Best XI past 20 years

[gaucho_10]

Buffon
Zanetti-Ramos-Ferdinand-Carlos
Redondo
Modric-Iniesta
Messi-Ronaldinho
Ronaldo-9​

 

[Redondo_Pirri]

Goalkeeper: Casillas - 2 Euros, 1 WC, 5 Leagues, 2 CdR, 3 UCLs, 8 other trophies. 164 UCL Appearances and 167 International Appearances. International Clean Sheet record as well as numerous other records.

LB: Roberto Carlos - 2 Copa America, 1 WC, 6 Leagues, 3 UCLs, 15 other trophies. 120 UCL Appearances and 125 International Appearances. Scored 102 goals in an 820 game career.

CB: Maldini - 7 Leagues, 1 Coppa Italia, 5 UCL, 13 other trophies. 109 UCL Appearances and 126 International Appearances. Played 900 games across three decades, excelling in them all. Holds the record for most minutes played at the World Cup with 2,216 plus numerous others.

CB: Ramos - 2 Euros, 1 WC, 3 Leagues, 2 CdR, 2 UCL, 6 other trophies. 98 UCL Appearances and 142 International Appearances. La Liga Best Defender 4x.

RB: Cafu - 2 Copa America, 2 WC, 3 Leagues, 1 UCL, 2 Copa Libertadores, 14 other trophies. 525 Club Appearances and 142 International Appearances (Brasil record holder).

DM: Redondo - 1 Copa America, 1 Confeds Cup, 3 Leagues, 1 Coppa Italia, 3 UCLs, 4 other trophies. 426 Club Appearances and only 29 International Appearances (Passarella is a fecking idiot)

CM: Xavi - 2 Euos, 1 WC, 8 Leagues, 3 CdRs, 4 UCLs, 13 other trophies. 151 UCL Appearances and 133 International Appearances.

AM: Zidane - 1 Euros, 1 WC, 3 Leagues, 1 UCL, 9 other trophies. 80 UCL Appearances and 108 International Appearances. Ballon d'Or 1998, FIFA World Player of the Year 1998, 2000 and 2003. FIFA World Cup Golden Ball 2006. UEFA Champions League Final MotM 2002. Most goals scored in a FIFA World Cup Final (equal holder) and numerous other records.

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo - 1 Euros, 4 Leagues, 3 FA Cup/CdR, 3 UCLs, 8 other trophies. 135 UCL Appearances (Holds the record for goals and assists in the premier competition) and 138 International Appearances as well as being Portugal's highest goal scorer and 5th highest ever with 71 goals. Ballon d'Or 2008 and 2016. FIFA World Player of the Year 2008. FIFA Ballon d'Or 2013 and 2014. European Golden Shoe 4x. UCL Top Scorer 5x. Numerous other accolades and records.

Forward: Ronaldo - 2 Copa Americas, 2 WCs, 1 Confeds Cup, 2 Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup, 10 other trophies. 518 Club Appearances and 352 Club Goals. 98 International Appearances and 62 International Goals. Ballon d'Or 1997 and 2002. FIFA World Player of the Year 1996, 1997 and 2002. Copa America MVP and Final MVP 1997. FIFA World Cup Golden Ball 1998 and 2002. FIFA World Cup MVP 2002. Numerous other accolades and records.

Forward: Messi - Olympic Gold Medal 2008, 8 Leagues, 4 CdRs, 4 UCLs, 12 other trophies. 113 UCL Appearances and 117 International Appearances and 58 International goals. FIFA World Player of the Year 2009. Ballon d'Or 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015. European Golden Shoe 3x. UEFA Best Player in Europe 2x. FIFA World Cup Golden Ball 2014. Copa America MVP 2015. Numerous other accolades and records.

Coach: Jose Mourinho - 8 Leagues (across four different competitions), 4 Cups (across 4 different competitions),1 UEFA Cup, 2 UCLs (Porto and Inter), 10 other trophies. Between 2003 and 2012 Jose Mourinho did not go a single year without a trophy. FIFA World Coach of the Year 2010. EPL Manager of the Year 3x. Serie A manager 2x. UEFA Manager of the Year 2x.

Wow that took longer to write up than I thought....

 

[SirScholes]

Gianluigi Buffon (2003)

Lillian Thuram (2000)
Alessandro Nesta (2003)
Fabio Cannavaro (2006)
Javier Zanetti (2007)

Fernando Redondo (2000)
Xavi Hernandez (2009)
Andres Iniesta (2012)

Lionel Messi (2012)
Ronaldo (1998)
Cristiano Ronaldo (2012)

If I had to make my team less Barcelona-centric, I'd replace Xavi and Iniesta with Pirlo (2006) and Zidane (2002).

Dear god that is a monster of a team

 

[balaks]

Schmeichel

Thuram-----Nesta-----Stam-----Cole

Ronaldo-----Keane-----Vieira-----Nedved

Del Piero------------
Ronaldo​

No I didn't forget Messi. If you want a reason I'll make it a petty one. His tattoo or his hair. You can pick.

His tattoo and his hair? Have you SEEN Ronaldo? lol

 

[Pat_Mustard]

..Ronaldo.....Suarez.......Messi..
.....Iniesta..........Xavi...........
.............Schweini................
Maldini...Nesta...Thuram...Lahm
.................Buffon.................

Alternate XI

...........Shevchenko...............
Ronaldinho.....Kaka......Nedved
.....Cambiasso.....Redondo..........
Cole...Cannavaro...Stam....Zanetti


Sad, none from EPL far less United. I so wanted Scholes in there.

You've got Stam in your alternate XI! Also, which Ronaldo have you chosen? Furthermore, if you want an extra Utd player in there then do the fecking obvious and replace Schweinsteiger or particularly Cambiasso with Roy Keane!

 

[Bwuk]

Buffon
Alves - Ferdinand - Ramos - Carlos
Makelele
Xavi - Iniesta
Cristiano - Messi - Ronaldinho​

 

[Bwuk]

Buffon
Zanetti-Ramos-Ferdinand-Carlos
Redondo
Modric-Iniesta
Messi-Ronaldinho
Ronaldo-9​

Modric over Xavi? I'm one of his biggest fans on the caf, but surely not.

 

[Sparky_Hughes]

1: Schmeichel
2: Cannavaro 3: Nesta 4: R.Ferdinand
5: Zambrotta 6: Gatusso 7: Maldini
8: Keane 9: Zidane
10: Del Piero
11: Van Nistlerooy
​

SUBS:
De Gea
G. Neville
R.Baggio
D.Baggio
G. Weah
J.Stam
D.Irwin

Manager SAF

** Zambrotta and Maldini as advanced wingbacks but I cant get the formatting right

 

[balaks]

Buffon
Lahm - Nesta - Cannavaro - Maldini
Pirlo
Xavi - Iniesta
C Ronaldo - Messi - Del Piero


Thats my choice.

 

[sun_tzu]

...........................Kahn............................
Cafu........Nesta.............Cannavaro.....Maldini
.................Zidane........Makalele................
......Ronaldo.........Messi...............Ronaldiniho
.........................Ronaldo...........................

 

[gaucho_10]

Modric over Xavi? I'm one of his biggest fans on the caf, but surely not.

I see your point and it's hard to argue against it, but it's just my subjective opinion. Modric is the most complete midfielder I have ever seen and I love watching him play.
I can not picture a "best of" team without Modric and Redondo. Those two would also be my first choice for double pivot - a setup in which there is no place for the great Xavi (also one of the reasons I value them more, they're not specialists like Pirlo, Zidane, Xavi, or Iniesta, those two are complete total midfielders).
I went with 3 man midfield so Iniesta get's the third spot. I was never a big fan of Zidane.
If I had to replace Modric in the line up, Scholes would be my first choice. No place for Xavi in my team.

 

[Red4Life_#7]

My Dream Team:

--------------Schmeichel
Thuram - Ferdinand - Nesta - Carlos
---------------Makelele
----------Zidane - Ronaldinho
--Messi ----- ---------- - C.Ronaldo
--------------L.Ronaldo

 

[IRELANDUNITED]

Schmeichel
Nesta Stam Maldini
Xavi Scholes Pirlo
Zidaine
Messi Ronaldo9 CR7

 

[Theonas]

You've 10 great players who all make a valid claim to be in that team but Makelele? He's becoming more overrated as every goes by, he was half the player Keane and is a long way from been in a team of this calibre.

It's probably the most difficult one but to have a role named after you says a lot doesn't it? He also was essential in three great teams (Real, Chelsea and France) winning a lot along the way. How is half the player or undeserving of consideration? I think a better argument is Busquets because that midfield complemented each other better than anyone but I did not want to have a very Barcelona centric side. As for Keane, I really just don't rate as high as many on here. I think he was a great player obviously but if I was going to put one of our midfielders there, it would be Scholes over him.

 

[Theonas]

Schmeichel
Nesta Stam Maldini
Xavi Scholes Pirlo
Zidaine
Messi Ronaldo9 CR7

I am not sure that midfield would need a defence. They would never lose the ball!

 

[IRELANDUNITED]

I am not sure that midfield would need a defence. They would never lose the ball!

Yes that's why i only picked 3 defenders! The formation looks unbalanced but look at the attacking options

 

[DanClancy]

Makelele was that good he was still playing for Celta Vigo aged 27.

He should be miles away from a team like this, he was a very good at what he did but he was so very limited in comparison to players like Robbo, Keane, Riijkard & Redondo.

Blimey a few have included Gattuso, another player who should be miles off a team like this.

 

[Theonas]

Makelele was that good he was still playing for Celta Vigo aged 27.

He should be miles away from a team like this, he was a very good at what he did but he was so very limited in comparison to players like Robbo, Keane, Riijkard & Redondo.

Blimey a few have included Gattuso, another player who should be miles off a team like this.

Robbo and Riijkard were not relevant from 1997 onwards. I am not even sure Robbo would qualify even if he was considering the relative lack of success he enjoyed throughout his career. Yes he was never a part of a great team which opens up a discussion about what if, but it still is a what if rather than a proven track record. Redondo is amazingly overrated on here and I can only think it is because of his performance against us in 2003. I think it's also because he looked like such an elegant footballer but looking back on his career, nothing really stands out, he was not a very consistent performer, nor was his peak something special. Roy Keane is a difficult one, I might be harsh here but I honestly don't think he would have been half the player he was for us in any other context other than the PL in that specific era. That's another discussion though. The main contenders for that third midfield spot for me are Alonso and Busquets with Seedorf and Schweinsteiger good shouts as well.

 

[Theonas]

I see your point and it's hard to argue against it, but it's just my subjective opinion. Modric is the most complete midfielder I have ever seen and I love watching him play.
I can not picture a "best of" team without Modric and Redondo. Those two would also be my first choice for double pivot - a setup in which there is no place for the great Xavi (also one of the reasons I value them more, they're not specialists like Pirlo, Zidane, Xavi, or Iniesta, those two are complete total midfielders).
I went with 3 man midfield so Iniesta get's the third spot. I was never a big fan of Zidane.
If I had to replace Modric in the line up, Scholes would be my first choice. No place for Xavi in my team.

That is a good point about Xavi actually. I totally agree that he is a specialist and I honestly think he would not achieve anywhere near the same success in another system that is less drilled and precise tactically as ours for example or Real's throughout the years. I still went with him though because that whole of him, Iniesta and Busquets as well as the defence and Messi amounts to something like I have never seen before and I think that in itself is worth something. If I was going to individuals who can stand alone and are more likely to stand out in a midfield regardless of what's around them, relatively at least, I'd also put Modric ahead.

 

[Physiocrat]

---------------Neuer---------------
Lahm--Ferdinand-Nesta--R. Carlos
-------------Redondo----------------
--------Xavi--------Iniesta-----------
Robben------Messi---------Suarez

 

[DanClancy]

You only have to watch that show on Sky Sports on a friday where players name the best players they ever played with or against to see how highly rated Roy Keane is Theonas. They can't all be wrong.

 

[serghei]

This latin & americo-latin team with some italian defensive class in it can do no wrong.

 

[Theonas]

You only have to watch that show on Sky Sports on a friday where players name the best players they ever played with or against to see how highly rated Roy Keane is Theonas. They can't all be wrong.

But we are still talking about players who were part of that era. They also value Gerrard and Terry very highly as well who I also think are great players in their own right but again, their level was elevated by the way this league is. It's like they are all 8s in my book but the PL made them 9s if that makes any sense.

 

[DanClancy]

But we are still talking about players who were part of that era. They also value Gerrard and Terry very highly as well who I also think are great players in their own right but again, their level was elevated by the way this league is. It's like they are all 8s in my book but the PL made them 9s if that makes any sense.

All in your opinion. Terry & Gerrard were both world class players although I don't rate them as highly as some do. I don't rate Giggs as highly as a lot of United players do and as much as King Eric is one of my hero's many of us tend to overrate him as a player. Keane is the 2nd best player I've seen at OT after Ronaldo, he always stood out whether it was with with great players at United or with Ireland with average players.

As for Makelele I'm clearly not the only one who didn't rate him that highly, he was playing for Celta Vigo aged 27 for a reason.

 

[mvpkennedy]

Neuer
Lahm - Maldini - Ramos - Cafu
Xavi - Iniesta - Zidane
Ronaldinho - C.Ronaldo - Messi

 

[donkeyfish]

Schmeichel
Neville - Stam - Ferdinand - Evra
Beckham - Scholes - Keane - Giggs
C.Ronaldo - Van Nistelrooy

 

[Ecstatic]

Not very offensive but strong.

The midfield that Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets would hate

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Gianluigi Buffon​

Philipp Lahm
Alessandro Nesta
Rio Ferdinand
Patrice Evra
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Patrick Vieira
Kaka
Lionel Messi
Cristiano Ronaldo
Thierry Henry

 

[Inter Yer Nan]

De Gea

Zanetti
Ferdinand
Nesta
Maldini

Keane
Zidane
Iniesta

Ronaldo
Messi
Fat Ronaldo

Serious consideration went to Godin, Xavi, Scholes in their respective positions.

 

[Theonas]

All in your opinion. Terry & Gerrard were both world class players although I don't rate them as highly as some do. I don't rate Giggs as highly as a lot of United players do and as much as King Eric is one of my hero's many of us tend to overrate him as a player. Keane is the 2nd best player I've seen at OT after Ronaldo, he always stood out whether it was with with great players at United or with Ireland with average players.

As for Makelele I'm clearly not the only one who didn't rate him that highly, he was playing for Celta Vigo aged 27 for a reason.

Obviously it is my opinion, there are no facts when discussing the best players. Clearly Keane, Gerrard and Terry are brilliant players, some of the best. Nearly everyone on this thread is really, we are merely discussing whose set of skills that made them so great is valued by us the most which is very subjective indeed. I happen to emphasize skill and technique maybe more than the qualities Keane may boast. This is also why Scholes is my favourite United player and why Rio for me comes ahead of Vidic any time.

As for Makelele, well obviously he is not exactly who first comes to mind when thinking of great players. He is not flashy and never been a central figure. I just felt that for the purposes of balance, he provides something nobody else really does.

 

[paulscholes18]

Great Dane
Cafu Nesta Stam Carlos
Pirlo
Keane Scholes
Messi Ronaldo Ronaldo

Subs
Buffon
Vidic
Maldini
Redondo
Ronaldinho
Del Piero
Batistuta

 

[paulscholes18]

1: Schmeichel
2: Cannavaro 3: Nesta 4: R.Ferdinand
5: Zambrotta 6: Gatusso 7: Maldini
8: Keane 9: Zidane
10: Del Piero
11: Van Nistlerooy
​

SUBS:
De Gea
G. Neville
R.Baggio
D.Baggio
G. Weah
J.Stam
D.Irwin

Manager SAF

** Zambrotta and Maldini as advanced wingbacks but I cant get the formatting right

Wouldn't Reberto Carlos be a better choice for LWB

 

[Infordin]

As for Makelele I'm clearly not the only one who didn't rate him that highly, he was playing for Celta Vigo aged 27 for a reason.

Harsh criticism. Larsson played in Scotland until he was 32. Still a great player. Van der Sar spent his prime at Fulham. Still a great goalkeeper.

Makelele might have been a late bloomer, but he was nevertheless fantastic in his prime. A key figure in Chelsea's dominance of the Prem from 2004-06. He was also a key member of Madrid's 2002 Champions League winning campaign.

When Madrid replaced Makelele with Beckham, Zidane said: "Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the engine?"

I personally wouldn't have him in my XI because I rate Redondo higher (along with a few others), but he's hardly the worst choice possible.

 

[RooneyLegend]

-----------Ronaldo-----Ronaldo-----Messi----------
-------------------------Zidane----------------------
---------------Redondo----------Viera-----------
----Carlos-----Ferdinand-----Nesta-------Zanetti
--------------------------Buffon--------------------

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

Amazed at the amount of love Keane is getting in these lineups, especially given how popular Scholes is on here.

Hugely subjective and a bit incendiary, but in my most humble and irrelevant opinion, Scholes was world class at his peak, Keane was not. Don't get me wrong, Keane was a great footballer and inspired leader, I just don't think he should amongst the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Zidane.

I guess it's a debate that's been done to death though. It's only my opinion, I'm not saying I'm right.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

Ignoring if the starting XI would be balanced and could function well

So I'd go

Cristiano Ronaldo-Ronaldo-Messi
Zidane-Iniesta-Xavi
Roberto Carlos-Nesta-Cannavaro-Cafu
Buffon

 

[Jib]

------------------Buffon----------------
Cafu---Thuram---Canavaro---R.Carlos
----------Makelele----Vieira-----------
Messi----------Zidane---------Ronaldinho
--------------------Henry---------------------

Coach : Mourinho

 

[norm87cro]

Schmeichel Stam Johnsen Irwin Neville Keane Scholes Beckham Giggs Cole Yorke

 

[Redondo_Pirri]

I think I'm the only one that chose Casillas lol