World Cup all-time XI

We pick a team made up of some of the greats

Last updated: 1st December 2009  

World Cup all-time XI

Dream striker: Pele celebrates World Cup success in 1970

As the countdown to South Africa 2010 gathers pace we trawl through the World Cup archives to pick a greatest-ever XI from the tournament's history, with two English winners from 1966 making the cut.

GK: GORDON BANKS

A World Cup winner with England in 1966 as they reached the final without conceding a goal in open play, Banks will best be remembered for a stunning save from Pele in the group phase of the 1970 finals in Mexico. His absence for the quarter-final against West Germany in that tournament is often cited as a key reason for England's defeat.

FB: CARLOS ALBERTO

Captain of the Brazil side considered the greatest XI ever assembled in the 1970 finals. A right-back equally at home going forward as he was defending and who set the template for the likes of Cafu and Daniel Alves to follow. Got forward to devastating effect to score Brazil's fourth and final goal against Italy in the 1970 World Cup final, finishing off a sublime team move.

FB: PAOLO MALDINI

Along with Johann Cruyff the only member of this XI not to have won the World Cup, having retired from international football before the Azzurri's 2006 triumph in Germany. Maldini was the epitome of cool consistency in over 20 years of football at the highest level and while he was best known as a left-back, he was almost equally as effective in the centre.

CB: BOBBY MOORE

England's 1966 World Cup-winning captain lacked pace but was rarely if ever caught out of position. He possessed impeccable timing in the tackle and the ideal temperament for international football. Comfortable on the ball, he actually provided the assists for Geoff Hurst's first and fourth goals in the final win over West Germany.

CB: FABIO CANNAVARO

At only 5ft 9in tall, the Neapolitan has somehow managed to become one of the great central defenders of this or any era. Like Moore, a great reader of the game, he is solid in the tackle and adept at intercepting any danger. Reached the peak of his career in captaining Italy to glory in 2006.

MF: FRANZ BECKENBAUER

Beckenbauer began his international career as an all-action midfielder but by 1974 he was operating as a sweeper in the West Germany side which won on home soil. In this line-up his role would be to anchor the midfield and protect the back four, with his range of passing and ability to burst forward providing another threat in a side posing plenty already.

MF: JOHANN CRUYFF

As the ultimate 'total footballer' it is difficult to pigeonhole the Dutchman into any one position. Nominally a striker but far too intelligent to simply to hang around waiting for chances, he was a nightmare to pick up because of his tendency to drop deep or wide, and when he had the ball his searing pace and exemplary technique made him an equally tricky customer.

MF: ZINEDINE ZIDANE

The leader of the pack in the French side which claimed first world and then European glory in 1998 and 2000. His career may have ended in disgrace after his headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 final but 'Zizou' warrants his place in this stellar line-up because of his creative brilliance and eye for goal.

MF: DIEGO MARADONA

Dragged an otherwise average Argentina side to World Cup glory in 1986 with possibly the greatest individual display of any player in any tournament. His greatest asset was arguably his ability to take on opponents - five or six at a time was no problem - with his mesmeric dribbling skills but his all-round vision was also impeccable - witness the instinctive pass to Jorge Burruchaga for Argentina's winning goal in the 1986 final.

CF: PELE

The Brazilian was a World Cup icon at the age of 17 after playing a vital role in the 1958 World Cup success in Sweden, before winning it twice more in 1962 and 1970. Pele was a tremendous athlete as well as being outrageously skilful and he could score from anywhere - be it a two-yard tap-in or a majestic effort from the halfway line.

CF: GERD MULLER

An international record of 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany is testament to Muller's effectiveness as a goalscorer par excellence. Short of stature, but still a threat in the air, Muller was always in the right place at the right time. His international retirement aged 28 meant he could quite easily have added to his tally of 14 goals in the World Cup finals, split between 1970 and 1974.

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Comments (10)

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Charlo Madrid (Real Madrid fan) says...

one omission am finding difficult to understand....what about ronaldo(brazilian) most goals in the world cup finals and he can't make this 11...you must be joking...i thought it was a team of players that excelled at the world cup.

Posted 13:20 2nd December 2009

Graeme Connor (Everton fan) says...

Would disagree with the Cannavaro shout. I would have Baresi in before him. Although Cannavaro has won a world cup Baresi was a far better defender and footballer and had pace to burn. He also played in an era of unbelivable centre forwards. I would also have Ronaldo (Brazil) in before Muller. Ronaldo was unmarkable in his prime and was lethal in front of goal. Bobby Charlton would also have to be in with a shout fo a midfield place, but would not argue with the choice you hav made. Good debate for the pub though!

Posted 11:44 2nd December 2009

Jase Auluck (Manchester United fan) says...

Errr....Ronaldo? The Brazilian one? R9? Highest scorer ever in World Cup? There is no World Cup quite without him. Along with Zidane, the greatest player to have graced the modern game. Outrageous ability, unbelievable goal-scoring record, and an idol to football fans across the world! True legend.

Posted 11:15 2nd December 2009

Paul Pringle (Newcastle United fan) says...

This team would be argubly the greatest World Cup team ever assembled even though there are some fantastic players missing Charlton, Hurst, Platini, Baresi, Baggio, Ronaldo (Brazilian) Rivaldo, Ronaldinho etc some of the above names have had both success & failure at the World Cup but as people will agree or disagree about this great sport, I certainly wouldn't mind watching that team destroy others.

Posted 08:55 2nd December 2009

Frida Coron (Arsenal fan) says...

good 11 players!!!

Posted 03:29 2nd December 2009

Kevin White (Manchester United fan) says...

how can the top world cup scorer of all time be left out??? ronaldo should be in this lineup!

Posted 02:06 2nd December 2009

Dean Corrigan (Manchester United fan) says...

No Ronaldo? He is the world cup all-time top goalscorer

Posted 23:50 1st December 2009

Alan Firkins (Manchester City fan) says...

No Bobby Charlton? Impossible. He's the greatest-ever English footballer, and not only one of the main reasons we won in '66 - he was still an integral part of a very fine side that lost out in 1970. Any representative World Cup all-time XI would have to include Robert Charlton. A true great.

Posted 23:23 1st December 2009

Chris Meadows (Manchester United fan) says...

Swap Cannavaro for Baresi. Cannavaro, decent player and had a good final but Baresi did it for 15 years, not one year. "Ball, yes. Player, yes. Ball and player, no" Franco Baresi regarding what gets past him. Legend.

Posted 19:26 1st December 2009

Paul Gilheany (Chelsea fan) says...

No room for Ronaldo..... a world cup great!!!

Posted 16:05 1st December 2009
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