This year’s Ballon d’Or was one of the biggest casualties of 2020, but the publication behind the awards, France Football, gave us something to debate by announcing a Dream Team of their best players of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Pele, Diego Maradona… the team selected in a vote by 140 journalists was chock-full of legendary stars that would likely trounce any team past or present.
It featured a defence made up of two World Cup winners in Franz Beckenbauer and Cafu as well as AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, while the midfield and attack was so good that Maradona and Pele were forced onto the wing.
But with so many talented players spanning generations, there wasn’t room for all of them in one team. So France Football created a second and third XI for those who just missed out, and the teams put together are still mind-blowingly good.
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Lionel Messi (R) both made the Ballon d’Or’s all-time Dream Team
But some of the top footballers in the history of the game had to settle for the lesser squads
Second XI
The Ballon d’Or 2nd XI features some star names such as Alfredo Di Stefano and Garrincha
Lev Yashin was voted into the First XI’s Dream Team as their top goalkeeper, but if you picked out the top three shot-stoppers who ever lived then its likely Gianluigi Buffon would make it onto your list.
The Italian legend – who’s still churning out solid performances for Juventus at the tender age of 42 – has been there and won it all (apart from the Champions League). Widely considered one of the greatest ever between the sticks, he started his career in the mid-90s and racked up more than 900 career appearances.
Gianluigi Buffon will go down as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game
Roberto Carlos (left) and Carlos Alberto (right) make up two World Cup winners with Brazil
The First XI’s defence had two World Cups between them – this one has three. Roberto Carlos, widely considered one of the best left backs to have played the game, starred for Real Madrid and Inter Milan while scooping the Jules Rimet trophy in 2002 with Brazil.
His fellow countryman – Carlos Alberto – who won the World Cup in 1970 alongside Pele – slots in next to him and Italy legend Franco Baresi, who won it in 1982, makes up a menacing back three. Getting past that would be a struggle, even for the best of the best.
In midfield we have legendary alumni from Spain’s top flight with Real Madrid icon and now manager Zinedine Zidane on the right, despite playing the best years of his career in the centre for both Los Blancos, Juventus and France, with who he won the World Cup in 1998.
Fellow great Alfredo Di Stefano, who played nearly 400 times for Madrid and won the Ballon d’Or twice, fills out the opposite flank, with Barcelona favourite Frank Rijkaard sitting in the middle with now-Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo, who oozed class in central midfield for AC Milan and the club he now manages.
There’s no drop off in quality in attack – which can’t quite match the raw power of Messi, Ronaldo and Pele but would still give them a run for their money with each player in their prime.
Former Barcelona star and skills wizard Ronaldinho, the 2005 Ballon d’Or winner, is on the left wing with Brazil’s dribbling sensation Garrincha – a two time World Cup champion – on the right. Then in the middle you have none other than Johan Cruyff, a three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or and three-time European Cup champion.
Third XI
The Ballon d’Or 3rd XI includes an impressive line-up with four World Cup winners in the team
Some of these inclusions could have easily been a toss up for mentions in the 2nd XI, but with so many memorable footballers giving us special moments it can be incredibly hard to separate them.
Manuel Neuer, arguably the greatest goalkeeper of the modern generation, takes the gloves here after winning the World Cup with Germany, the Champions League twice with Bayern Munich – his achievements are truly unrivalled. Lev Yashin remains the only shot stopper to have won the Ballon D’or but Neuer came third in 2014 such were his superior displays in goal.
Just like the first two XIs, this squad also uses a 3-4-3 formation and Neuer is joined by two fellow Germans in this list – first Philip Lahm, who won the World Cup alongside him in 2014 and made 113 caps for his country. The versatile defender could pretty much play anywhere at the back and also put in some impressive shifts in centre-mid.
Manuel Neuer (left) and Philip Lahm both won the World Cup in 2014 and hold legendary status
Paul Breitner, a 1974 World Cup winner with West Germany, is fielded on the left side of the back three, with the former Bayern Munich defender winning the German top flight five times as well as the European Cup across two spells while also enjoying two titles with Real Madrid.
In the heart of defence, there should be no surprise to see Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos, who could still go on a while longer at the age of 34. Ramos will be forever remembered as one of the greatest centre-backs of all time and arguably the best in the club’s history. He has won the Champions League four times, La Liga five times and the World Cup in 2010.
Andres Iniesta, who could have easily made either of the first two XIs in many fans’ book, is shifted onto the left wing. He and Barcelona partner Xavi, who made it into the first XI, dominated midfields for years in Pep Guardiola’s feared team at the start of the century and was desperately unlucky to never win the Ballon d’Or.
Doomed to live in Messi’s shadow, he finished 2nd, 4th and 3rd but could never surpass the Argentinian nor Cristiano Ronaldo.
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On the right wing there is a place for Michel Platini – three time Ballon d’Or winner, who won the Euros with France and the European Cup with Juventus. In the middle there is another Brazilian World Cup winner in Didi alongside former Barcelona and Ajax icon Johan Neeskens.
The attack offers another dangerous trio with Gunners legend Thierry Henry, who will go down as one of the greatest players to have graced the Premier League having won two titles with Arsenal and showcased some outrageous finishing and skills.
He plays on the left, with Manchester United great George Best, winner of the 1968 Ballon d’Or and the European Cup in the same year, starring opposite him on the right hand side.
Leading the line in this attack is Marco van Basten, scorer of one of the greatest goals of all time as he helped Holland win the 1988 Euros. The Dutchman scooped three Ballon D’or awards with 277 career goals.
