Picking an ultimate team from FIFA’s Ballon d’Or candidates…
FIFA’s recently announced their list of 23 contenders for this year’s Ballon d’Or award honouring the world’s top player. Among them are Cristiano Ronaldo and four-time winner Lionel Messi.
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The list was compiled by the FIFA Football Committee with the help of French magazine France Football. It will be trimmed to a shortlist of three on Dec. 1, with the winner announced at a ceremony in Zurich on Jan 12, 2015.
Taken as a whole, the list comprises one of the most mouth-watering pools of football talent the world has ever seen, making it almost impossible to pick a team using just those players.
But that is what CaughtOffside has attempted to do, and here is how Ballon d’Or United would line-up:
GK) Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich)
The World Cup winning sweeper keeper has established himself as one of the best men between the sticks of all time.
RWB) Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Another World Cup winner, Lahm has the versatility to play in a holding midfield role, but returns to his more familiar home of right back in this team.
LWB) Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid)
Due to a lack of defenders up for the award, another player we’re moving to their former position is the Madrid winger, who started his career as a left back with Southampton and Tottenham.
CB) Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid)
The only out and out defender on the list, his goal was crucial as Real Madrid came from behind to win their tenth Champions League crown last season.
CB) Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona)
The Argentine hard man was his country’s stand out player in the latter stages of the World Cup, and has plenty of experience playing at the back for Barcelona.
CM) Paul Pogba (France, Juventus)
The former Manchester United youth team graduate has recently established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the world, and will bring some much needed youthful exuberance to this team.
CM) Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona)
Partnering Pogba is the vastly experience Spanish international, who has enjoyed incredible levels of success with both club and country over the last decade.
RW) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid)
The returning World Player of the Year has been in unstoppable form so far this season, also scoring 20 times in all competitions, and is the clear choice to retain his award.
LW) Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea)
The Belgian winger may have had a disappointing World Cup, but the playmaker has had another great year at Chelsea as he continues to stand out in the Premier League.
ST) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain)
The big Swede edges out the likes of Karim Benzema and Diego Costa for the central striking role. There is still few more clinical than the popular Zlatan.
Manager: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)
The Chelsea boss may not have won a trophy since his return to Stamford Bridge, but his influence is all too clear to see, as within the space of year he has transformed them into near certain trophy winners for 2015.
Subs: Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Costa (Spain, Chelsea), Courtois (Belgium, Chelsea), Di Maria (Argentina, Manchester United), Gotze (Germany, Bayern Munich), Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid), Muller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona), Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich), James Rodriguez (Colombia, Real Madrid), Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City).
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