UEFA are about to announce their Team of the Year shortlist for 2015, but ahead of that they have decided to pick an all-time XI.
It's based on every single Team of the Year selection to date, starting with the first Team of the Year back in 2001 - that explains why there’s no Pele or Maradona.
It’s hard to find fault with a team that has a front three of Messi, Ronaldo and Henry, with Steven Gerrard alongside Xavi and Iniesta in midfield and Iker Casillas behind a back four of Philipp Lahm, Carles Puyol, Alessandro Nesta and Sergio Ramos.
That said, the omission of the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho (who are only on the bench) will raise an eyebrow or two, while we’re sure Zlatan himself would be disgusted at the prospect of warming the pine alongside them, even in a squad as talented as this one.
Of the starting XI, Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way in terms of Team of the Year appearances to date with nine, ahead of Casillas, Puyol and Messi on six apiece.
If Ronaldo and Messi don’t increase that figure to ten and seven respectively tomorrow, then it would be a massive, massive surprise.
Anyone unlucky not to make the cut?
UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year: The all-time XI
Iker Casillas (Selected in Uefa's Team of the Year six times - 2007, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12)
Carles Puyol – 6 (2002, 05, 06, 08, 09, 10)
Philipp Lahm – 5 (2006, 08, 12, 13, 14)
Sergio Ramos – 4 (2008, 12, 13, 14)
Alessandro Nesta – 4 (2002, 03, 04, 07)
Xavi Hernández – 5 (2008, 09, 10, 11, 12)
Andrés Iniesta – 4 (2009, 10, 11, 12)
Steven Gerrard – 3 (2005, 06, 07)
Cristiano Ronaldo – 9 (2004, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
Lionel Messi – 6 (2008, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14)
Thierry Henry – 5 (2001, 02, 03, 04, 06)
Subs:
Gianluigi Buffon – 3 (2003, 04, 06)
John Terry – 4 (2005, 07, 08, 09)
Kaká – 3 (2006, 07, 09)
Zinédine Zidane – 3 (2001, 02, 03)
Pavel Nedvěd – 3 (2003, 04, 05)
Ronaldinho – 3 (2004, 05, 06)
Zlatan Ibrahimović – 4 (2007, 09, 13, 14)
