Ballon d'Or Dream Team

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The Ballon d'Or Dream Team is an all-time all-star team published by France Football on 14 December 2020 after conducting an internet poll of fans to select a football dream team starting from October 2020.[1][2][3] The final team was selected by 140 France Football correspondents around the world.[4][5] A second and a third team were also published.[6][7]

Nominations[]

The nominations were announced from 5 October 2020 through 19 October 2020. The winners were revealed in 14 December 2020 and lined up in a 3–4–3 formation.[8] Brazil was the country with the highest number of nominated players (20 athletes), ahead of Italy (16), Germany (13), Netherlands (12), Spain (8), England and France (7).

Goalkeepers[]

Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or.

The nominations for the goalkeepers were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
England Gordon Banks 1955–1978 England Leicester City (356) 7th in 1972
Italy Gianluigi Buffon 1995–present Italy Juventus (674) 2nd in 2006
Spain Iker Casillas 1999–2019 Spain Real Madrid (725) 4th in 2008
Germany Sepp Maier 1962–1979 Germany Bayern Munich (651) 5th in 1975
Germany Manuel Neuer 2005–present Germany Bayern Munich (403) 3rd in 2014
Cameroon Thomas N'Kono 1974–1997 Spain Espanyol (234) Not eligible[note 1]
Denmark Peter Schmeichel 1981–2003 England Manchester United (398) 5th in 1992
Netherlands Edwin van der Sar 1991–2011 Netherlands Ajax (312) 24th in 2008
Soviet Union Lev Yashin 1950–1970 Soviet Union Dynamo Moscow (326) Winner in 1963
Italy Dino Zoff 1961–1983 Italy Juventus (479) 2nd in 1973

Right-backs[]

Cafu, the only footballer to have appeared in three consecutive FIFA World Cup finals.

The nominations for the right-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Italy Giuseppe Bergomi 1980–1999 Italy Inter Milan (757)
Brazil Cafu 1989–2008 Brazil São Paulo (255) 15th in 2002
Brazil Carlos Alberto 1963–1981 Brazil Santos (445) Not eligible[note 1]
Brazil Djalma Santos 1948–1970 Brazil Palmeiras (498) Not eligible[note 1]
Italy Claudio Gentile 1972–1988 Italy Juventus (417)
Germany Manfred Kaltz 1971–1990 Germany Hamburger SV (724)
Germany Philipp Lahm 2002–2017 Germany Bayern Munich (517) 6th in 2014
Netherlands Wim Suurbier 1964–1982 Netherlands Ajax (279)
France Lilian Thuram 1991–2008 Italy Parma (228) 7th in 1998
Germany Berti Vogts 1965–1979 Germany Borussia Mönchengladbach (528) 4th in 1975

Centre-backs[]

The nominations for the centre-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Italy Franco Baresi 1978–1997 Italy Milan (719) 2nd in 1989
Germany Franz Beckenbauer 1964–1983 Germany Bayern Munich (575) Winner in 1972 and 1976
Italy Fabio Cannavaro 1992–2011 Italy Parma (288) Winner in 2006
France Marcel Desailly 1986–2005 England Chelsea (222) 8th in 1996
Netherlands Ronald Koeman 1980–1997 Spain Barcelona (264) 5th in 1988
England Bobby Moore 1958–1978 England West Ham United (647) 2nd in 1970
Argentina Daniel Passarella 1974–1989 Argentina River Plate (291) Not eligible[note 1]
Spain Sergio Ramos 2004–present Spain Real Madrid (660) 6th in 2017
Germany Matthias Sammer 1985–1998 Germany Borussia Dortmund (153) Winner in 1996
Italy Gaetano Scirea 1972–1988 Italy Juventus (554) 12th in 1982

Left-backs[]

The nominations for the left-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Germany Andreas Brehme 1980–1998 Germany 1. FC Kaiserslautern (237) 3rd in 1990
Germany Paul Breitner 1970–1983 Germany Bayern Munich (347) 2nd in 1981
Italy Antonio Cabrini 1975–1991 Italy Juventus (442) 13th in 1978
Italy Giacinto Facchetti 1961–1978 Italy Inter Milan (639) 2nd in 1965
Brazil Júnior 1974–1993 Brazil Flamengo (417) Not eligible[note 1]
Netherlands Ruud Krol 1968–1986 Netherlands Ajax (457) 3rd in 1979
Italy Paolo Maldini 1985–2009 Italy Milan (902) 3rd in 1994 and 2003
Brazil Marcelo 2005–present Spain Real Madrid (514) 16th in 2017
Brazil Nílton Santos 1948–1964 Brazil Botafogo (485) Not eligible[note 1]
Brazil Roberto Carlos 1991–2015 Spain Real Madrid (527) 2nd in 2002

Defensive midfielders[]

The nominations for the defensive midfielders were announced on 12 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Hungary József Bozsik 1943–1962 Hungary Budapest Honvéd (447) 6th in 1956
Spain Sergio Busquets 2007–present Spain Barcelona (591) 20th in 2012
Brazil Didi 1946–1967 Brazil Fluminense (150) Not eligible[note 1]
Brazil Paulo Roberto Falcão 1973–1986 Brazil Internacional (157) Not eligible[note 1]
England Steven Gerrard 1998–2016 England Liverpool (710) 3rd in 2005
Brazil Gérson 1959–1974 Brazil Botafogo (243) Not eligible[note 1]
Spain Pep Guardiola 1988–2006 Spain Barcelona (382) 24th in 1994
Czech Republic Josef Masopust 1950–1970 Czech Republic Dukla Prague (430) Winner in 1962
Germany Lothar Matthäus 1979–2000 Germany Bayern Munchen (406) Winner in 1990
Netherlands Johan Neeskens 1968–1991 Spain Barcelona (181) 5th in 1974
Italy Andrea Pirlo 1995–2017 Italy Milan (401) 5th in 2007
Argentina Fernando Redondo 1985–2004 Spain Real Madrid (228) 18th in 2000
Netherlands Frank Rijkaard 1980–1995 Netherlands Ajax (336) 3rd in 1988 and 1989
Germany Bernd Schuster 1978–1997 Spain Barcelona (238) 2nd in 1980
Netherlands Clarence Seedorf 1992–2014 Italy Milan (432) 17th in 1997
Spain Luis Suárez 1951–1973 Italy Inter Milan (333) Winner in 1960
Italy Marco Tardelli 1972–1988 Italy Juventus (379) 15th in 1982
France Jean Tigana 1975–1991 France Bordeaux (371) 2nd in 1984
Spain Xabi Alonso 2000–2017 Spain Real Madrid (236) 10th in 2010
Spain Xavi 1997–2019 Spain Barcelona (767) 3rd in 2009, 2010 and 2011

Attacking midfielders[]

The nominations for the attacking midfielders were announced on 12 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Italy Roberto Baggio 1983–2004 Italy Juventus (200) Winner in 1993
England Bobby Charlton 1956–1976 England Manchester United (758) Winner in 1966
Argentina Alfredo Di Stéfano 1945–1966 Spain Real Madrid (396) Winner in 1957 and 1959
Uruguay Enzo Francescoli 1980–1997 Argentina River Plate (233) Not eligible[note 1]
Netherlands Ruud Gullit 1979–1998 Italy Milan (171) Winner in 1987
Romania Gheorghe Hagi 1982–2001 Turkey Galatasaray (192) 4th in 1994
Spain Andrés Iniesta 2002–present Spain Barcelona (674) 2nd in 2010
France Raymond Kopa 1949–1968 France Reims (463) Winner in 1958
Hungary László Kubala 1945–1967 Spain Barcelona (256) 5th in 1957
Argentina Diego Maradona 1976–1997 Italy Napoli (259) Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 1995
Italy Sandro Mazzola 1961–1977 Italy Inter Milan (570) 2nd in 1971
Brazil Pelé 1957–1977 Brazil Santos (656) Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 2013
France Michel Platini 1973–1987 Italy Juventus (224) Winner in 1983, 1984 and 1985
Hungary Ferenc Puskás 1943–1966 Hungary Budapest Honvéd (358) 2nd in 1960
Italy Gianni Rivera 1959–1979 Italy Milan (658) Winner in 1969
Uruguay Juan Alberto Schiaffino 1945–1962 Uruguay Peñarol (227) Not eligible[note 1]
Brazil Sócrates 1974–1989 Brazil Corinthians (269) Not eligible[note 1]
Italy Francesco Totti 1993–2017 Italy Roma (786) 5th in 2001
Brazil Zico 1971–1994 Brazil Flamengo (505) Not eligible[note 1]
France Zinedine Zidane 1989–2006 Spain Real Madrid (231) Winner in 1998

Right wingers[]

The nominations for the right wingers were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
England David Beckham 1992–2013 England Manchester United (394) 2nd in 1999
Northern Ireland George Best 1963–1984 England Manchester United (473) Winner in 1968
Cameroon Samuel Eto'o 1997–2019 Spain Barcelona (199) 5th in 2009
Portugal Luís Figo 1990–2009 Spain Barcelona (249) Winner in 2000
Brazil Garrincha 1953–1972 Brazil Botafogo (325) Not eligible[note 1]
Brazil Jairzinho 1962–1983 Brazil Botafogo (413) Not eligible[note 1]
England Kevin Keegan 1968–1984 England Liverpool (321) Winner in 1978 and 1979
England Stanley Matthews 1932–1965 England Blackpool (428) Winner in 1956
Argentina Lionel Messi 2003–present Spain Barcelona (743) Winner in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019
Netherlands Arjen Robben 2000–2021 Germany Bayern Munich (309) 4th in 2014

Centre-forwards[]

The nominations for the centre-forwards were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Netherlands Dennis Bergkamp 1986–2006 England Arsenal (423) 2nd in 1993
Netherlands Johan Cruyff 1964–1984 Netherlands Ajax (367) Winner in 1971, 1973 and 1974
Scotland Kenny Dalglish 1969–1990 England Liverpool (502) 2nd in 1983
Portugal Eusébio 1957–1978 Portugal Benfica (440) Winner in 1965
Hungary Sándor Kocsis 1946–1966 Spain Barcelona (265) 8th in 1956
Germany Gerd Müller 1963–1982 Germany Bayern Munich (612) Winner in 1970
Brazil Romário 1985–2009 Brazil Vasco da Gama (350) Not eligible[note 1]
Brazil Ronaldo 1993–2011 Spain Real Madrid (177) Winner in 1997 and 2002
Netherlands Marco van Basten 1981–1995 Italy Milan (201) Winner in 1988, 1989 and 1992
Liberia George Weah 1987–2001 Italy Milan (147) Winner in 1995

Left wingers[]

The nominations for the left wingers were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Soviet Union Oleg Blokhin 1969–1990 Soviet Union Dynamo Kyiv (585) Winner in 1975
Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo 2002–present Spain Real Madrid (438) Winner in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dragan Džajić 1962–1978 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Red Star Belgrade (615) 3rd in 1968
Wales Ryan Giggs 1991–2014 England Manchester United (963) 9th in 1993
France Thierry Henry 1994–2014 England Arsenal (377) 2nd 2003
Brazil Rivaldo 1989–2015 Spain Barcelona (235) Winner in 1999
Brazil Rivellino 1965–1981 Brazil Corinthians (474) Not eligible[note 1]
Brazil Ronaldinho 1998–2015 Spain Barcelona (207) Winner in 2005
Germany Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1974–1989 Germany Bayern Munich (422) Winner in 1980 and 1981
Bulgaria Hristo Stoichkov 1982–2003 Spain Barcelona (267) Winner in 1994

Selected teams[]

First Team[]

First Team[6]
Playing position Nationality Player
Goalkeeper  Soviet Union Lev Yashin
Right-back  Brazil Cafu
Centre-back  Germany Franz Beckenbauer
Left-back  Italy Paolo Maldini
Defensive midfielder  Spain Xavi
Defensive midfielder  Germany Lothar Matthäus
Attacking midfielder  Argentina Diego Maradona
Attacking midfielder  Brazil Pelé
Right winger  Argentina Lionel Messi
Centre-forward  Brazil Ronaldo
Left winger  Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo

Second Team[]

Second Team[7]
Playing position Nationality Player
Goalkeeper  Italy Gianluigi Buffon
Right-back  Brazil Carlos Alberto
Centre-back  Italy Franco Baresi
Left-back  Brazil Roberto Carlos
Defensive midfielder  Italy Andrea Pirlo
Defensive midfielder  Netherlands Frank Rijkaard
Attacking midfielder  Argentina Alfredo Di Stéfano
Attacking midfielder  France Zinedine Zidane
Right winger  Brazil Garrincha
Centre-forward  Netherlands Johan Cruyff
Left winger  Brazil Ronaldinho

Soccer Field Transparant.svg

Buffon
Pirlo
Zidane
Cruyff
Ronaldinho

Third Team[]

Third Team[7]
Playing position Nationality Player
Goalkeeper  Germany Manuel Neuer
Right-back  Germany Philipp Lahm
Centre-back  Spain Sergio Ramos
Left-back  Germany Paul Breitner
Defensive midfielder  Netherlands Johan Neeskens
Defensive midfielder  Brazil Didi
Attacking midfielder  France Michel Platini
Attacking midfielder  Spain Andrés Iniesta
Right winger  Northern Ireland George Best
Centre-forward  Netherlands Marco van Basten
Left winger  France Thierry Henry

Notes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Up until 1995, the Ballon d'Or was only awarded to European players.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : La piste aux étoiles de FF". France Football (in French). 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. ^ "France Football presents the Ballon d'Or Dream Team". Marca. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : la liste de tous les nommés pour ce onze de légende". France Football (in French). 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Messi, Ronaldo, Beckham, Ronaldinho up for Dream Team place". Diario AS. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  5. ^ Crépin, Timothé (14 December 2020). "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : Découvrez les révélations de ce onze de légende !". France Football (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ballon d'Or Dream Team: Xavi alongside Messi and Cristiano". Marca. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c "The other two Ballon d'Or Dream Team XIs: Zidane, Cruyff, Iniesta, Di Stefano... but no Casillas". Marca. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Riaz, Adnan (22 October 2020). "Full List Of 110 Nominees For France Football's 'Ballon d'Or Dream Team' Have Been Revealed". SPORTbible. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
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