Ronaldo, Messi lead World Team of the Decade
Arch rivals and round leather game super stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi expectedly lead World Team of the decade (2011-2020) just released by International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
Interestingly the English premier league with all its popularity had only one player, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk making the final XI.
Cutting down the world’s best from the last 10 years is a near-impossible task. But Liverpool’s defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk makes the grade alongside Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.Barcelona and Spain star Gerard Pique controversially missed out at centre-back.
Further forward, the likes of Luis Suarez, Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gareth Bale, Sergio Aguero, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are all absent despite some outstanding displays over the past decade.
One other super player that made the squad was Bayern Munich talisman Robert Lewandowski. The polish has done very well for himself clinching various awards in the just ended season.
The midfield is equally competitive. Luka Modric is another player with a Premier League connection, having started the last decade with Tottenham, but he’s there for the Real Madrid form which helped him to a Ballon d’Or in 2018.
Read AlsoRonaldo rejects Saudi Arabian Tourism £5.3m-A-Year deal
The Croatian is joined by two World Cup winners: Andres Iniesta and Toni Kroos. That means no place for Iniesta’s teammate Xavi – although he did turn 31 at the start of the decade, so getting towards the end of his peak years.
At right-back, Philipp Lahm – one of three Germany international – edges out Dani Alves. But Marcelo does make it one Brazilian in the team at left-back, while Manuel Neuer takes the goalkeeper shirt