Former Barcelona star Eric Abidal has picked his all-time best XI, with a number of his former team-mates for Barcelona and France, but with some surprise snubs too…
SEE ALSO:
Manchester United transfer news: £35m La Liga star reveals he wants Old Trafford move
Top 10 summer transfer targets from outside Europe’s top 5 leagues, including Arsenal target Martinez & Liverpool-bound Gaitan
Barcelona transfer news
GK: Victor Valdes
An all-time goalkeeping great at Barcelona, Victor Valdes is now with Manchester United and has enjoyed a great career laden with trophies.
DR: Dani Alves
Another of Abidal’s old Barca team-mates, Dani Alves is undoubtedly one of the finest right-backs of the modern era.
DL: Patrice Evra
A Manchester United great and legend for the French national team, Patrice Evra is another superb former team-mate of Abidal’s to make this lineup.
DC: Lilian Thuram
One of the best defenders in the modern era, Lilian Thuram is another France legend and deserves his place in Abidal’s dream lineup.
DC: Carles Puyol
Alongside Thuram, Carles Puyol is another big name from Barcelona’s glorious history to make it into this superbly strong looking squad.
MC: Claude Makelele
An underrated star at Real Madrid and Chelsea, Claude Makelele is another Frenchman included in the lineup, ahead of Nou Camp legend Xavi.
MC: Patrick Vieira
An Arsenal and France legend, Patrick Vieira is another of the finest midfielders to play the game, though he is controversially in ahead of the likes of Xavi and Iniesta.
AMR: Lionel Messi
In attack, Barcelona star Lionel Messi is an easy choice on the right-hand side after establishing himself as one of the best footballers of all time.
AML: Franck Ribery
On the left, it’s Bayern Munich and France star Franck Ribery, who has enjoyed some tremendous form, particularly in recent seasons.
AMC: Zinedine Zidane
One of the finest footballers France has produced, Zinedine Zidane gets the nod in the attacking midfield role over Barca legend Ronaldinho.
FC: Karim Benzema
One of the more surprising choices, Karim Benzema is in ahead of former Barcelona stars Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o, though he is another of the finest strikers in recent history.
List via Purely Football.