I only go back to the late 1960s so I'll limit my choices to players I have watched since then. Do you agree with all or some of these selections?
Goalkeeper - 1. Peter Schmeichel. Between 1991 and 1999 the Danish goalkeeper played for Manchester United. Although there are several candidates for the keepers position, during those years the 6'4" veteran of 129 international appearances reached standards that I have never seen anyone else get close to.
Right Back - 2. Cafu. The now 37 year-old full back is still playing at the highest level of the game for Milan. He has a remarkable 156 Brazilian caps, and has played in four world cup tournaments and three consecutive world cup finals. His marauding style makes him a clear winner in this position.
Centre Backs - 5. Franz Beckenbauer. Nicknamed The Kaiser due to his elegant style and his leadership qualities, this wonderful footballer made over 100 appearances for the then West Germany. He played in three world cup tournaments, winning one, finishing runners up in another, and reaching the semi-final in the other. He narrowly gets his place over England's own world cup winning captain Bobby Moore.
6. Paulo Maldini. The 39 year-old centre back has spent his whole career at Milan. He has played for Italy on 126 occasions including the world cup win in 2007. In his club career, Maldini has won an incredible 25 competitive medals. He is an immaculate defender who is equally at home in the left back position.
Left back - 3. Roberto Carlos. This diminutive left back, now playing in Turkey, spent most of his career at Real Madrid. 125 appearances for Brazil have included 19 goals, many of them spectacular. He has won 15 club medals, 2 Copa America titles and one world cup.
Right midfield - 7. George Best. The mercurial Irishman scored 137 goals in 361 appearances for Manchester United. Anyone who saw him play will know that he had pace, balance, and skill, rarely seen in a footballer. Probably never achieved as much as he should, but won two championship medals, a European cup, and the European player of the year award.
Centre midfield - 4. Zinedene Zidane. This strong and elegant player represented France on 108 occasions including winning a world cup and a European championship. He scored important goals. Two in the world cup final against Brazil, and a winning goal for Real Madrid in a Champions League final. A player with a short fuse, he was sent off 14 times in his career, but his ability earns his selection for me every time.
8. Kaka. The youngest player in my team is only 25 years old but has already played 54 times for Brazil, scoring 19 goals. He is the current world and European player of the year, and is quite simply one of the best players I have ever seen.
Left midfield - 11. Diego Maradona. Probably most famous for his 'hand of God' goal against England in 1986 and his well publicised drug problems, we shouldn't forget that he had fantastic balance and strength. His dribbling ability was second to none, and he possessed a wicked shot, cross and pass.
Strikers - 9. Pele. 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil. Played in four world cup tournaments, winning three of them and scoring in two of the finals. In 2000, he was named 'footballer of the century' by FIFA. No need to say anymore really.
10. Ronaldo. This much speculated about striker has scored 62 goals in 97 games for Brazil and is the all time world cup scorer. He has scored 15 goals in 19 games over three world cups. His scoring record in club football reads 240 goals in 392 games and compares favourably with most others. At his best, when he dropped his shoulder and ran at defenders there wasn't a defender on the planet who could have stopped him.
There were lots who nearly made it, but that is my choice. What do you think?
Goalkeeper - 1. Peter Schmeichel. Between 1991 and 1999 the Danish goalkeeper played for Manchester United. Although there are several candidates for the keepers position, during those years the 6'4" veteran of 129 international appearances reached standards that I have never seen anyone else get close to.
Right Back - 2. Cafu. The now 37 year-old full back is still playing at the highest level of the game for Milan. He has a remarkable 156 Brazilian caps, and has played in four world cup tournaments and three consecutive world cup finals. His marauding style makes him a clear winner in this position.
Centre Backs - 5. Franz Beckenbauer. Nicknamed The Kaiser due to his elegant style and his leadership qualities, this wonderful footballer made over 100 appearances for the then West Germany. He played in three world cup tournaments, winning one, finishing runners up in another, and reaching the semi-final in the other. He narrowly gets his place over England's own world cup winning captain Bobby Moore.
6. Paulo Maldini. The 39 year-old centre back has spent his whole career at Milan. He has played for Italy on 126 occasions including the world cup win in 2007. In his club career, Maldini has won an incredible 25 competitive medals. He is an immaculate defender who is equally at home in the left back position.
Left back - 3. Roberto Carlos. This diminutive left back, now playing in Turkey, spent most of his career at Real Madrid. 125 appearances for Brazil have included 19 goals, many of them spectacular. He has won 15 club medals, 2 Copa America titles and one world cup.
Right midfield - 7. George Best. The mercurial Irishman scored 137 goals in 361 appearances for Manchester United. Anyone who saw him play will know that he had pace, balance, and skill, rarely seen in a footballer. Probably never achieved as much as he should, but won two championship medals, a European cup, and the European player of the year award.
Centre midfield - 4. Zinedene Zidane. This strong and elegant player represented France on 108 occasions including winning a world cup and a European championship. He scored important goals. Two in the world cup final against Brazil, and a winning goal for Real Madrid in a Champions League final. A player with a short fuse, he was sent off 14 times in his career, but his ability earns his selection for me every time.
8. Kaka. The youngest player in my team is only 25 years old but has already played 54 times for Brazil, scoring 19 goals. He is the current world and European player of the year, and is quite simply one of the best players I have ever seen.
Left midfield - 11. Diego Maradona. Probably most famous for his 'hand of God' goal against England in 1986 and his well publicised drug problems, we shouldn't forget that he had fantastic balance and strength. His dribbling ability was second to none, and he possessed a wicked shot, cross and pass.
Strikers - 9. Pele. 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil. Played in four world cup tournaments, winning three of them and scoring in two of the finals. In 2000, he was named 'footballer of the century' by FIFA. No need to say anymore really.
10. Ronaldo. This much speculated about striker has scored 62 goals in 97 games for Brazil and is the all time world cup scorer. He has scored 15 goals in 19 games over three world cups. His scoring record in club football reads 240 goals in 392 games and compares favourably with most others. At his best, when he dropped his shoulder and ran at defenders there wasn't a defender on the planet who could have stopped him.
There were lots who nearly made it, but that is my choice. What do you think?
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