Ballon d'Or Dream Team

The Ballon d'Or Dream Team is an all-time all-star team published by France Football on 14 December 2020 after conducting an internet poll of fans to select a football dream team starting from October 2020.[1][2][3] The final team was selected by 140 France Football correspondents around the world.[4][5] A second and a third team were also published.[6][7]

Winners and nominees

The nominations were announced from 5 October 2020 through 19 October 2020. The winners were revealed in 14 December 2020 and lined up in a 3–4–3 formation.[8] Brazil was the country with the highest number of nominated players (20 athletes), ahead of Italy (16), Germany (13), Netherlands (12), Spain (8), England and France (7 each).

Goalkeepers
Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or.

The nominations for the goalkeepers were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Gordon Banks 1955–1978 Leicester City (356) 7th in 1972
Gianluigi Buffon 1995–present Juventus (674) 2nd in 2006
Iker Casillas 1999–2019 Real Madrid (725) 4th in 2008
Sepp Maier 1962–1979 Bayern Munich (651) 5th in 1975
Manuel Neuer 2005–present Bayern Munich (403) 3rd in 2014
Thomas N'Kono 1974–1997 Espanyol (234) Not eligible[note 1]
Peter Schmeichel 1981–2003 Manchester United (398) 5th in 1992
Edwin van der Sar 1991–2011 Ajax (312) 24th in 2008
Lev Yashin 1950–1970 Dynamo Moscow (326) Winner in 1963
Dino Zoff 1961–1983 Juventus (479) 2nd in 1973

Right-backs
Cafu, the only footballer to have appeared in three FIFA World Cup finals.

The nominations for the right-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Giuseppe Bergomi 1980–1999 Inter Milan (757) –
Cafu 1989–2008 São Paulo (255) 15th in 2002
Carlos Alberto 1963–1981 Santos (445) Not eligible[note 1]
Djalma Santos 1948–1970 Palmeiras (498) Not eligible[note 1]
Claudio Gentile 1972–1988 Juventus (417) –
Manfred Kaltz 1971–1990 Hamburger SV (724) 4th in 1979
Philipp Lahm 2002–2017 Bayern Munich (517) 6th in 2014
Wim Suurbier 1964–1982 Ajax (279) –
Lilian Thuram 1991–2008 Parma (228) 7th in 1998
Berti Vogts 1965–1979 Borussia Mönchengladbach (528) 4th in 1975

Centre-backs

The nominations for the centre-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Franco Baresi 1978–1997 Milan (719) 2nd in 1989
Franz Beckenbauer 1964–1983 Bayern Munich (575) Winner in 1972 and 1976
Fabio Cannavaro 1992–2011 Parma (288) Winner in 2006
Marcel Desailly 1986–2005 Chelsea (222) 8th in 1996
Ronald Koeman 1980–1997 Barcelona (264) 5th in 1988
Bobby Moore 1958–1978 West Ham United (647) 2nd in 1970
Daniel Passarella 1974–1989 River Plate (291) Not eligible[note 1]
Sergio Ramos 2004–present Real Madrid (660) 6th in 2017
Matthias Sammer 1985–1998 Borussia Dortmund (153) Winner in 1996
Gaetano Scirea 1972–1988 Juventus (554) 12th in 1982

Left-backs

The nominations for the left-backs were announced on 5 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Andreas Brehme 1980–1998 1. FC Kaiserslautern (237) 3rd in 1990
Paul Breitner 1970–1983 Bayern Munich (347) 2nd in 1981
Antonio Cabrini 1975–1991 Juventus (442) 13th in 1978
Giacinto Facchetti 1961–1978 Inter Milan (639) 2nd in 1965
Júnior 1974–1993 Flamengo (417) Not eligible[note 1]
Ruud Krol 1968–1986 Ajax (457) 3rd in 1979
Paolo Maldini 1985–2009 Milan (902) 3rd in 1994 and 2003
Marcelo 2005–present Real Madrid (514) 16th in 2017
Nílton Santos 1948–1964 Botafogo (485) Not eligible[note 1]
Roberto Carlos 1991–2015 Real Madrid (527) 2nd in 2002

Defensive midfielders

The nominations for the defensive midfielders were announced on 12 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
József Bozsik 1943–1962 Budapest Honvéd (447) 6th in 1956
Sergio Busquets 2007–present Barcelona (591) 20th in 2012
Didi 1946–1967 Fluminense (150) Not eligible[note 1]
Paulo Roberto Falcão 1973–1986 Internacional (157) Not eligible[note 1]
Steven Gerrard 1998–2016 Liverpool (710) 3rd in 2005
Gérson 1959–1974 Botafogo (243) Not eligible[note 1]
Pep Guardiola 1988–2006 Barcelona (382) 24th in 1994
Josef Masopust 1950–1970 Dukla Prague (430) Winner in 1962
Lothar Matthäus 1979–2000 Borussia Monchengladbach (200) Winner in 1990
Johan Neeskens 1968–1991 Barcelona (181) 5th in 1974
Andrea Pirlo 1995–2017 Milan (401) 5th in 2007
Fernando Redondo 1985–2004 Real Madrid (228) 18th in 2000
Frank Rijkaard 1980–1995 Ajax (336) 3rd in 1988 and 1989
Bernd Schuster 1978–1997 Barcelona (238) 2nd in 1980
Clarence Seedorf 1992–2014 Milan (432) 17th in 1997
Luis Suárez 1951–1973 Inter Milan (333) Winner in 1960
Marco Tardelli 1972–1988 Juventus (379) 15th in 1982
Jean Tigana 1975–1991 Bordeaux (371) 2nd in 1984
Xabi Alonso 2000–2017 Real Madrid (236) 10th in 2010
Xavi 1997–2019 Barcelona (767) 3rd in 2009, 2010 and 2011

Attacking midfielders

The nominations for the attacking midfielders were announced on 12 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Roberto Baggio 1983–2004 Juventus (200) Winner in 1993
Bobby Charlton 1956–1976 Manchester United (758) Winner in 1966
Alfredo Di Stéfano 1945–1966 Real Madrid (396) Winner in 1957 and 1959
Enzo Francescoli 1980–1997 River Plate (233) Not eligible[note 1]
Ruud Gullit 1979–1998 Milan (171) Winner in 1987
Gheorghe Hagi 1982–2001 Galatasaray (192) 4th in 1994
Andrés Iniesta 2002–present Barcelona (674) 2nd in 2010
Raymond Kopa 1949–1968 Reims (463) Winner in 1958
László Kubala 1945–1967 Barcelona (256) 5th in 1957
Diego Maradona 1976–1997 Napoli (259) Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 1995
Sandro Mazzola 1961–1977 Inter Milan (570) 2nd in 1971
Pelé 1957–1977 Santos (656) Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 2013
Michel Platini 1973–1987 Juventus (224) Winner in 1983, 1984 and 1985
Ferenc Puskás 1943–1966 Budapest Honvéd (358) 2nd in 1960
Gianni Rivera 1959–1979 Milan (658) Winner in 1969
Juan Alberto Schiaffino 1945–1962 Peñarol (227) Not eligible[note 1]
Sócrates 1974–1989 Corinthians (269) Not eligible[note 1]
Francesco Totti 1993–2017 Roma (786) 5th in 2001
Zico 1971–1994 Flamengo (505) Not eligible[note 1]
Zinedine Zidane 1989–2006 Real Madrid (231) Winner in 1998

Right wingers

The nominations for the right wingers were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
David Beckham 1992–2013 Manchester United (394) 2nd in 1999
George Best 1963–1984 Manchester United (473) Winner in 1968
Samuel Eto'o 1997–2019 Barcelona (199) 5th in 2009
Luís Figo 1990–2009 Barcelona (249) Winner in 2000
Garrincha 1953–1972 Botafogo (325) Not eligible[note 1]
Jairzinho 1962–1983 Botafogo (413) Not eligible[note 1]
Kevin Keegan 1968–1984 Liverpool (321) Winner in 1978 and 1979
Stanley Matthews 1932–1965 Blackpool (428) Winner in 1956
Lionel Messi 2003–present Barcelona (743) Winner in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019
Arjen Robben 2000–present Bayern Munich (309) 4th in 2014

Centre-forwards

The nominations for the centre-forwards were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Dennis Bergkamp 1986–2006 Arsenal (423) 2nd in 1993
Johan Cruyff 1964–1984 Ajax (367) Winner in 1971, 1973 and 1974
Kenny Dalglish 1969–1990 Liverpool (502) 2nd in 1983
Eusébio 1957–1978 Benfica (440) Winner in 1965
Sándor Kocsis 1946–1966 Barcelona (265) 8th in 1956
Gerd Müller 1963–1982 Bayern Munich (612) Winner in 1970
Romário 1985–2009 Vasco da Gama (350) Not eligible[note 1]
Ronaldo 1993–2011 Real Madrid (177) Winner in 1997 and 2002
Marco van Basten 1981–1995 Milan (201) Winner in 1988, 1989 and 1992
George Weah 1987–2001 Milan (147) Winner in 1995

Left wingers

The nominations for the left wingers were announced on 19 October 2020.[1][8]

Nationality Player Years Club with most appearances Best result at Ballon d'Or
Oleg Blokhin 1969–1990 Dynamo Kyiv (585) Winner in 1975
Cristiano Ronaldo 2002–present Real Madrid (438) Winner in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017
Dragan Džajić 1962–1978 Red Star Belgrade (615) 3rd in 1968
Ryan Giggs 1991–2014 Manchester United (963) 9th in 1993
Thierry Henry 1994–2014 Arsenal (377) 2nd in 2003
Rivaldo 1989–2015 Barcelona (235) Winner in 1999
Rivellino 1965–1981 Corinthians (474) Not eligible[note 1]
Ronaldinho 1998–2015 Barcelona (207) Winner in 2005
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 1974–1989 Bayern Munich (422) Winner in 1980 and 1981
Hristo Stoichkov 1982–2003 Barcelona (267) Winner in 1994

Selected teams

First Team
First Team[6]
Playing position Nationality Player
Goalkeeper  Soviet Union Lev Yashin
Right-back  Brazil Cafu
Centre-back  Germany Franz Beckenbauer
Left-back  Italy Paolo Maldini
Defensive midfielder  Spain Xavi
Defensive midfielder  Germany Lothar Matthäus
Attacking midfielder  Argentina Diego Maradona
Attacking midfielder  Brazil Pelé
Right winger  Argentina Lionel Messi
Centre-forward  Brazil Ronaldo
Left winger  Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo

Second Team
Second Team[7]
Playing position Nationality Player
Goalkeeper  Italy Gianluigi Buffon
Right-back  Brazil Carlos Alberto
Centre-back  Italy Franco Baresi
Left-back  Brazil Roberto Carlos
Defensive midfielder  Italy Andrea Pirlo
Defensive midfielder  Netherlands Frank Rijkaard
Attacking midfielder  Argentina Alfredo Di Stéfano
Attacking midfielder  France Zinedine Zidane
Right winger  Brazil Garrincha
Centre-forward  Netherlands Johan Cruyff
Left winger  Brazil Ronaldinho

Third Team
Third Team[7]
Playing position Nationality Player
Goalkeeper  Germany Manuel Neuer
Right-back  Germany Philipp Lahm
Centre-back  Spain Sergio Ramos
Left-back  Germany Paul Breitner
Defensive midfielder  Netherlands Johan Neeskens
Defensive midfielder  Brazil Didi
Attacking midfielder  France Michel Platini
Attacking midfielder  Spain Andrés Iniesta
Right winger  Northern Ireland George Best
Centre-forward  Netherlands Marco van Basten
Left winger  France Thierry Henry

Notes
  1. Up until 1995, the Ballon d'Or was only awarded to European players.

References
  1. "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : La piste aux étoiles de FF". France Football (in French). 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. "France Football presents the Ballon d'Or Dream Team". Marca. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  3. "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : la liste de tous les nommés pour ce onze de légende". France Football (in French). 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. "Messi, Ronaldo, Beckham, Ronaldinho up for Dream Team place". Diario AS. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  5. Crépin, Timothé (14 December 2020). "Ballon d'Or Dream Team : Découvrez les révélations de ce onze de légende !". France Football (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  6. "Ballon d'Or Dream Team: Xavi alongside Messi and Cristiano". Marca. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  7. "The other two Ballon d'Or Dream Team XIs: Zidane, Cruyff, Iniesta, Di Stefano... but no Casillas". Marca. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  8. Riaz, Adnan (22 October 2020). "Full List Of 110 Nominees For France Football's 'Ballon d'Or Dream Team' Have Been Revealed". SPORTbible. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
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