To commemorate the end of the 2007-08 season we bring you the best of the best from across the continent with eurosport.yahoo.com's European team of the season.

With so many outstanding forward players having displayed their talent this season, it is perhaps inevitable that our selection of superstars line up in a somewhat unorthodox 4-1-3-2 formation - an unashamed effort to cram in as many attacking players as possible.

But that is not to take any focus away from our defensive picks - those chosen have contributed just as much and their importance should never be underestimated.

So, without further ado, we present the crème de la crème of European football - a mouthwatering line-up if ever there was one...

1. Julio Cesar (Internazionale, Serie A) - The Brazilian pipped Portsmouth's David James to the number one jersey largely thanks to his domestic performances which heavily contributed to Inter winning a third straight scudetto. The shotstopper conceded just 26 goals and kept a remarkable 18 clean sheets on the way to the title. A rock on which Inter's recent success has been built.

2. Jose Bosingwa (Porto, Liga) - The right-back's form for the Portuguese champions this season has been outstanding, prompting interest from Manchester United before Chelsea ultimately snared him for a fee of £16.2 million. Despite a six-point deduction Porto still romped to the league title by 14 points, with Bosingwa playing a starring role.

3. Patrice Evra (Manchester United, Premier League ) - The Frenchman has come of age this season and has been an integral contributor to the attractive football with which United have conquered both England and Europe. Always an attacking threat down the left hand side, his defensive work is now of equal quality having come on leaps and bounds since arriving at Old Trafford.

4. Carlos Cuellar (Rangers, SPL) - In a Rangers season that has been characterised by dogged defensive displays, the rock solid Spaniard has been unrivalled across the continent. He has marshalled the Gers backline magnificently this season - six clean sheets in the run up to the UEFA Cup final tells its own story.

5. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United, Premier League ) - Another United player, and another who has matured hugely over the last 10 months to become one of the best players in the world in his position. Ferdinand's coolness under pressure and his composure on the ball alongside Nemanja Vidic in the heart of United's defence has even seen him become a European champion - and a contender for England captain.

6. Daniele De Rossi (Roma, Serie A) - The heartbeat of a Roma side that made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and pushed Inter all the way for the Serie A title. The Euro-2008-bound midfielder has proved himself to be a leader on the pitch this season and capped a splendid season by lifting the Coppa Italia.

7. Lionel Messi (Barcelona, La Liga) - He may have ended the season without a trophy, but there is no doubting that Messi has been one of the highlights of the season. He won hands down the much-hyped battle with Cristiano Ronaldo for the unofficial title of 'best player in the world' in the semi-finals of the Champions League and ended the season with an impressive goals tally of 16 in 37 appearances.

8. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, Premier League) - What is left to say about Ronaldo? An incredible 42 goals this campaign has rightly seen him enter Ballon d'Or contention. Yet it has not just been goals that have set him apart this season - he is no longer a selfish out-and-out right winger who lacks a final ball - those days are long gone. He has proved he can play anywhere across the front line, sometimes even leading it and it has been that development into an oustanding all-round player that sees him make our team.

9. Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Premier League) - An absolute sensation in his first year in the Premier League, the Spaniard has made the adjustment to life in a new league seamlessly. His power, pace and ability to finish may not have brought any silverware to Anfield, but he has looked more likely than most to correct that. 24 league goals - none of which were from the spot - mark him out as a world-class goalscorer.

10. Luca Toni (Bayern Munich, Bundesliga) - With the big Italian, it is all about goals. And he has provided plenty of them this season - 24 in 31 Bundesliga appearances in his debut season in Germany is not a bad return. And when his 10 in 11 UEFA Cup matches are also taken into account, an idea of the impact he has had at the Allianz Arena can be gauged. A goal machine.

11. Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich, Bundesliga) - Bayern's second big signing last summer and another who has not disappointed. Bundesliga defences have had no idea how to stop the Frenchman since his arrival in Germany and he has been the architect of most of Bayern's attacking play. Has a title medal to his name after just one season.

Manager: Alex Ferguson (Manchester United, Premier League )

Substitutes: David James (Portsmouth, Premier League ), John Terry (Chelsea, Premier League), Marcos Senna (Villarreal, La Liga), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus , Serie A), Karim Benzema (Lyon, Ligue 1)

Mike Hytner / Eurosport