The great and good of the game were asked to choose their greatest XI in the history of football – and they have found no room for Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.
The team, put together by World Soccer magazine after votes from journalists, managers and former players from across the landscape of the global game, did however find space for the unsettled Ronaldo’s biggest rival – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi – who takes his place up front alongside Argentine compatriot Diego Maradona and Brazilian legend Pele.
The voters were asked to pick a team in a 4-4-2 formation and a team filled with sublime talent - and notable absentees including The Ronaldos, Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Eusebio and George Best - emerged.
Nigeria and Africa at large have no representative in the XI, with the likes of Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto, Victor Ikpeba, Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, George Weah, Godfrey Chitalu overlooked.
The Greatest XI:
Lev Yashin – USSR – GK
The only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or, Yashin was a one-club man for Dynamo Moscow but it was on the international scene that his reputation was made.
The Soviet stopper, nicknamed the Black Spider, is rumoured to have made over 150 penalty saves and kept over 270 clean sheets in a career spanning twenty-two seasons. He starred at three World Cups, and won an Olympic Gold medal in 1956 followed by the European Championships in 1960 with the USSR.
Cafu – Brazil – DF
Cafu was the definition of a right full back.. Pace, Agility, Strength, Tenacity, The Brazillian had it all in his bag.
Twice a World Cup winner – in 1994 and 2002 – Cafu is Brazil’s most-capped player, making 142 appearances for the national team. He achieved success in Europe with Roma and AC Milan, including a Champions League triumph with the Milanese side in 2007.
Bobby Moore – England – DF
The only England captain to lift the World Cup but the West Ham legend’s talents were appreciated across the globe. Pele refers to Moore as the toughest defender he has played against. Franz Beckenbauer ranks him the ‘best defender in the history of the game’.
Jock Stein joked: ‘There should be a law against him. He knows what’s happening 20 minutes before everyone else.'
And what of those who played alongside him? Sir Bobby Charlton says: ‘‘it was beautiful to look at him when he played. Nobody tackled him. He just oozed class.’
Franz Beckenbauer – Germany – DF
‘Der Kaiser’ is widely regarded as the greatest German to have graced the game.
The only man to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager – for West Germany in 1974 and 1990 – Beckenbauer re-invented the sweeper role, capable of pulling the stirngs from deep or surging out of defence.
Oh, and his club record wasn’t too shabby – notching up four Bundesliga titles and three European Cups with Bayern Munich in the 1970s.
Paolo Maldini – Italy – DF
In over 900 appearances for AC Milan, the defender can count five European Cups and seven Serie A titles among the twenty-six trophies he won in a twenty-five year career at his only club.
In over 900 appearances for AC Milan, the defender can count five European Cups and seven Serie A titles among the twenty-six trophies he won in a twenty-five year career at his only club.
He competed at four World Cups and made 126 appearances for Italy before retiring from international duty in 2002. In 2007, Sir Alex Ferguson described Maldini as his favourite player of recent times.
Alfredo di Stefano – Real Madrid – MF
His true impact came with the brilliant Real Madrid team of the 1950’s, scoring 307 goals for the club and winning five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960.
His true impact came with the brilliant Real Madrid team of the 1950’s, scoring 307 goals for the club and winning five consecutive European Cups between 1956 and 1960.
The history books tell us he was a forward but many regard di Stefano as the most complete player in the history of the game. The player himself said: 'We are all footballers, and as such should be able to perform competently in all 11 positions.'
Johan Cruyff – Holland – MF
Johan Cruyff – Holland – MF
A three-winner of the Ballon D’or – in 1971, 1973 and 1974, Cruyff is appreciated as one of the key innovators of Joga Bonito (Total Football).
He won a host of league titles and European Cups with Ajax and Barcelona, but was unable to guide Holland to glory in the World Cup or European Championships.
His legacy lives on, with children across the globe attempting to recreate his exciting brand of football and of course, the Cruyff turn.
Zinedine Zidane – France – MF
A skillful and powerful midfielder, Zidane won all there is to win in the game, with league titles at Juventus and Real Madrid while the Frenchman scored the goal that won Madrid the Champions League in 2002 with an exquisite volley against Bayer Leverkusen.
His legacy lives on, with children across the globe attempting to recreate his exciting brand of football and of course, the Cruyff turn.
Zinedine Zidane – France – MF
A skillful and powerful midfielder, Zidane won all there is to win in the game, with league titles at Juventus and Real Madrid while the Frenchman scored the goal that won Madrid the Champions League in 2002 with an exquisite volley against Bayer Leverkusen.
Zidane’s star also shone in the international arena – as he led his country to glory at France ’98 and Euro 2000. His career would end in shame, though, as Zidane was sent off in his final game, the World Cup Final, for a head-butt on Italy’s Marco Materazzi.
Diego Maradona – Argentina – MF
The Argentine was technically outstanding and a small but being physical built meant that he was virtually unstoppable when dribbling with the ball.
Diego Maradona – Argentina – MF
The Argentine was technically outstanding and a small but being physical built meant that he was virtually unstoppable when dribbling with the ball.
His stunning, solo goal against England at the 1986 World Cup embodied all that was good about Maradona and he singlehandedly led the Argies to World Cup success in 1986.
He dazzled, too, at Napoli and Barcelona but failed a drugs test and was banned for 15 months in 1991. After that, his career petered out a little and he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the USA after another doping controversy. Good with his hands, too.
Pele – Brazil – ST
If the world’s greatest player is decided squarely by the impact at international level, you will be hard pushed to look past the first Samba superstar, Pele.
He dazzled, too, at Napoli and Barcelona but failed a drugs test and was banned for 15 months in 1991. After that, his career petered out a little and he was sent home from the 1994 World Cup in the USA after another doping controversy. Good with his hands, too.
Pele – Brazil – ST
If the world’s greatest player is decided squarely by the impact at international level, you will be hard pushed to look past the first Samba superstar, Pele.
The Brazilian played for Santos for eighteen years, scoring an extraordinary 619 goals. His worldwide prominence, though, was achieved through his scintillating performances at World Cups, with Pele central to the Brazilian success in 1958,1962 and 1970.
Sir Bobby Charlton said football was ‘invented for this magical player’ and Johan Cruyff claimed that ‘Pele was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic.’
Lionel Messi – Argentina – ST
The only footballer who is currently playing to make the team, Barcelona’s magnificent forward Messi has shattered all records in the last few years. At the age of 26 – when ordinarily most players would just be entering their prime – Messi has already won six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues with Barca.
On a personal level, he has won four consecutive Ballon d’Or awards and at the age of just 24, he became the Catalan side’s leading goalscorer. The 5’ 7” genius also broke the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, sailing past Gerd Muller’s record to score 91 goals in 2012.
Despite being Argentina’s second-highest goalscorer, passing by Diego Maradona’s 34 goal haul earlier last month, his critics claim that he has yet to have a real impact on a World Cup. Gatecrashing Brazil’s party in 2014 would be one way to put an end to those accusations…
Lionel Messi – Argentina – ST
The only footballer who is currently playing to make the team, Barcelona’s magnificent forward Messi has shattered all records in the last few years. At the age of 26 – when ordinarily most players would just be entering their prime – Messi has already won six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues with Barca.
On a personal level, he has won four consecutive Ballon d’Or awards and at the age of just 24, he became the Catalan side’s leading goalscorer. The 5’ 7” genius also broke the record for the most goals scored in a calendar year, sailing past Gerd Muller’s record to score 91 goals in 2012.
Despite being Argentina’s second-highest goalscorer, passing by Diego Maradona’s 34 goal haul earlier last month, his critics claim that he has yet to have a real impact on a World Cup. Gatecrashing Brazil’s party in 2014 would be one way to put an end to those accusations…
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