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The ultimate fantasy soccer (football/futbol) team: All time

By July 20, 200922 Comments3 min read

So @Bacariza and I have many times discussed who the greatest players of all time are, but each time it ends up being a bunch of forwards or offensive players, no love is given to the rest of the team. With that in mind, we compiled our list of the ultimate fantasy TEAM that we think would destroy any other team.  Country affiliations didn’t matter, personal attitudes of the players were ignored, just sheer skill and on field talent.

This list took a while to compile, so we ended up making 3 lineups: all time (last 100 years basically), last 20 years, and current active players.

The first is the all time list.

  • Alfredo di Stéfano            Forward
  • Ferenc Puskás             Forward
  • Pele            Forward
  • Zinedine Zidane            Right wing
  • Lothar Matthäus            Defensive Midfielder
  • Johan Cruyff            Left wing
  • Franco Baresi            Center back
  • Franz Beckenbauer            Center back
  • Paolo Maldini            rightback
  • Roberto Carlos            Left back
  • Lev Yashin            Goalie

You might be wondering why we picked these players, so here is a player by player breakdown.

Alfredo Di StefanoForwardArgentina
Why:
Scored 377 goals in 521 games and won 5 champions league titles in a row.
Ferenc PuskásForwardHungary
Why:
Scored 509 goals in 523 games. World Soccer Player and European Player of the Year: 1953

PeléForwardBrazil
Why:
Scored 643 goals 656 official games. FIFA Player of the Century : 2000. 3 World cup titles.

Zinedine ZidaneRight WingFrance
Why:
FIFA World Player of the Year – 1998, 2000, 2003. World cup title in 1998 & UEFA Euro 2000
Lothar MatthäusDefensive MidfielderGermany
Why:
FIFA World Player of the Year: 1991. 595 career games played in 5 world cups. 1990 World Cup Champion

Johan CruyffLeft WingNetherlands
Why:
European Footballer of the Year: 1971, 1973, 1974 voted European Player of the Century

Franco BaresiCenter BackItaly
Why:
Played 532 games with AC Milan. Named Italian League Player of the Year. Named in FIFA 100. 1982 World Cup.
Franz BeckenbauerCenter BackGermany
Why:
Twice selected the European Footballer of the Year, voted second place in the European player of the Century. 1974 World Cup champ.
Paolo MaldiniRight BackItaly
Why:
25 years at AC Milan 126 caps 8 years as captain. Played 647 Games for Milan.
Roberto CarlosLeft BackBrazil
Why:
UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2003. Three UEFA Champions League trophies . 2002 World Cup Champ.

Lev YashinGoalieRussia
Why:
He was voted the best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS 480 career clean sheets. Only goalkeeper ever to win the European Footballer of the Year Award (1963)

Who do you think we missed? Who do you think should have been on here instead? Feel free to suggest someone but make sure you tell us what position they would be slotted into/who they would replace. Later this week we’ll publish the current/active player fantasy team, and the last 20 years team.

See @enzobalc‘s response here

22 Comments

  • Nina says:

    Messi! He just turned 21.

    Also: Lionel Messi won the World Soccer Young Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2007, Runner-up in World Soccer Player of the Year award in 2007, Third place in European Footballer of the Year in 2007 and runner-up in FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007.
    Playing with Barcelona the team won the 2004-2005, 2005-2006 spanish primera liga(La Liga) title and 2005-2006 UEFA Champions League Trophy.

  • Nina says:

    Messi! He just turned 21.

    Also: Lionel Messi won the World Soccer Young Player of the Year award in 2006 and 2007, Runner-up in World Soccer Player of the Year award in 2007, Third place in European Footballer of the Year in 2007 and runner-up in FIFA World Player of the Year in 2007.
    Playing with Barcelona the team won the 2004-2005, 2005-2006 spanish primera liga(La Liga) title and 2005-2006 UEFA Champions League Trophy.

  • Nina, Messi is on my list of greatest current players. coming on thursday.
    He hasn’t yet accomplished enough to be all time greatest.

  • Nina, Messi is on my list of greatest current players. coming on thursday.
    He hasn’t yet accomplished enough to be all time greatest.

  • Anonymous says:

    Amazing list! They should add this team to the next FIFA game

  • Willie says:

    Amazing list! They should add this team to the next FIFA game

  • Manny says:

    What a great list, I am happy to see 2 of my favorites and none of the ones that even that were good players, do not deserve to be recognized due to “personal” qualifications..

    I would include Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta as Goalie, 126 international games, took 100 goals in his carrer , played 4 world cups.
    México 1986
    Italia 1990
    USA 1994
    Francia 1998.

    Thanks for jogging my memory ..

  • Manny says:

    What a great list, I am happy to see 2 of my favorites and none of the ones that even that were good players, do not deserve to be recognized due to “personal” qualifications..

    I would include Andoni Zubizarreta Urreta as Goalie, 126 international games, took 100 goals in his carrer , played 4 world cups.
    México 1986
    Italia 1990
    USA 1994
    Francia 1998.

    Thanks for jogging my memory ..

  • César says:

    I think M. Laudrup deserves a spot here, instead of who?… I wouldn’t dare to say.

  • César says:

    I think M. Laudrup deserves a spot here, instead of who?… I wouldn’t dare to say.

  • Filipe says:

    Where are Garrincha, Maradona , Romário and Ronaldo ??????????????????

  • Filipe says:

    Where are Garrincha, Maradona , Romário and Ronaldo ??????????????????

  • Filipe, this list is per position, a lineup. if it were greatest of all time, and we could add more forwards, then sure. Maradona I refuse to put on this list. He was only good at using cocaine and wasting his natural god given talent.

  • Filipe, this list is per position, a lineup. if it were greatest of all time, and we could add more forwards, then sure. Maradona I refuse to put on this list. He was only good at using cocaine and wasting his natural god given talent.

  • Jack says:

    Great list, very informed. But if pure talent, drive and accomplishments on the field are the measure then Diego Maradona must be on the list and either the great DiStefano or Puskas must be set aside.

  • Jack says:

    Great list, very informed. But if pure talent, drive and accomplishments on the field are the measure then Diego Maradona must be on the list and either the great DiStefano or Puskas must be set aside.

  • dsgfsg says:

    ronaldo(brazilian)

  • dsgfsg says:

    ronaldo(brazilian)

  • Pagliacci says:

    Looks good but bit unbalanced — poor old Lothar might get a bit lonely trying to look after the middle of the park all by himself. How does this grab you?

    9. Puskás.
    11. Maradonna.
    14. Cruyff. 10. Zidane. 8. Pélé. 7. Best.
    5. Makalélé.
    2. Beckenbauer. 3. Moore. 4. Baresi.
    1. Schmeichel.

    Bench:
    16. Di Stefano
    12. Banks
    6. P Maldini
    13. Keane

  • Pagliacci says:

    Looks good but bit unbalanced — poor old Lothar might get a bit lonely trying to look after the middle of the park all by himself. How does this grab you?

    9. Puskás.
    11. Maradonna.
    14. Cruyff. 10. Zidane. 8. Pélé. 7. Best.
    5. Makalélé.
    2. Beckenbauer. 3. Moore. 4. Baresi.
    1. Schmeichel.

    Bench:
    16. Di Stefano
    12. Banks
    6. P Maldini
    13. Keane

  • julian könig says:

    Arthur Friedenreich ????? He is the best ever!!!!

  • Ste says:

    On what universe is zidane better than maradona! U also missed bobby moore, george best, weah, garrincha, carlos alberto, eusebio, its clear that u have gaps in ur knowledge pal!!!!!!!! Also not sure what that maradona comment was about get off your high horse lad and what about heskey??????