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]

Nominations

The nominations were announced from 5 October 2020 through 19 October 2020. The winners were revealed on 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).

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]

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
Gordon Banks1955–1978 Leicester City (356)7th in 1972
Gianluigi Buffon1995–2023 Juventus (674)2nd in 2006
Iker Casillas1999–2019 Real Madrid (725)4th in 2008
Sepp Maier1962–1979 Bayern Munich (651)5th in 1975
Manuel Neuer2005–present Bayern Munich (403)3rd in 2014
Thomas N'Kono1974–1997 Espanyol (234)Not eligible[note 1]
Peter Schmeichel1981–2003 Manchester United (398)5th in 1992
Edwin van der Sar1991–2011 Ajax (312)24th in 2008
Lev Yashin1950–1970 Dynamo Moscow (326)Winner in 1963
Dino Zoff1961–1983 Juventus (479)2nd in 1973

Right-backs

Cafu, the only footballer to have appeared in three consecutive FIFA World Cup finals

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
Giuseppe Bergomi1980–1999 Inter Milan (757)
Cafu1989–2008 São Paulo (255)15th in 2002
Carlos Alberto1963–1981 Santos (445)Not eligible[note 1]
Djalma Santos1948–1970 Palmeiras (498)Not eligible[note 1]
Claudio Gentile1972–1988 Juventus (417)
Manfred Kaltz1971–1990 Hamburger SV (724)
Philipp Lahm2002–2017 Bayern Munich (517)6th in 2014
Wim Suurbier1964–1982 Ajax (279)
Lilian Thuram1991–2008 Parma (228)7th in 1998
Berti Vogts1965–1979 Borussia Mönchengladbach (528)4th in 1975

Centre-backs

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
Franco Baresi1978–1997 Milan (719)2nd in 1989
Franz Beckenbauer1964–1983 Bayern Munich (575)Winner in 1972 and 1976
Fabio Cannavaro1992–2011 Parma (288)Winner in 2006
Marcel Desailly1986–2005 Chelsea (222)8th in 1996
Ronald Koeman1980–1997 Barcelona (264)5th in 1988
Bobby Moore1958–1978 West Ham United (647)2nd in 1970
Daniel Passarella1974–1989 River Plate (291)Not eligible[note 1]
Sergio Ramos2004–present Real Madrid (660)6th in 2017
Matthias Sammer1985–1998 Borussia Dortmund (153)Winner in 1996
Gaetano Scirea1972–1988 Juventus (554)12th in 1982

Left-backs

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
Andreas Brehme1980–1998 1. FC Kaiserslautern (237)3rd in 1990
Paul Breitner1970–1983 Bayern Munich (347)2nd in 1981
Antonio Cabrini1975–1991 Juventus (442)13th in 1978
Giacinto Facchetti1961–1978 Inter Milan (639)2nd in 1965
Júnior1974–1993 Flamengo (417)Not eligible[note 1]
Ruud Krol1968–1986 Ajax (457)3rd in 1979
Paolo Maldini1985–2009 Milan (902)3rd in 1994 and 2003
Marcelo2005–present Real Madrid (514)16th in 2017
Nílton Santos1948–1964 Botafogo (485)Not eligible[note 1]
Roberto Carlos1991–2012 Real Madrid (527)2nd in 2002

Defensive midfielders/Centre midfielders

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
József Bozsik1943–1962 Budapest Honvéd (447)6th in 1956
Sergio Busquets2007–present Barcelona (591)20th in 2012
Didi1946–1967 Fluminense (150)Not eligible[note 1]
Paulo Roberto Falcão1973–1986 Internacional (157)Not eligible[note 1]
Steven Gerrard1998–2016 Liverpool (710)3rd in 2005
Gérson1959–1974 Botafogo (243)Not eligible[note 1]
Pep Guardiola1988–2006 Barcelona (382)24th in 1994
Josef Masopust1950–1970 Dukla Prague (430)Winner in 1962
Lothar Matthäus1979–2000 Bayern Munchen (406)Winner in 1990
Johan Neeskens1968–1991 Barcelona (181)5th in 1974
Andrea Pirlo1995–2017 Milan (401)5th in 2007
Fernando Redondo1985–2004 Real Madrid (228)18th in 2000
Frank Rijkaard1980–1995 Ajax (336)3rd in 1988 and 1989
Bernd Schuster1978–1997 Barcelona (238)2nd in 1980
Clarence Seedorf1992–2014 Milan (432)17th in 1997
Luis Suárez1951–1973 Inter Milan (333)Winner in 1960
Marco Tardelli1972–1988 Juventus (379)15th in 1982
Jean Tigana1975–1991 Bordeaux (371)2nd in 1984
Xabi Alonso2000–2017 Real Madrid (236)10th in 2010
Xavi1997–2019 Barcelona (767)3rd in 2009, 2010 and 2011

Offensive midfielders/Inside Forwards

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
Roberto Baggio1983–2004 Juventus (200)Winner in 1993
Bobby Charlton1956–1976 Manchester United (758)Winner in 1966
Alfredo Di Stéfano1945–1966 Real Madrid (396)Winner Super Ballon d'Or in 1989[9]

Winner in 1957 and 1959

Enzo Francescoli1980–1997 River Plate (233)Not eligible[note 1]
Ruud Gullit1979–1998 Milan (171)Winner in 1987
Gheorghe Hagi1982–2001 Galatasaray (192)4th in 1994
Andrés Iniesta2002–present Barcelona (674)2nd in 2010
Raymond Kopa1949–1968 Reims (463)Winner in 1958
László Kubala1945–1967 Barcelona (256)5th in 1957
Diego Maradona1976–1997 Napoli (259)Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 1995[10]

Winner in 1986 and 1990[11]

Sandro Mazzola1961–1977 Inter Milan (570)2nd in 1971
Pelé1957–1977 Santos (656)Winner of Ballon d'Or for services to football in 2013

Winner in 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964 and 1970[11]

Michel Platini1973–1987 Juventus (224)Winner in 1983, 1984 and 1985
Ferenc Puskás1943–1966 Budapest Honvéd (358)2nd in 1960
Gianni Rivera1959–1979 Milan (658)Winner in 1969
Juan Alberto Schiaffino1945–1962 Peñarol (227)Not eligible[note 1]
Sócrates1974–1989 Corinthians (269)Not eligible[note 1]
Francesco Totti1993–2017 Roma (786)5th in 2001
Zico1971–1994 Flamengo (505)Not eligible[note 1]
Zinedine Zidane1989–2006 Real Madrid (231)Winner in 1998

Right wingers

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
David Beckham1992–2013 Manchester United (394)2nd in 1999
George Best1963–1984 Manchester United (473)Winner in 1968
Samuel Eto'o1997–2019 Barcelona (199)5th in 2009
Luís Figo1990–2009 Barcelona (249)Winner in 2000
Garrincha1953–1972 Botafogo (325)Winner in 1962[11]
Jairzinho1962–1983 Botafogo (413)Not eligible[note 1]
Kevin Keegan1968–1984 Liverpool (321)Winner in 1978 and 1979
Stanley Matthews1932–1965 Blackpool (428)Winner in 1956
Lionel Messi2003–present Barcelona (778)Winner in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023
Arjen Robben2000–2021 Bayern Munich (309)4th in 2014

Centre-forward

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
Dennis Bergkamp1986–2006 Arsenal (423)2nd in 1993
Johan Cruyff1964–1984 Ajax (367)Winner in 1971, 1973 and 1974
Kenny Dalglish1969–1990 Liverpool (502)2nd in 1983
Eusébio1957–1978 Benfica (440)Winner in 1965
Sándor Kocsis1946–1966 Barcelona (265)8th in 1956
Gerd Müller1963–1982 Bayern Munich (612)Winner in 1970
Romário1985–2009 Vasco da Gama (350)Winner in 1994[11]
Ronaldo1993–2011 Real Madrid (177)Winner in 1997 and 2002
Marco van Basten1981–1995 Milan (201)Winner in 1988, 1989 and 1992
George Weah1987–2001 Milan (147)Winner in 1995

Left wingers

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

NationalityPlayerYearsClub with most appearancesBest result at Ballon d'Or
Oleg Blokhin1969–1990 Dynamo Kyiv (585)Winner in 1975
Cristiano Ronaldo2002–present Real Madrid (438)Winner in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017
Dragan Džajić1962–1978 Red Star Belgrade (615)3rd in 1968
Ryan Giggs1991–2014 Manchester United (963)9th in 1993
Thierry Henry1994–2014 Arsenal (377)2nd in 2003
Rivaldo1989–2015 Barcelona (235)Winner in 1999
Rivellino1965–1981 Corinthians (474)Not eligible[note 1]
Ronaldinho1998–2015 Barcelona (207)Winner in 2005
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge1974–1989 Bayern Munich (422)Winner in 1980 and 1981
Hristo Stoichkov1982–2003 Barcelona (267)Winner in 1994

Selected teams

First Team

First Team[6]

Second Team

Second Team[7]

Third Team

Third Team[7]

Notes

See also

References