- France Football announced their Ballon d’Or ‘Dream Team’
- Russia’s legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin take his place as team’s No 1 while Cafu, Franz Beckenbauer and Paolo Maldini make up the side’s back-three
- Xavi, Lothar Matthaus, Pele and Diego Maradona complete a four-man midfield
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Brazilian Ronaldo form a lethal front three
France Football announced their star-studded Ballon d’Or ‘Dream Team’ at this year’s ceremony.
With this year’s Ballon d’Or award cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, France Football – the weekly magazine that created the award – opted to instead announce a best XI in its place.
Journalists from 170 countries cast their votes on who would make the team, which sees the team line up in a 3-4-3 formation.
In goal, Russia’s legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin was named in between the sticks, cementing his legacy as arguably the greatest No 1 of all time.
Yashin, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1963 and remains as the only goalkeeper in history to win it, made 74 appearances for the Soviet Union between 1954 and 1970.
In front of him, a back-three of Franz Beckenbauer, Cafu and Paolo Maldini make up the rock-solid defence.
Unlike Beckenbauer, neither Cafu or Maldini ever won the award but are both recognised as some of the best in their position. Maldini finished third twice in the Ballon d’Or voting in 1994 and 2003.
In front of them, Xavi, Lothar Matthaus, Pele and the late great Diego Maradona made up the four-man midfield.
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario were announced as the team’s lethal front three.
There was never any doubt that Messi or Cristiano would make the team, considering they’ve dominated the award over the last decade.
Messi, who has won the most Ballon d’Or awards in history with six, is followed closely behind by his great rival Cristiano, who has five to his name.
