The Top 10 – Panini UEFA Champions League 2012-2013

Burak Yılmaz is a turkish striker known for his powerful finishing and goal-scoring consistency and prolific goal record. This season marks his first with Galatasaray, having signed from Trabzonspor where he bagged 36 goals in the previous season!

His most notable European campaign came during the 2012/13 UEFA season (this sticker) with Galatasaray, where he scored 8 goals, finishing as the joint third-highest scorer alongside Messi and Muller. Yılmaz was instrumental in Galatasaray’s progression to the quarterfinals, and unfortunately, he missed the second leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid due to suspension.

During his Galatasaray career, Yılmaz scored 82 goals in 141 appearances! Not a bad first sticker for the club.

Lucas Digne is a French leftback known for his pace, crossing ability, and attacking support from defence. Over his career, he has played for several top clubs including Lille, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Everton, and Aston Villa, as well as the French national team (51 caps at the time of writing).

During the 2012/13 Champions League season, Digne was a young regular starter for Lille, gaining valuable experience at the top level. Although Lille were eliminated in the group stage, Digne’s performances earned him a move to PSG the following year.

I would consider this his less sought after rookie as the one from the Panini Foot 2012/13 season is rarer. But, still a nice sticker to pick up.

Luka Modrić is a legendary midfielder renowned for his vision, passing, and control of the game’s tempo. Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, he has been a key figure for Real Madrid and the Croatian national team. He is one of the greatest ever Real Madrid players, and this sticker marks his first season at the club.

In the 2012/13 Champions League season Modrić gradually established himself in the team. He played a crucial role in the knockout stages, most notably scoring a stunning long-range goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Round of 16, helping Madrid advance!

Although Real Madrid were eliminated in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund, Modrić’s influence began to grow, laying the foundation for his future success at the club. He finished his Madrid career with 4 La liga titles and 6 UCL titles! Insane!

Thomas Müller is known for his intelligence, off-the-ball movement, and versatility in attacking roles. A product of Bayern Munich’s academy, he has spent his entire career at the club, but will leave at the end of the 2024/25 season. Most of you know about this Bayern legend so I won’t need to go into much detail.

In the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League season, Müller was a standout performer, playing a key role in Bayern Munich’s title-winning campaign. He scored 8 goals in the tournament, including a crucial brace in the semi-final first leg against Barcelona!

With Müller leaving at the end of the 2024/25 season, it will make it 751 appearances for the Bayern first team, 248 goals, and more trophies than I can count on my hands!

Theres only so many bios I can write on this guy lol.

The 2012/13 UCL season saw Messi score 8 and Barca reach the semifinals. For the season total, Messi scored 60 in 50 games – not bad!

Daley Blind is a defender and sometimes midfielder known for his intelligence, versatility, and composure on the ball. Comfortable playing as a left-back, center-back, or defensive midfielder, he can be described as a ball-playing defender comfortable playing out from the back.

He has featured for clubs like Ajax, Manchester United, and even a short stint Bayern Munich. He currently plays for La Liga side Girona. During the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League season, Blind was a regular for Ajax, gaining valuable experience in Europe’s top competition. Ajax were drawn into a group of death with Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester City, and while they did not progress beyond the group stage, they managed to finish 3rd and continue in the Europa League. Blind’s performances showed his growing maturity and importance to the team.

Now in the tail end of his career, Blind has amassed over 100 caps for the Netherlands! This sticker marks his true rookie sticker and the only one for the season! Definitely one for the collection!

Robert Lewandowski is a legendary striker renowned for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, work-rate, and technical skill. One of the most prolific forwards of his generation, he has starred for clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.

In the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League season, Lewandowski was a key figure in Borussia Dortmund’s remarkable run to the final. He scored 10 goals in the competition, including a legendary four-goal performance against Real Madrid in the semi-final first leg! His clinical finishing helped Dortmund reach the final at Wembley, where they narrowly lost 2–1 to Bayern Munich.

This is a great early sticker of Lewandowski! While he went on to join rivals Bayern, still one for a Dortmund collection!

Marcelo Brozović is a Croatian midfielder known for his stamina, passing range, and ability to control the tempo of a game from deep positions. His best football came at Inter Milan where he played over 300 times before making the big money move to Al-Nassr.

During the 2012/13 Champions League season, a young Brozović featured 6 times for Zagreb, who finished bottom of their group. He would go on to be a star player for Zagreb and earn a move to Inter during the 2014/15 season. In 9 seasons with the Serie A giants, Brozović won 1 Serie A title and 2 Coppa Italias.

Marcelo has racked up 99 caps for Croatia at the time of writing, and was instrumental to Croatia’s dream 2018 run where the lost in the World Cup final! I think Marcelo Brozović is a underrated player, and this sticker marks his true rookie – the only one for the season.

Like Messi, I am tired of writing Ronaldo bios so I am just going to hit you with some season stats!

Golden Boot of the 12/13 UCL season with 12 goals! For the season: 55 goals in 55 games! Winner of the 2013 Ballon d’Or.

Arjen Robben was a legendary left footed winger known for his blistering pace, precise dribbling, and trademark cutting inside from the right flank to unleash powerful left-footed shots! When someone mentions the Robben move, we all know know what they are talking about!

In the 2012/13 Champions League season, Robben was a key player for Bayern Munich’s dominant campaign. Robben famously scored the winning goal in the 89th minute of the final against Borussia Dortmund in the 89th minute, securing Bayern’s 2–1 victory and completing a historic treble for the club!

We all know how good a player Robben was and the trophies he has won! But I decided to choose him for the number spot for that historic goal in the UCL final against rivals BVB! After all, this is a sticker set for the Champions League – what better sticker to be number 1 than a moment like that!