Former England defender and acclaimed pundit Jamie Carragher unveiled his all-time World Cup XI in 2022, sparking considerable debate due to the notable omissions of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. As reported by GiveMeSport, Carragher’s selections were made under a unique condition: only one player from each country could be included in the lineup, resulting in a distinctive all-star team.
The one-player-per-country rule
The self-imposed restriction meant that despite their individual brilliance, Messi and Ronaldo were overlooked in favour of other legendary figures from Argentina and Portugal. Carragher’s picks were made prior to the 2022 World Cup, a tournament that would see Messi lead Argentina to glory, adding further context to his initial exclusion. Instead, Argentina’s representation came from Diego Maradona, while Portugal’s spot went to Eusebio, both titans of their respective eras.
A look at the selected legends
Carragher’s formation of choice was a 4-2-3-1, featuring a blend of World Cup winners and finalists whose impact on the tournament is undeniable. The team, as reported by The Sun, includes:
- Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
- Schmeichel, who reached the quarter-finals in his sole World Cup appearance in 1998, secured the number one spot.
- Right-back: Lilian Thuram (France)
- The French defensive stalwart was a key part of the 1998 World Cup-winning side.
- Centre-back: Franz Beckenbauer (Germany)
- A true icon, Beckenbauer captained West Germany to World Cup victory in 1974 and is one of only three men to win the tournament as both a player and a manager.
- Centre-back: Bobby Moore (England)
- England’s inspirational captain led his nation to their only World Cup triumph in 1966.
- Left-back: Paolo Maldini (Italy)
- The Italian defensive maestro was a runner-up in the 1994 World Cup.
- Attacking Midfield: Pele (Brazil)
- Widely regarded as the greatest World Cup player of all time, Pele is the only player to have won three World Cups and remains the tournament’s youngest winner and goalscorer.
- Central Midfield: Xavi (Spain)
- The orchestrator of Spain’s midfield, Xavi was a pivotal figure in their 2010 World Cup-winning campaign.
- Central Midfield: Luka Modric (Croatia)
- The only active player in Carragher’s XI, Modric captained Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and is still preparing to lead his nation at the age of 40.
- Forward: Eusebio (Portugal)
- Eusebio scored all nine of his World Cup goals in 1966, leading Portugal to the semi-finals. His four goals in a 5-3 comeback win against North Korea from being 3-0 down remain legendary.
- Forward: Diego Maradona (Argentina)
- Maradona famously led Argentina to glory in 1986, scoring a controversial double against England, including the infamous “Hand of God” goal, described as the “most controversial goal ever.”
- Forward: Johan Cruyff (Netherlands)
- Cruyff led the Netherlands to the 1974 final, where they ultimately lost to West Germany. His “total football” philosophy continues to influence the sport today.
Interestingly, four players in Carragher’s final selection – Peter Schmeichel, Paolo Maldini, Luka Modric, and Johan Cruyff – never lifted the coveted World Cup trophy, highlighting that individual impact and legendary status were prioritised over outright victory in some instances. The unique selection criteria ensured a diverse and truly global representation of football’s greatest World Cup performers.
Read also: Iran accuses US of discriminatory treatment over World Cup visa denials
Sources: www.givemesport.com, www.vavel.com
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