In the absence of a Ballon d’Or this year, France Football has decided to elect its ultimate team, the best eleven of all time. A very offensive formation arranged in 3-4-3 which obviously gives pride of place to the Ballon d’Or. But five men present in the selection have never won the most prestigious individual award: Pelé and Diego Maradona, and for good reason since they have never been eligible, and Xavi, the extraordinary midfielder of FC Barcelona forced to pick up the crumbs in the shadow of teammate Lionel Messi, Paolo Maldini and Cafu, whose defender status doesn’t help shine in individual accolades.
The six-time Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi, is of course in an attack where he rubs shoulders with his double Cristiano Ronaldo and, in tip, the other Ronaldo, the Brazilian, world champion 1994 and 2002 with Brazil. In the middle of the field, Xavi is flanked by Lothar Matthäus, brilliant handyman of Inter, Bayern and Germany’s 1990 world champion after two unfortunate finals (1882, 1986). His compatriot Franz Beckenbauer leads the defense from the top of his two Ballon d’Ors (1972 and 1976). With the goal, the spider Lev Yachine the only porter to have succeeded where Oliver Kahn, Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casillas or Manuel Neuer failed: to win the precious award in 1963.
If the team has allure, it leaves some prestigious names on the floor, starting with the French. From the triple Ballon d’Or Michel Platini to Zinédine Zidane, via Raymond Kopa or Thierry Henry, they did not manage to gather enough votes. Just like Marco Van Basten or Johann Cruyff (holders of three Ballon d’Or) who suffered the dense competition for their position.
