Your All Time World 11

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Criteria - you must have seen them play, so no YouTube complications of Pele or Puskas don’t count!

Formation- 4-2-3-1, manager- Sir Alex Ferguson

GK- Peter Schmeichel

RB- Cafu
CB- Rio Ferdinand
CB- Jaap Stam
LB- Paulo Maldini

CM- Xavi
CM- Paul Scholes

RW- Lionel Messi
AM- Ronaldinho
LW- Cristiano Ronaldo

CF- Ronaldo

 

[Lay]

Schmeichel

Dani Alves
Rio Ferdinand
Maldini
Roberto Carlos

Xavi
Iniesta
Riquelme

Ronaldinho
Ronaldo Nazario
Batistuta

No Messi or Cristiano because boring.

 

[sun_tzu]

..............................................Buffon............................................
Cafu...................Baresi..........................Nesta..................Maldini
..............................................Rijkaard...........................................
...........................Maradonna..............Plattini..............................
Messi....................................Ronaldo...............................Ronaldo

If I was to have subs I'd go with
Schmeichel, Canavaro, Thuram, Matthaus, Zidane, Zico, Van-Basten

And to make up a 25 man squad
Kahn, Scirea, Carlos, Makalele, Xavi, Ronaldiniho, Romario *

Rinus Michels as manager and Haaland or Mbappe perhaps getting in there in for Romario* a few years if they carry on as they have started

*Edit - Romario for Bagio

 

[The holy trinity 68]

..............................................Buffon............................................
Cafu...................Baresi..........................Nesta..................Maldini
..............................................Rijkaard...........................................
...........................Maradonna..............Plattini..............................
Messi....................................Ronaldo...............................Ronaldo

If I was to have subs I'd go with
Schmeichel, Canavaro, Thuram, Matthaus, Zidane, Zico, Van-Basten

And to make up a 25 man squad
Kahn, Scirea, Carlos, Makalele, Xavi, Ronaldiniho, Bagio

Rinus Michels as manager and Haaland or Mbappe perhaps getting in there in for Bagio a few years if they carry on as they have started

Wow you are so lucky to have seen all of them play. I was born in 92 so unfortunately didn’t get to see a lot of these players especially in their prime. I have watched a lot of archived footage but that isn’t allowed for the criteria of selection.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

I opted for a 4-4-2 but this team can play in pretty much any formation

-------------------------------Zlatan------------------------
Zlatan--------Zlatan-------------Zlatan-----Zlatan
Zlatan-------Zlatan------------Zlatan---------Zlatan
-----------------Zlatan-------------Zlatan------------------

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

—————Czech————————
Cafu——Ferdinand-Staam—-A.Cole
———————Makelele——————
——-Scholes—————Lampard——
Robben————Messi———CR7

*from the players I’ve actually watched
**CL and PL

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

..............................................Buffon............................................
Cafu...................Baresi..........................Nesta..................Maldini
..............................................Rijkaard...........................................
...........................Maradonna..............Plattini..............................
Messi....................................Ronaldo...............................Ronaldo

If I was to have subs I'd go with
Schmeichel, Canavaro, Thuram, Matthaus, Zidane, Zico, Van-Basten

And to make up a 25 man squad
Kahn, Scirea, Carlos, Makalele, Xavi, Ronaldiniho, Bagio

Rinus Michels as manager and Haaland or Mbappe perhaps getting in there in for Bagio a few years if they carry on as they have started

You’re lucky getting to live through all of those legends in their prime! I don’t even know who Scirea is haha

 

[sun_tzu]

You’re lucky getting to live through all of those legends in their prime! I don’t even know who Scirea is haha

hes the chap who kept baresi out of the national team
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetano_Scirea

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

hes the chap who kept baresi out of the national team
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetano_Scirea

Wow, looks a player based on his appearances stats. Sad he passed so young in such a horrible way. I suppose it makes sense I didn’t know him, he died before I was born.

 

[2 man midfield]

---------------Buffon---------------
Cafu--Ferdinand-Maldini-R.Carlos
---------Xavi-----Scholes----------
C.Ronaldo---Iniesta----------Messi
------------L.Ronaldo---------------

 

[Foxbatt]

hes the chap who kept baresi out of the national team
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaetano_Scirea

And won the World Cup for Italy too. He played a huge role. I still remember how he brought out the ball from defense and laid it for Tardelli to score the 2nd goal.
I would select Danny Blind over Rio. A combination of Blind and Baresi would be extremely formidable.

 

[kafta]

Buffon

Alves
Nesta
Rio
Maldini

Zidane
Iniesta
Scholes

Cristiano
Messi
Ronaldo

I know that midfield wont work, but i couldn't leave out any of the middle 3

 

[Hansinity]

———-----------Neuer————————
Lahm——Van Diyk---Maldini—-R.Carlos
———————Viera——————
——------Xavi————Iniesta——
Robben————Messi———CR7

 

[JPRouve]

-----------------Ronaldo
C.Ronaldo----Zidane---Messi
----------- Davids--Xavi
Maldini--Nesta--Thuram--Cafu
----------------Buffon

Without giving too much thought to it.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

Buffon
Lahm - Nesta - Ramos - Maldini
Pirlo - Xavi - Iniesta
Cristiano Ronaldo - Ronaldo - Messi

 

[GueRed]

off the top of my head the last 35 years of watching football for me:

------------Schmeichel---------
Cafu---Baresi---Maldini--Irwin
--Maradona-Robson-Zidane--
-Messi--Ronaldo--C.Ronaldo-

Subs. Van Basten, Baggio, Rijkaard

 

[André Dominguez]

Picking my favs it turns out into a narrow 4x2x3x1

GK: Neuer (pre-injury). Had it all: reflexes, dealing with crosses and amazing skill.
RB: Daniel Alves: best fullback in his prime
LB: Paolo Maldini - Defensively solid, and was actually good with the ball on his feet
CB1: Franco Baresi - Elegance and anticipation at it's best
CB2: Jurgen Kohler - POwer, speed and actually very objective with the ball on his feet.
CMDf: Lothar Mathaus - probably the best defensive midfielder to ever set foot in the sport
Paul Scholes: Aggresive and incisive.
AMRC: Messi
AMC: D10s
AMLC: Michael Laudrup: the art of passing
FC: C. Ronaldo

 

[Buster15]

I opted for a 4-4-2 but this team can play in pretty much any formation

-------------------------------Zlatan------------------------
Zlatan--------Zlatan-------------Zlatan-----Zlatan
Zlatan-------Zlatan------------Zlatan---------Zlatan
-----------------Zlatan-------------Zlatan------------------

Is Zlatan all of the subs?

 

[Buster15]

Buffon
Lahm - Nesta - Ramos - Maldini
Pirlo - Xavi - Iniesta
Cristiano Ronaldo - Ronaldo - Messi

Very strong. But Bobby Moore in his prime was easily the best defender I have ever seen. Far better than Ramos.

 

[Hound Dog]

Buffon
Cafu Ferdinand Nesta Maldini
Xavi Makelele Zidane
Ronaldinho Brazilian Ronaldo Messi

 

[thatsme]

Dino Zoff.

Lillian Thuran.
Franco Baresi.
John Terry.
Paul Breitner.

Lothar Matthaus.
Michel Platini.
Johan Cruyff.

Diego Maradona.
Lionel Messi.
Luiz Ronaldo.

Manager Alex Ferguson.

 

[Red4Life_#7]

Good thread.

(Setting a reminder to post later)

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

Very strong. But Bobby Moore in his prime was easily the best defender I have ever seen. Far better than Ramos.

I am sure you are right but I’m too young (I would put Beckenbauer, Baresi and others in it ahead of Ramos) the OP said of what you’ve seen.

 

[Irwin99]

Neuer
Cafu Nesta Ferdinand Maldini
Pirlo Schweinstiger Zidane
Ronaldo Suarez Messi



I'm also gonna go with a more premier league driven team as that's the league I've watched the most
Schmiechal
Irwin Stam Ferdinand A.Cole
Keane Vieira De Bruyne
Ronaldo Suarez Henry

Jesus that's a good team. Good luck getting past that midfield!

 

[Dumbstar]

..............................................Buffon............................................
Cafu...................Baresi..........................Nesta..................Maldini
..............................................Rijkaard...........................................
...........................Maradonna..............Plattini..............................
Messi....................................Ronaldo...............................Ronaldo

If I was to have subs I'd go with
Schmeichel, Canavaro, Thuram, Matthaus, Zidane, Zico, Van-Basten

And to make up a 25 man squad
Kahn, Scirea, Carlos, Makalele, Xavi, Ronaldiniho, Romario *

Rinus Michels as manager and Haaland or Mbappe perhaps getting in there in for Romario* a few years if they carry on as they have started

*Edit - Romario for Bagio

Agreed 100% with this.

 

[dal]

———————————Neuer——————————
———Ferdinand———VVD———Nesta————
——————-Xavi——————Scholes—————
——-Zidane——————————Maradona(C)
——————————Messi——————————-
———Ronaldo (fat)—————Ronaldo (slim)

Total Football.

 

[giorno]

Neuer-Dani Alves-Ramos-Thiago Silva-Roberto Carlos-Redondo-Davids-Xavi-Robben-Cristiano-Messi

Should go with Modric in place of Redondo but first loves are first loves

 

[SilentStrike]

Neuer
Lahm Nesta Stam Maldini
Schweinsteiger
Xavi Kaka
Messi Lewandowski CR7

 

[RedRonaldo]

Schmeichel
Cafu Nesta Maldini Carlos
Keane
Xavi Zidane
Messi L.Ronaldo Ronaldo​

 

[FrankDrebin]

Every team needs a James Milner.

 

[Njord]

The ones I have seen enough to form a clear opinion:

Neuer
Alves - Ferdinand - Ramos - Marcelo
Xavi - Zidane - Iniesta
Messi - C. Ronaldo - Ronaldinho

Buffon - Vidic - Lahm - Scholes - Zidane - Modric - Lewandowski

 

[Jeppers7]

Schmeichel
Cafu
Baresi
Stam
Carlos
Maradona
Zidane
Robson
Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Messi

 

[Deery]

VDS

Cafu Lucio Maldini Lahm

Keane Xavi

Inesta

Messi Ronaldo C.Ronaldo​

 

[DanClancy]

I've seen Makelele in 2 teams, got to be the most overrated player of all time.

He wouldn't lace Keane's boots.

 

[paraguayo]

Yashin

Varela - Da Guia - Stabile - Puč - Britto

Meazza - Piola - Friedenreich - Leonidas - Fontaine

I am 120 years old

 

[arthurka]

Schmeichel
Lahm Beckenbauer Maldini Carlos
Keane
Seedorf Zidane
Maradona
Messi Ronaldo​

 

[YAMS49]

Spot the fav decade/team influence.

Schmeichel

Lahm
Costacurta
Baresi
Maldini

Redondo
Zidane
Xavi

Savicevic
C.Ronaldo
Batistuta

 

[meamth]

De Gea
G.Neville
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Beckham
Scholes
Carrick
Ronaldo
Rooney
Berbatov (I worship him)

 

[Invictus]

Wouldn't classify this as a starting XI of absolute best players I've seen, considering glaring omissions like Messi, Cristiano, Xavi and so forth. But, it is definitely functional (as in the whole should be greater than the sum of individual parts from a theoretical standpoint) and one that I would pay to watch, specifically under peak Fergie, who is obviously the best manager of my lifetime.

Cantona—Fenômeno
Giggs—Redondo—Keane—Beckham
Maldini—Vidić—Ferdinand—Zanetti
van der Sar
​

• Defense: pretty good, even with the omission of Nesta, Cafú, Buffon and co. Two all-time great fullbacks bookending the outstanding central core of Edwin, Ferdinand and Vidić. Also, I like the balance on the flanks — as they were all willing runners with an outstanding workrate.
• Midfield: saw no reason to surgically dissect and dismantle 4—4—2 perfection, given how they affected games on the ball and how they worked as a unit off it. Redondo should be a seamless fit, and provides a unique combination of silk and steel to the trademark United midfield. Tempted by Schweinsteiger, Davids and co. but Fergie was always full of praise for El Príncipe:

Later Rinus Michels, the authoritarian former manager of Holland, was asked about that back-heel. Surely he would never have tolerated it? 'That boy,' said Michels, 'would never have heard anything about it from me.' Alex Ferguson noted that all loose balls that night had seemed to fall to Redondo. 'What does this player have in his boots?' Ferguson asked. 'A magnet?' Redondo is indeed more than a playmaker - at his best, he hoovers the midfield. Link

• Attack: Ronaldo expanding the pitch in inimitable fashion...especially on counters, and Cantona (only witnessed the last stages of his career but ok) working his magic in the hole.

 

[Pink Moon]

Neuer

Lahm Ramos van Dijk Marcelo

Xavi Busquets Iniesta

Messi Cristiano Neymar​