UEFA XI: Messi and Ronaldo Included in Team

The All-time UEFA XI has been released and La Liga stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lead the line. With the UEFA Team of the Year set to be released soon, the all-time XI sees Arsenal legend Thierry Henry feature as part of a front-three. Liverpool great Steven Gerrard and Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta make up the midfield. Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Philipp Lahm have been included in a defensive four. Former Real Madrid custodian Iker Casillas, meanwhile, has been named as the goalkeeper.

The selection of the XI has been done on the basis of the number of times they have previously been selected in UEFA’s Team of the Year.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas.

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Philipp Lahm.

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard, Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry

Meanwhile, in the race for UEFA XI Team of the Year, Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar headline the charts. Ronaldo’s Madrid team-mates Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Casemiro, Isco, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, Keylor Navas and Sergio Ramos – who earned the highest percentage of votes in last year’s poll – also made the cut.

Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is joined by Argentina star Paulo Dybala, Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini and Miralem Pjanic, while Leonardo Bonucci – who left Juve for AC Milan – is also included.

Chelsea coasted to the Premier League title last term, but Eden Hazard is the Blues’ only representative. Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is nominated alongside team-mate Sergio Aguero. Spurs players Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, and Davinson Sanchez Are also included. Davinson spent the first half of 2017 with Europa League finalists Ajax.

Manchester United, who beat Ajax in the Europa League final, are represented by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Paul Pogba, Antonio Valencia and David de Gea.