No Neymar, no Zidane, no Marcelo: then what kind of best XI is this?
People often ask me, “What is your modern era all-time best XI?” So, as I said in my video, I finally decided to make my all-time modern era best XI. And to do that, I had to put in six straight hours to complete my team but I am really excited to tell you what my team looks like.
Goalkeeper – We have seen so many great goalkeepers in the modern era, but for me, the two most prominent ones are Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer. There is a gap of ten years between the debuts of the two players. Buffon debuted for Parma in 1997 at the young age of 17, while Neuer made his debut for Schalke in 2006 at the age of 20. Both players have won a lot of trophies during their careers. Both have one World Cup to their name. Neuer has two Champions League titles, Buffon is a ten-time Italian domestic league champion, while Neuer is a twelve-time Bundesliga champion. But if I have to pick one, I’ll go with Manuel Neuer. As I mentioned in my video, I have watched Neuer play more than Buffon. Surely, in terms of legacy and longevity, Buffon is right up there, but for me, Neuer just edges him.
Centre Backs – For me, the two best centre-backs of the modern era are Sergio Ramos and Thiago Silva. Yes, there are many great players in this position, and I had to do a lot of research. But what I realised from my observation is that Thiago Silva is one of the most underrated centre-backs of all time. A seven-time French league champion, a Serie A champion, a Champions League winner, a Copa América winner with Brazil, and multiple Super Cups, his trophy cabinet speaks for itself. Picking Sergio Ramos over others was a clear decision for me because of his passion, aggression, and the confidence he brings to the pitch.
Right Back – This position might attract a lot of different opinions, but for me, it’s Dani Alves. There were many options to choose from, but the reason I’m going with Dani Alves is his playing style, which defined this position in the modern era.
He is the second player after Messi to win the most titles in football history. With over 200 assists and 70 goals in his career, it perfectly shows how much of an impact he had on modern football.
Left back – This pick might surprise many of you, as I could have gone with Roberto Carlos, who is surely the greatest left-back of all time. But I am picking Paolo Maldini over Carlos for my team. The reason for this is that Roberto Carlos’ peak came during his time at Real Madrid, where he won almost everything, but much of that success was before the 2000s. Maldini, on the other hand, peaked even in the latter years of his career. During that period, he often played as a left-back despite being a natural centre-back. He was a player who brought fear to the opposition, with aggression and an unmatched passion that made him truly special.
Midfielders – Let’s get straight to the three midfielders I’m picking for my team: Xavi, Iniesta, and Modrić. Even in this position, there were many options to consider, but the reason I’m choosing Modrić over others like Zidane is because we are talking about the modern era.
We all know the influence Modrić had at Real Madrid, and even now, if you remove him from the team, they struggle to control games. Modrić has also carried Croatia on several occasions in the World Cup. As for Xavi and Iniesta, I don’t think I even need to mention stats or numbers to prove their greatness. Whenever we talk about the best teams in football history, Xavi and Iniesta are always part of that conversation.
Right wing – Well, for this position, I don’t think it’s even a debate. In the modern era, there’s no one other than Messi for this role. We all know he is the best, the greatest of all time and I don’t need to describe it any further.
Striker – Once again, for me, the striker position is a clear and easy pick. It’s none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course, we could talk about Ronaldo Nazário, but when you look at the numbers Cristiano Ronaldo has produced and is still producing, along with his clutch performances, discipline, leadership, and, most importantly, his relentless hunger to be the best, he stands above every other striker in the modern era.
Left winger – Now, this is another position that can attract different opinions. The player I’m choosing here is the reason I started watching football, a man who embodied pure samba and showcased the game in its most beautiful form. Of course, there are other great options like Thierry Henry and Neymar, who was arguably the third-best player of our generation. But when we talk about Ronaldinho, his achievements speak volumes: two FIFA World Player of the Year awards, a Copa América, a Champions League, and a World Cup. We often discuss what Ronaldinho’s career could have been if he had been a bit more serious about football. Neymar may have influenced the most people of this generation, but for me, it was Ronaldinho who made me fall in love with football through his skills and joy for the game.
Manager – For the manager’s position, it was between three coaches who completely changed modern football: Pep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Carlo Ancelotti. But the one I’m picking from these three is Pep Guardiola, because I believe he is the most complete and impactful manager of the modern era. He is a coach who can manage big personalities, unlock the best in every player, and whose philosophy perfectly defines modern football.
Do let me know your opinion on this team and also check out the full video on the same –
