The Brazilian left-back rarely receives the plaudits some of his team-mates do but he has been key to Real Madrid's European dominance
On Marcelo’s left thigh is etched a tattoo of the Champions League trophy and underneath the design are written three dates – 2014, 2016, 2017. Real Madrid have won 12 European Cups in total and a quarter of those have come in the last four years.
The attainment of La Decima – against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon – launched a new dynasty at Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid’s status as a continental superpower may have been secured in the late 1950s and early 1960s thanks to players like Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Francisco Gento and their achievements.