, Robben Drogba & Ghudjohsen, etc
bbk060
46
MSN is the best trio ever, the only trio that managed to score more than 100+ goals and breaking their own record of goals every season in history... Messi and Suarez are the only two players in that trio of MSN that have won golden boot"local and European " but Neymar hasn't, hope he can win his first in the coming seasons
vuwemnuyz
39
Only young people should say MSN. I'm a RealcMadrid fan. i was definitely scared of MEH+rolandhno more then MSN. The brazil trio was magical. That something that will on its own should be called football.
cakaekoprt
35
I’ve been looking for a post about “the best attacking 3 in football history” and I’m so glad you’ve included the 3 R’s. MSN, BBC, Messi Eto’o & Henry and Salah Firmino & Mane are definitely up there with the 3 Brazilian R’s, but would you consider this? Ronaldo Tevez & Rooney? Can anyone else think of a stronger attacking 3?
Joysk
33
S.E.A.K Son, Ericksen, Alli, Kane. (Tottenham) L.M.A.O Lacazette, Mhkitaryan, Auba, Ozil (Arsenal)