World's best 11 (1980-2019)

[Andycoleno9]

Ronaldo vs Ronaldo thread filled me with nostalgia so i wanted to know how people think here. I guess that most of us here are 25-40 years old so i used that period.
Stats are not important here. Be free to use crazy 424 formation if you want. I know that for some positions you must pick between 5,6 fantastic players but just pick one. My best 11 would be;
GK- De Gea
DR- Cafu
DL- Roberto Carlos
DC- Maldini
DC- Ferdinand
MC- Zidane
DMC- Rijkaard
RF- Messi
LF- Ronaldinho
CF- Ronaldo(Luis Nazario)
CF- Maradona

 

[BlackShark_80]

..........................................Buffon............................................
..........Cafu...............Nesta...............Baresi............Maldini......
.........................................Rijkaard............................
...........................Matthaus...............Maradona...................
..........Messi........................Ronaldo......................Cristiano................

 

[sun_tzu]

..........................................Buffon..........................................
Cafu...................Baresi..........................Maldini...............Carlos
---------------------------------Rijkaard--------------------------------
-------------------Maradonna----------------Zidane--------------------
------Messi---------------------Ronaldo----------------------Ronaldo--

Schmeichel, Cannavaro, Thuram, Makalele, Matthaus, Ronaldinho, Vanbasten, wouldnt be a bad bench

 

[Bwuk]

I was born in 92, so only going to use players I’ve actually seen play. If you asked me to post this tomorrow I’d probably change my mind though!

Buffon
Alves - Ferdinand - Nesta - Roberto Carlos
Xavi - Bastian - Iniesta
Zidane
Messi - Cristiano​

 

[harms]

..........................................Buffon............................................
..........Cafu...............Nesta...............Baresi............Maldini......
.........................................Rijkaard............................
...........................Matthaus...............Maradona...................
..........Messi........................Ronaldo......................Cristiano................

Probably this. A case can be made for van Basten to be in Ronaldo's place, but it's a coin toss.

edit: forgot about Xavi! He definitely deserves a spot but I feel that it won’t improve this team

 

[Ahsan_6386]

------------------------------Buffon-------------------------
Cafu---------'--Baresi-------------Nesta-----Maldini
------------Matthaus---------------Xavi-----------------
C.Ronaldo-----------------------------------------Messi
----------------------------Maradona---------------------
----------------------------Ronaldo-------------------------

Subs :

Schmeichel
Lahm
Puyol
Rijkaard
Zidane
Ronaldinho

 

[KM]

..........................................Buffon............................................
..........Cafu...............Nesta...............Baresi............Maldini......
.........................................Rijkaard............................
...........................Matthaus...............Maradona...................
..........Messi........................Ronaldo......................Cristiano................

Probably this but I feel Xavi deserves a place somehow.

 

[Infordin]

Buffon

Alves - Nesta - Baresi - Maldini

Rijkaard - Matthaus

Maradona

Messi - Ronaldo - Cristiano​

 

[Revan]

Buffon

Alves - Nesta - Baresi - Maldini

Rijkaard - Matthaus

Maradona

Messi - Ronaldo - Cristiano​

This too, with possibly Cafu instead of Alves.

Kind of crazy how Platini, Zidane and Xavi miss.

 

[Raees]

Buffon
Lahm Baresi Kohler Carlos
Rijkaard Matthaus
Maradona
Messi Ronaldo Cristiano
​

*Amoros/Zanetti would also be contenders for me. Having studied Cafu in depth.. I think as talented as he was, he wasn’t as all rounded as these three but it’s a subjective opinion.

​

Carlos for me is so underrated - absolute phenomenon down the left flank and not that bad at defending at all.. adds so much oomph down the left.

Hate to see Platini miss out but he’s simply a step beneath Diego.

Xavi great as he was simply doesn’t have the all round game of Matthaus who is one of the most talented footballers of all time period.

 

[Infordin]

Kind of crazy how Platini, Zidane and Xavi miss.

I wanted to include Xavi but I already had Alves so I didn’t want to come across as too biased towards our Guardiola team.

Zizou has the misfortune of being in direct competition with Maradona for a spot on the team.

 

[Enigma_87]

..........................................Dasayev............................................
..........Cafu...............Kohler...............Baresi............Maldini......
.........................................Rijkaard............................
...........................Matthaus...............Maradona...................
..........Messi........................Ronaldo......................Cristiano................

or Xavi instead of Matthaus for more control in midfield.

 

[Trizy]

..........................................De Gea.........................................
D.Alves...................Rio...........................Maldini...............Marcelo
---------------------------------Rijkaard--------------------------------
-------------------Scholes--------------------Zidane--------------------
------Messi---------------------Ronaldo----------------------C.Ronaldo


Yes I take Marcelo and Alves over Carlos and Cafu. Both IMO are the best attacking full backs of all time for their respected positions.

 

[Andycoleno9]

It is not easy to pick 11, isn't it?. Btw, nice to see that people still remember and rate Rijkaard

 

[meamth]

GK: Schmeichel
RB: Dani Alves
LB: Marcelo
CB: Beckenbauer
CB: Ferdinand
CM: Modric
CM: Zidane
CM: Scholes
RF: Messi
LF: CR7
CF: Van Basten

EDIT:
My bad Pele ended his career at 1977.

 

[paulscholes18]

Schmeichel
Cafu Stam Vidic Carlos
Matthaus Redondo
Messi Zidane Ronaldo
Ronaldo

 

[TrueRomanista]

De Gea? Seriously?

 

[Red Stone]

A staggering amount of former and current Serie A players being mentioned. Nostalgia going a bit overboard or a true testament to how strong the league was in the 80s and 90?

 

[Slevs]

I was born in 92, so only going to use players I’ve actually seen play. If you asked me to post this tomorrow I’d probably change my mind though!

Buffon
Alves - Ferdinand - Nesta - Roberto Carlos
Xavi - Bastian - Iniesta
Zidane
Messi - Cristiano​

Born in 91, I'd probably go with that same line up. Maybe Keane for Bastian.

 

[La Pulga]

Buffon
Cafu Nesta Baresi Maldini
Xavi Iniesta
Messi Maradona Ronaldinho
Ronaldo

 

[cusmarr]

..........................................Buffon..........................................
Cafu...................Nesta..........................Maldini...............Carlos
---------------------------------Xavi----------------------------------
-------------------Iniesta----------------Zidane----------------------
------Messi-----------------C.Ronaldo-----------------Ronaldinho--

 

[Makelele]

.........................................Buffon.........................................
D.Alves................Terry...........................Maldini.............Carlos
---------------------------------Makelele--------------------------------
-------------------Xavi----------------------Zidane--------------------
------Messi---------------------Ronaldo----------------------C.Ronaldo


Tempted to put Laudrup in there somehow, but couldnt justify it. Xavi was the engine of one of the most successful teams of all time.

 

[Njord]

From I started watching (04/05):

Neuer
Alves Ferdinand Nesta Marcelo
Modric
Xavi Iniesta
Ronaldinho
Messi C. Ronaldo

 

[Makelele]

Iniesta is one of the best players we have seen certainly, but I always feel like his playing style makes it easier to view him favourable over other midfielders who may be better in more subtle ways. Like Xavi for example.

 

[Oldham]

----------------------------Dasayev-------------------------
Cafu-----------Baresi-------------Kohler----------Maldini
--------------Matthaus---------------Xavi-----------------
C.Ronaldo----------------Maradona----------------Messi
---------------------------Ronaldo-------------------------

I guess something like this.

Bonus...My United would be:

----------------------------DDG-------------------------
-------------Vidic--------Ferdinand--------Stam-------
--------------Robson---------------Scholes-------------
C.Ronaldo---------------Cantona----------------Giggs
-------------------Ruud---------Rooney-----------------

Can't really exclude one of Vidic, Ferdinand, Stam...so no fullbacks.
Hard to leave Keano out thou...and Schmeichel but DDG is a monster...

 

[King7Eric]

Buffon
Alves Thuram Baresi Maldini

Matthaus
Zidane Iniesta

Messi C.Ronaldo Ronaldinho

 

[Andycoleno9]

De Gea? Seriously?

I thought about Peter, Iker or Buffon of course but i really rate DDG highly. And as i said for every position you have 4,5,6 players. You really can't go wrong here.
Feel free to write your 11 and then we can talk

 

[onemanarmy]

Yes I take Marcelo and Alves over Carlos and Cafu. Both IMO are the best attacking full backs of all time for their respected positions.

Did you see Cafu and Roberto Carlos play in their prime?

 

[JDoe]

------------Neuer/Buffon------------ (Neuer at his peak was best in the world in pretty much everything, Buffon for longevity)
Alves-----Nesta--Baresi--Lahm/Maldini
---------Matthäus--Rijkaard-------- (best box-to-box and best DM ever arguably)
Messi------Maradona--CR7/Ronaldinho (CR7 for longevity, Dinho for short peak)
---------Ronaldo/Van Basten-------- (Ronaldo on pure individual ability, Van Basten probably better for this team tho)

Best balanced team for me would be:
----------------Neuer----------------
Alves----Nesta----Baresi-Lahm/Marcelo (Marcelo & CR7 combo was almost as good as Alevs & Messi)
--------------Rijkaard----------------
-----------Xavi--Matthäus/Iniesta--- (Matthäus is better than Iniesta, but with Xavi I'm not sure)
Messi------Maradona (F9)------CR7 (CR7 in the Pedro role, and Messi as he used to play when Dinho was still there)

 

[AimeduSable]

-------------Kahn
Thuram-Maldini-Ramos-Carlos
------------Matthäus
--Bergkamp-------Zidane
-----------Ronaldinho
-----Ronaldo------C.Ronaldo

 

[Invictus]

Ronaldo Luís, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Maradona would probably get in on the basis of their resume but I don't really like them as a collective — a lineup with only 3 of them would be much cleaner and they won't step on each others' toes. Alternatively, Van Basten and Platini instead of Ronaldo Luís and Maradona — but dropping the biggest mavericks of the era wouldn't be very prudent. Ended up going with a boring and straightforward 5-3-2.

Impenetrable defense, and that attack should be a handful on counters — especially with Matthäus' dribbling threat from midfield in addition to the forward trio. Could easily swap out Messi for Cristiano to get on the end of Brehme's crosses.

 

[2cents]

I’ve gone for the basis of the best defensive unit (though swapping Cafu in for Tassotti/Panucci), the greatest midfield trio, and then the three obvious in attack. Didn’t really see Maradona in his peak so left him out.

Buffon

Maldini
Baresi
Costacurta
Cafu

Busquets
Xavi
Iniesta

C. Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Messi

(Edit): I’ve picked the defense and midfield based on how well those players complemented each other. If I was picking on a purely individual basis then I’d probably replace Costacurta and Iniesta with Roberto Carlos (moving Maldini to the centre) and Zidane. Would also consider replacing Busquets although there’s no standout challenger for that position IMO.

 

[Josh 76]

These players have to be in the 11.

Maradona
Messi
Ronaldo
Ronaldo (Brazilian)
Zidane
Maldini
Gullit
Roberto Carlos
Berasi

Not sure what formation you need to fit all these in though.

 

[RooneyLegend]

-----------Ronaldo----VanBasten-----
------------------Maradona----------------
---------Zidane-------------Rijkaard----
-------------------Redondo-----------------
RobertoC-TSilva-McGrath-Zanetti
---------------------Buffon---------------------

 

[PGLFC91]

The best team I can remember is probably from 2000 onward:

--------------------------Neuer-------------------------
Alves-----------Ramos-------------Nesta----------Marcelo
--------------Busquets---------------Zidane-----------------
C.Ronaldo----------------Messi----------------Ronaldinho
---------------------------Ronaldo-

 

[the_irish123]

How about a XI from the alternative continents? (no s.america, europe or africa)

Navas

Nagatomo Marquez Neill (?)

Jedinak Nakata

Son Cahill

Yorke H.Sanchez

 

[Mr. MUJAC]

Shilton/Schmeichel

Baresi, Maldini plus two others

Maradona, Iniesta, Robson

Messi, Ronaldo, Ronaldo

 

[ctp]

Neuer
Alves - Nesta - Baresi - Maldini
Rijkaard
Xavi - Matthäus
Messi - Ronaldo - Maradona​

 

[Revan]

First team:

Buffon

Cafu Nesta Baresi Maldini

Riijkard Matthaus

Messi Maradona C. Ronaldo

L. Ronaldo​

Second team:

Schmeichel

Alves Ramos Ferdinand R. Carlos

Keane Xavi Zidane

Platini Van Basten Ronaldinho​

Third team:

Casillas

Thuram Vidic Terry Marcelo

Vieira Pirlo Iniesta

Baggio

Henry Shevchenko

​

Probably some top players missing. First team is easily the best, the second and third team have in midfield a box-to-box midfielder to provide balance, a registra and an attacking midfielder. Not sure I have put Platini in the right place and if he would be able to play with Zidane.

 

[Melville Red]

Dino Zoff

P Maldini. B Moore. Beckenbaur D Irwin



Ronaldo. Zidanne. Inniesta. J Cruyff


R Guilit. Messi.

Subs P Schmeical

T Butcher
R Keane
D Silva

I know the spelling is dodgy so don’t.