Greatest Football XI of All Time

The only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or. Yashin revolutionised the position. Before him, keepers stood on their line. He came out, organised, and commanded. Over 150 penalty saves in a career that spanned four decades.

Captain of the greatest World Cup side ever assembled, the 1970 Brazil team. His thundering finish to cap the 4-1 final win over Italy is still considered the greatest goal in World Cup history. A full-back who played like a forward.

Won the World Cup as both player (1974) and manager (1990). The Der Kaiser invented the attacking sweeper, a libero who could carry the ball through midfield at a time when defenders were not supposed to leave their defensive line.

The most technically complete defender football has ever produced. 25 seasons at AC Milan, 7 Serie A titles, 5 Champions Leagues. He almost never fouled. He simply read the game better than any attacker could exploit.

The free kick against France in 1997 defied physics and became the most replicated set-piece in football history. The most attack-minded full-back ever, but he could defend too, which the highlight reels understate.

There have been many deep-lying playmakers. None controlled a match tempo like Pirlo. He could see a pass ten seconds before it needed to be played, and his range, from 60-yard switches to incisive through balls, was unmatched in his position.

Survived the Munich air disaster in 1958 to become the heartbeat of Manchester United's European Cup side and England's 1966 World Cup winners. A thunderous long-range shot, exceptional range of passing, and relentless engine. A complete midfielder 60 years before the term existed.

Joint-highest rated player in the entire database. The Hand of God and the Goal of the Century happened in the same match, in the same World Cup quarter-final: one moment of genius, one of controversy, both cementing his legend in a single afternoon. He took Napoli to two Serie A titles. He dragged Argentina to a World Cup. He did it all with the same ball, in the same stadium, against the same opponents.

175 Premier League goals. 51 Champions League appearances. World Cup winner in 1998, European champion in 2000. Henry combined genuine pace with a clinical left foot that felt unfair to every right-footed defender who tried to show him onto it. The complete wide attacker.

Joint-highest rated player in the database. The case for him as the greatest is straightforward: three World Cup winners medals (1958, 1962, 1970), approximately 1,000 career goals, and the 1970 Brazil side built around him is still considered the finest international team ever assembled. He was 17 years old when he scored in his first World Cup final.

The only player in history never to lose a World Cup match. Born with a spine curved to the right and legs of different lengths, he became the most terrifying dribbler football has ever seen. Two World Cup medals, and the undisputed greatest right winger in the game's history.