UEFA are set to release the shortlist for their annual ‘Team of the Year’ nominations on Tuesday and the team is sure to upset a few people as former world player of the year, Zinedine Zidane, has only made the bench.
The players who have featured on the ‘Team of the year’ the most amount of times since the list was created in 2001 have been put together in an ultimate XI.
Full Team:
Here is the starting line up with seven substitutes as listed by on the European footballing body’s official website.
Goalkeeper:
Iker Casillas
Selected 6 times – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
Defenders:
Sergio Ramos
Selected 4 times – 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014
Philipp Lahm
Selected 5 times – 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014
Carlos Puyol
Featured 6 times – 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010
Alessandro Nesta
Featured 4 times – 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007
Midfielders:
Steven Gerrard
Selected 3 times – 2005, 2006 and 2007
Xavi Hernandez
Selected 5 times – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
Andres Iniesta
Selected 4 times – 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
Forwards:
Thierry Henry
Selected 5 times – 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006
Leo Messi
Selected 6 times – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014
Cristiano Ronaldo
Selected 9 times – 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014
Substitutes:
Gianluigi Buffon
Selected 3 times – 2003, 2004 and 2006
John Terry
Selected 4 times – 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009
Zinedine Zidane
Selected 3 times – 2001, 2002 and 2003
Pavel Nedved
Selected 3 times – 2003, 2004 and 2005
Ronaldinho
Selected 3 times – 2004, 2005 and 2006
Kaka
Selected 3 times – 2006, 2007 and 2009
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Selected 4 times – 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2014