In the near future, this website will add a page dedicated to lists and formations of the greatest players of all time. And to get a taste of what’s to come, what better way to celebrate 11-11-11 than by making a line-up of the best 11 of all time?
The challenge with ‘best ever’ formations is selecting the best players without creating a ridiculous team that has 11 strikers or playmakers. The objective is to make a line-up that can actually work.
That means making hard choices. You can’t have Zidane, Cruyff, Maradona, Platini, Zico and Di Stefano all in one team. Only retired players are included, so that, at least, saves me a head ache over Messi’s position.
So who made the cut?
The formation chosen is a traditional 3-4-3 with a diamond on midfield. Why? Because it’s the most attractive formation possible that still works – as Barcelona have recently demonstrated. It sacrifices two side backs, which historically have not been the greatest players, for a classy libero and an extra creative midfielder. It also means the width has to come from two dedicated wingers, which are some of the most interesting and dangerous players football has to offer.
So here’s the team.
The first positions I filled were the two wingers. There can be little debate about this one: Garrincha and George Best are the two greatest. Both may have drunk themselves to death, but in their peak form there were no better dribblers than these two. Matthews, Rensenbrink, Jairzinho and Gento were brilliant wingers as well, but couldn’t quite toy with defenders like Best and Garrincha could. Modern football is all about an organized defense, but there is no tactical system that can withstand wingers who just dribble past 3 defenders.
Having two wingers means only one striker. Pelé. Next. Midfield is more complicated. Zico, Platini and Zidane were all fabulous players, but just a notch behind Cruyff, Maradona and Di Stefano, all three of which are main stays in any list of the top 5 greatest players ever.
What’s great about Cruyff and Di Stefano is that, although they played as strikers on paper, in reality they were more like midfielders, wandering the field at will, working for the team, and creating play from any position. They’d often organize the defense first before heading forward to score goals. Their defensive discipline means there’s no need for more defensive reinforcement beyond Beckenbauer. His longevity, leadership and immense trophy haul puts him above Rijkaard.
In defense, Baresi gets a free pass as the greatest Libero of all time. The Milan-legend is flanked by two man-marking defenders: Paulo Maldini and Bobby Moore. In the unlikely case that they slip up, the legendary Yashin will defend the goal.
And that concludes the greatest team possible. Do you disagree? Feel free to post your own formation.
#1 by fabfour on November 11, 2011 - 22:15
I’d put Zidane in there. No doubt. Di Stefano was great, but his skill on the ball doesn’t compare to Zizou’s.
#2 by fabfour on November 11, 2011 - 22:29
Here’s my team: 4-2-3-1 with attacking wingbacks.
Maradona and Cruyff were great dribblers so they could play on the wing too. That opens up space for Zidane and Zico.
————Pele————
Cruyf——-Zico——-Maradona
——Zidane—-Di Stefano—
———–Rijkaard——-
Breitner—B’bauer–Baresi—Cafu
———–Yashin———
#3 by pank on November 29, 2011 - 12:54
Zidane deserve a place.
#4 by no on December 9, 2011 - 08:37
where is r9?
#5 by Tiziano on December 21, 2011 - 23:57
Honestly Best should not be in the best 11 eleven ever. Fair enought, he was a technically gifted players, but he had a very short peak. My suggestions: Pele wasn’t a pure striker (but a second striker), so i’d rather replace pele with best (not as a winger obviously) and then put a pure striker in the box (puskas, muller, van basten, ronaldo, etc, the choice is yours) ;) My two cents ;)
#6 by Franco on December 23, 2011 - 03:26
I could never leave van basten out of any team
#7 by Franco on December 23, 2011 - 12:46
I have a rule that i wont put in players that there is not good enough footage of so there will be no Yashin, DiStefano, Puskas etc, here is my team….
—————Pele——–Van Basten————-
——————-Maradona———————
—Cruyff——————————-Matthaus–
——————Beckenbauer——————–
Maldini————————————-Thuram
—————-Baresi——Kohler—————–
_________________________Zoff___________________________
#8 by Franco on December 23, 2011 - 12:49
#9 by Franco on December 23, 2011 - 13:53
I would always have the 4-4-2 formation because I believe balance in a team is essential & this formation is a good balance between defense & attack, I had to leave out some of my favourite players in order to keep a better balance…..
Zoff just edges Schmeichel for me but there is no wrong answer here…..
Maldini is undisputed in his position….
Thuram makes this only for the fact Celtic & Scotland star Danny McGrain never did it at the same level as Thuram for as long, I have no doubt he was as good if not better than Thuram…..
Baresi keeps out Sammer, he was just a bit better at everything but Sammer was great & 1 of my favourites….
Kohler keeps our Moore purely on the basis that I think Moore & Baresi are too similar & Kohler compliments Baresi better…..
Beckenbauer is too good to play at the back IMO, Id always have him as a defensive mid & in this case he keeps out the excellent Frank Rijkaard…..
Zidane is my favourite (& I believe the best) player in the last 15 years, a magnificent player that I hated leaving out but he is not as good or complete as Cruyff, thats all thats to be said here….
Platini was also one of my favourites but again, Maradona was just better, like ZZ, Platini was unlucky to come up against a top 3-4 all time player…..
Best was better than Matthaus but not defensively & balance is the most important factor for me so Best needs to settle for the reserves here, I hated leaving Best out but have little doubt Lothar would be better for this particular team…..
Pele & Van Basten are the 2 most complete & technically gifted strikers to ever play the game IMO, its a partnership that could not fail based on sheer talent alone, guys like Muller & possibly Ronaldo come closest but neither were as good as Pele or Marco……
Cheers !
#10 by Franco on December 23, 2011 - 13:59
delete
#11 by Dagoods on December 30, 2011 - 18:51
———————-YASHIN—————-
———-BECKENBAUER——–BARESI———-
C. ALBERTO—————————MALDINI-
—————————-RIJKAARD——–
————-MATTHAUS———————
————————————MARADONA
——-MESSI———————————-
—————————–PELE————-
————–RONALDO————————
#12 by 4Dfoot on January 1, 2012 - 17:55
Some excellent teams. Great effort by Franco. balanced and realistic.
I do think Moore’s defensive ability was good enough to complement Baresi’s style.
#13 by mike heath on January 27, 2012 - 13:37
……………………..Ronaldo(Bra)…………………..
Best…………………Messi……………..Garrincha
………….Cruyff……………..Maradona…………..
……………………Beckenbauer…………………….
…….Maldini……….Baresi……..Moore………….
……………………[Schmeichel]……………………
#14 by Luke on February 3, 2012 - 11:25
I honestly can’t actually disagree with any of these selections (although im on the fence with Best). At the same time, i think its criminal to have an all time team that does not include Messi, Zidane or Ferenc Puskas. The inevitable fact is that 11 places is simply not enough to display footballing talent at its finest. I would be interested however, to see what your reserve squad would look like. Keeping your starting 11, this would be my reserve team:
…………Ronaldo…………Ferenc Puskas…………
………………………Messi…………………………..
………….Zidane……………….Platini…………….
………………………Charlton……………………….
Fanchetti…C. Alberto….Rijkkard…..Djalma Santos
………………………….Zoff……………………………….
Broke my heart a few times with that one as well…
#15 by Luke on February 3, 2012 - 11:30
An afterthought: though your team probably does represent the very best of the game, I’m not sure myself that the formation works. Because they all played at a similarly high level, most people put maradona, di stefano and cruyff in the same squad. They’re too similar to play together in my opinion, and may serve to just cancel each other out. I know its hypothetical, but its something worth noting when putting together these squads
#16 by Blanka797 on February 6, 2012 - 00:50
——- Ronaldo ——–
Cruyff — Pele — Maradona
Di Stefano ——- Zidane
——– Beckenbaur ——–
Maldini — Barisi — Moore
———– Yashin ———
#17 by franco on February 11, 2012 - 22:58
I see a lot of teams with an entire midfield full of attacking players, it wouldn`t work otherwise I would not have left 1 of my all time fav players out of my team, Zinedine Zidane.
#18 by franco on February 11, 2012 - 23:23
As great a striker as Ronaldo was I would never put him ahead of Van Basten, with the exception of running at players with pace I can`t think of anything Ronaldo does better… just my opinion tho… for me Marco was the most complete & technically perfect centre forward in football history, Ronaldo is one of the best too but not as good.
#19 by Mohamed on February 15, 2012 - 10:23
with all respect.. no team can be complete without Zidane
you have to put zizo & build the rest of your team
with magical touch even Maradona or Cruyff or Zico & Platini can’t beat Zidane
#20 by franco on February 26, 2012 - 18:03
Zidane is 1 of my fav players ever, a top 10 all time player, I rank him ahead of Zico & about level with his countryman Platini but I have both Maradona & Cruyff ahead of him… as I said, ZZ narrowly misses my all time team & would be my reserve team 1st pick probably, a truly amazing playmaker, the best player of his own generation IMO but not every generation.
#21 by Mike A on February 26, 2012 - 18:37
………………………Pele………………VanBasten…………………………
…………………………………Messi…………………………………………..
…………Cryuff……………………………………….Maradona…………
……………………Matthaus…………Beckenbauer…………………….
……………Maldini…………………………………….Moore……………
…………………………………..Baresi……………………………………..
………………………………..Schmeichel………………………………..
#22 by Mike A on February 26, 2012 - 18:56
………………………………….Puskas………………..VanBasten………………………………….
……………………………………………………Pele……………………………………………………
……………Cryuff……………………………………………………………………Messi……………
…………………………….Maradona……………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………….Beckenbauer…………………………..
…………………….Maldini………………………………………………..Moore…………………….
………………………………………………….Baresi……………………………………………………
………………………………………………Schmeichel……………………………………………….
#23 by John on February 28, 2012 - 04:14
………………………….YASHIN……………………………………
CAFU………..BARESI………..BECKENBAUER…….KROL…….
…………………………RIJKAARD………………………………….
CRUYFF…………….MARADONA……………ZIDANE………..
…………….RONALDO…………….PELE…………………………..
#24 by Omar Shaman on February 29, 2012 - 21:12
where is BAGGIO
#25 by Mohamed on March 1, 2012 - 21:18
UEFA choose zidane the best player in 50 years ago ( Player of the Century )
that’s mean zizo better than any player in Europe & just for that he deserve to be in the best 11 in history
#26 by sun on March 10, 2012 - 16:18
Plattini………Van Basten……….messi
………………….zidane……………………
……….Cruyff…………..Xavi…………….
……………..Beckenbauer……………….
R.carlos..Maldini..F.cannavaro..Cafu
……………….Schmeichel……………….
#27 by german on March 12, 2012 - 23:42
i’m sorry but you should know Elías Figueroa, one of the best defenders of all time, overtaking even Beckenbauer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El%C3%ADas_Figueroa
#28 by franco on March 13, 2012 - 17:32
Baggio does not deserve a place in an all time world 11 IMO
#29 by franco on March 13, 2012 - 17:40
I really like this team, I was wondering myself how I could put Pele, Cruyff, Maradona, Van Basten & Messi all in the same team while keeping a balance & I think you might have found the formula.
I didnt have the headache as I was only using retired players so I could leave Messi out. I might have another go including Zidane in my team, it kills me leaving him out in preference for a more defensive but inferior player (Matthaus)
#30 by franco on March 13, 2012 - 17:53
Team 2 (retired players only)
………………….Pele…….Van Basten…………..
……………………..Maradona…………………….
……..Zidane…………………………Cruyff……..
…………………..Beckenbauer…………………..
Maldini…………………………………..McGrain
……………….Baresi………Moore………………
…………………..[Schmeichel]…………………..
#31 by cristian on March 15, 2012 - 21:33
ELÍAS FIGUEROA is the best defender
By individual achievement, is the best defender in world football history. Read Elias Figueroa the defensive commander (in FIFA.COM), read Elias Figueroa individual item on Wikipedia, it’s all documented.
Elias Figueroa was the best, was Beckenbauer best defense in the World Cup from 74 according to FIFA.com.
Elias Figueroa 3 times better in South America, Beckenbauer 2 in Europa, Moore, Baresi Passarella 0 times. Before, be the best player in South America was to be the best in the world, Brazilians rarely migrating from the continent.
ELÍAS FIGUEROA!!!!
#32 by cristian on March 15, 2012 - 21:49
——————[--------]——————
——————-L. Yashin——————-
———————————————
————E. Figueroa—–F. Baresi————-
———————————————
—-J. L. Andrade—F Beckenbauer—D. Edwards—–
———————————————
———F. Di Stéfano——-D. Maradona———
———————————————
—J. Kruyff———–Pelé———–F. Puskás—
M. Platiní
Garrincha
Zico
Müller
Zoff
G. Facchetti
#33 by Shaf on March 19, 2012 - 05:52
My all time World XI:
GK Zoff DF Maldini, Bobby Moore, Baresi MF Cruyff, Di Stefano, Zidane, Beckenbauer FW Maradona, Pele, Messi
B-team:
GK Yashin DF: Nilton Santos, Passarella, Santamaria MF: Platini, Lothar Matthaus, Xavi, Zico FW Eusebio, Puskas, Garrincha
#34 by Nes on March 20, 2012 - 00:00
My Rules:
Only retired players and all at their peak.
……………………..Pele(70)…………………….
……..…Cruyff(74)………………..…Maradona(86)……..
…………………..Di Stefano…………………..
…………………Beckenbauer…………..
……………Maldini…..Baresi…..Moore………..
…………………..[Yashin]…………………..
Subs: Schmeichel, Matthaus, Garincha, Zico, Puskas Eusebio
Honourable Mentions: Eusebio, Ronaldo, Baggio, Platini, Didi, Just Fontaine, Best, Zidane, Van Basten. Rijkaard…
Ronaldo 97-98 > Zidane 2000-2001 imo
Pre Injury: 97-98 would definitely put him AT LEAST on subs but after injury he wasn’t the same…
#35 by Nes on March 20, 2012 - 00:05
Oh and I forgot Stanley Mathews… *Facepalm*
#36 by Rustam on March 29, 2012 - 00:00
World’s Best Football Team Ever (1-st team)
Zepp Meier
Carlos Alberto-Franz Beckenbauer-Roberto Carlos
Michael Platini-Zinedine Zidane-Robert Charlton-Johan Cruijff
Garrincha-Pele-Maradona
Coach: Rinus Michaels
World’s Best Football Team Ever (2-nd team)
Lev Yashyn
Berti Vogts-Robert Moore-K.-H. Schnellinger
Roberto Baggio-Ruud Gullit-Tostao-George Best
Marco van Basten-Gerd Muller-Eusebio
Coach: Helmut Shoen
#37 by franco on April 1, 2012 - 15:56
My final team of retired players, no more changes :)
GK – Peter Schmeichel
LB – Paulo Maldini
CB – Bobby Moore
CB – Franco Baresi
RB – Lilian Thuram
LM – Zinedine Zidane
DM – Franz Beckenbauer (c)
RM – Johan Cruijff
AM – Diego Maradona
ST – Pele
ST – Marco van Basten
………………………….Pele……….Van Basten………………
………………………………Maradona…………………………..
……………Zidane………………………………..Cruijff……….
…………………………….Beckenbauer…………………………
Maldini…………………………………………………….Thuram
………………………Moore………….Baresi……………………..
…………………………….[Schmeichel]………………………….
#38 by gullit104 on April 6, 2012 - 17:04
not even mc hammer can touch this. not my personal favourites but created to destroy
van basten
messi pele
maradona
cruyff di stefano
beckenbauer
maldini baresi moore
yashin
#39 by gullit104 on April 6, 2012 - 17:08
……………………van basten…………………….
………messi……………………….pele………….
……………………maradona……………………..
…….cruyff………………………..di stefano…..
………………….beckenbauer……………………
…………………………………………………………
……..maldini………baresi……..moore………..
………………………………………………………….
……………………….yashin………………………..
#40 by gullit104 on April 6, 2012 - 17:14
……………………….pele………….…………….
………mardona……………………….zico…….
……………………..platini………………………..
…….cruyff………………………..di stefano…..
………………….beckenbauer……………………
…………………………………………………………
……..maldini………baresi……..moore………..
………………………………………………………….
……………………….yashin………………………..
that just about looks like the perfect blend
#41 by Israel on May 17, 2012 - 20:31
—————-[--------]————–
—————–L. Yashin—————
—————————————-
————E. Figueroa–F. Baresi———-
————————————–
–J. L. Andrade–F Beckenbauer–D. Edwards–
————————————–
——-F. Di Stéfano—–D. Maradona——
————————————–
—J. Cruyff——–Pelé——-F. Puskás—
M. Platiní
Garrincha
Zico
Müller
Zamora
G. Facchetti
#42 by Israel on May 17, 2012 - 20:33
Elías Figueroa more great defender:
Considered the best footballer in the world the year 76 by IFFHS and FIFA[5] 1976
All-Star Team of 1974 FIFA World Cup[6] Best defense of the tournament[7] 1974
South American Footballer of the Year 1974–1975–1976
Third place South American Footballer of the Year 1977
Best South American defense of the year 1972-1973-1974-1975-1976-1977
Bola de Ouro Brazil’s best player 1972–1976
Bola de Prata 1972- 1974- 1975- 1976
Best player of Uruguay 1967, 1968, 1971
Best foreign player who has played in Brazil and has played in Uruguay 2002 2004
Best footballer of the year in Chile 1981
Best sportsman of the year of Chile 1981
Chilean Footballer of the History of Circle of Sports Journalists of Chile[8] 1999
List FIFA 100 of Pelé 2004
N° 37 The World’s best Player of the Century IFFHS[9] 1999/2000
N° 8 South America best Player of the Century IFFHS[10] 1999/2000
N° 1 Chilean best Player of the Century IFFHS[11] 1999/2000
N° 1 South America best Defender of the Century IFFHS[12] 1999/2000
Placar magazine (Brazil) N 19° in published a list of the best 100 players of all time[13] 1999
Playboy Brazil magazine N 13° in published a list of voted among the best in history[14] 2005
World Soccer magazine; selected in published a list of the best 50 players of all time[15] 2010
Member of American Cup of History Team[16][17][18][19][20] 2011
Member of South American Team of the 20th Century[21] 1999
Member of the Walk of Fame Stadium Maracana[22] 2000
Nominated constantly to Selection of the World and South America from 19 years 1966–1982
Only player alongside Hugo Sánchez that has participated in three World Cups alternately 1966- 1974- 1982
Merit by getting sent off just once in 18 years of professional professional[23] 1966–1982
Sent off field just once in 18-year career[24] 1965–1983
Captained all teams where he played 1966–1982