The most iconic Champions League final performances ranked

It's European football's grandest stage, where goalscorers are etched in Champions League folklore and match-winning performances can define careers.

You know the drill. With Saturday's showdown between Arsenal and holders Paris St-Germain on the horizon, we're looking at the most iconic individual Champions League final performances of all time.

I've ranked my top 10 below - a heady mix of last-gasp goals, all-round artistry and golden-gloved heroes. You can have your say below too.

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10. Paul Lambert (Borussia Dortmund v Juventus, 1997)

Zinedine Zidane is Champions League royalty, as a player and a coach. But there is one final - and one player in particular - that sticks in the Frenchman's mind. "Oh my god, that game!" he remarked to Paul Lambert when they met years later.

Lambert joined Dortmund on a free transfer in 1996. Portugal star Paulo Sousa arrived fresh from winning the Champions League with Juventus the same summer, but it was the Scottish midfielder who wrote his name into Westfalenstadion legend.

Dortmund saw off Manchester United in the semi-finals to set up a showdown against Juventus in Munich in 1997, with Lambert handed the task of man-marking a playmaker emerging as one of the world's greatest.

"The thing about Zidane, he drifts off your shoulder. He often goes away from the ball, almost baiting you. But the ball's not the danger, it's him," Lambert told the Guardian. "Zidane did put me on the backside a couple of times because he's brilliant. But he's not going to evaporate, is he?"

As modest as his account is, Lambert didn't give Zidane an inch and that was the platform for Dortmund to engineer a 3-1 win over the reigning champions.

Juventus chiefs were so impressed they offered to buy him that summer and, Lambert told BBC Scotland, former Juventus midfielder Antonio Conte later confessed: "You were unbelievable."

9. Rodri (Manchester City v Inter Milan, 2023)

In what seemed like a classic case of Pep Guardiola overthinking a final, Manchester City lynchpin Rodri was left on the bench for the Champions League defeat by Chelsea in 2021.

Two years later, the Spaniard was a key figure as City won not just Europe's top prize for the first time, but the Treble.

Rodri was a phenomenon at the heart of City's midfield against Inter - alongside John Stones, Pep couldn't resist some tinkering - and scored a fine winning goal in Istanbul.

"Emotional. A dream come true," said Rodri, before cursing on live TV.

8. Didier Drogba (Chelsea v Bayern Munich, 2012)

Didier Drogba's only previous Champions League final performance ended in defeat and disbelief, his red card in extra time coming before Manchester United won on penalties in 2008.

Four years later, falling behind late on after being dominated by Bayern in Munich, Chelsea and Drogba's hopes seemed to be fading fast. Yet, in the 88th minute, the Ivory Coast striker found the energy to crash a header beyond Manuel Neuer.

Drogba must have felt a sense of deja vu when he gave away a penalty in extra time, but Petr Cech saved Arjen Robben's effort and Chelsea took it to a shootout.

This time, having been unable to contribute four years earlier, Drogba stepped up to coolly net the winning spot-kick and clinch Chelsea's first European crown.

7. Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich v Valencia, 2001)