World Football XI: Not Quite the Barcelona Affair

There is always going to be debate, discussion and argument on which 11 players would make up the ultimate team. EA SPORTS and FIFA like to have a crack each year (and invariably get it unbelievably wrong), so it's time to see if this team could spark a decent debate.

The only prerequisite is that the player must still be playing as of this season.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas

A few seasons ago, the position of goalkeeper would've been hotly contested between Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon. However, with the slow decline of Italy's No. 1 as he reaches the end of his career, the evergreen Casillas takes this spot.

He's been with the club he loves since 1990 when he joined the Real Madrid youth system, and has since gone on to represent Los Blancos an astonishing 603 times. He's won La Liga on four occasions and the Champions League twice—as well as accumulating numerous Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa winners' medals.

Casillas became first choice between the sticks in the 1999/00 season and has remained almost ever-present since. His reflexes are excellent, his shot-stopping unparalleled and despite not being the most physically imposing, he exudes confidence and assurance that bolsters all who play along the back line.

It is a testament to his impeccable fitness and superb footballing ability that he already has 127 caps for Spain by the age of 30. If the careers of Edwin van der Sar and Brad Friedel are anything to go by, Casillas could be keeping clean sheets aplenty for his beloved Madrid for the next decade.

Career Stats: 607 appearances, zero goals

International Stats: 127 caps, zero goals

Right-Back: Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos has long been established as the first-choice right-back for both club and country, and for good reason.

He joined Los Blancos from Sevilla in 2005 for €27 million and has dominated the right-back berth for the past six seasons, despite initially beginning at the heart of the Madrid defence. Having inherited the No. 4 shirt from the legendary Fernando Hierro, expectations were understandably high.

Ramos possesses a formidable leap, lending him considerable power in the air, as well as being an astute tackler. However, he encompasses more of the traditional wing-back role, with his reserves of stamina and confidence on the ball, and is often seen pounding the turf along the right flank. With a decent cross on him, he provides a fair number of scoring opportunities from the right wing. His aerial ability has resulted in him scoring four goals or more in each season he's been at Madrid.

His solidity in his defensive duties and his adventurous nature going forward have helped Real Madrid to accrue two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Supercopa. All that remains is the elusive Champions League, a trophy that a player of Ramos' stature must surely deserve.

Career Stats: 340 appearances, 39 goals

International Stats: 82 caps, six goals

Left-Back: Philipp Lahm

Philipp Lahm could've made either the right- or left-back role his own. A capable defender on either flank, the diminutive full-back is a staple in the current Bayern Munich side, and played every single minute in Germany's 2006 World Cup campaign; that feat led to a runners-up medal.

He is a superb tackler of the ball, as he's composed and rarely misses a challenge. Not only this, but Lahm is an adept reader of the game, an attribute that is integral to his role as a top defender. His positional awareness is also exemplary.

Just to complete the package, the young full-back has pace to burn too. In addition, his leadership qualities have led to him being promoted to captain for both club and country.

Lahm holds a considerable number of honours, not least of all having been a candidate for the UEFA Team of the Year for every year he has been fit (2004, 2006-2010). He also has four Bundesliga winners' medals and an equal number of DFB-Pokal medals.

In a footballing landscape where the likes of Patrice Evra and Ashley Cole are still performing near the top of their games, it is some accolade that Philipp Lahm is the first choice for the left-back berth in this team.

Career Stats: 415 appearances, 16 goals

International Stats: 85 caps, four goals

Centre-Back: Nemanja Vidic

Despite his current cruciate ligament injury, when fit, Nemanja Vidic is without doubt the finest centre-half in the world. A winner of four Premier League medals, as well as three appearances in the Champions League final (one winners' medal), the mighty Serb is an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side.

He joined the Red Devils from Spartak Moscow in 2005 for £7 million as a giant Serbian bulldozer who put his head in where it hurts and never shirked a 50-50 tackle. Over the years he's spent under the tutelage of the Old Trafford coaching staff, Vidic has matured into an incredible defensive talent. Rough and rugged at first, the Serb is still as tough as anything, but now possesses the winning temperament of a United player.

Aerially dominant, fearsome in the challenge, exceptional awareness, fantastic positionally and a genuine threat from set pieces—it is hard to see a chink in the big man's armour. A lack of pace, exacerbated by age, perhaps—but then, how many rapid centre-backs do you see in world football?

At a club where central defensive partnerships have been paramount to success (Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen), it is a testament to his ability that Vidic is now included alongside Rio Ferdinand on the pantheon of great United defenders.

Career Stats:  406 appearances, 44 goals

International Stats: 55 caps, two goals

Centre-Back: Gerard Pique

Gerard Pique fully deserves his place in the side lauded by some critics to be the best in footballing history. A graduate of the legendary youth system at the Camp Nou, the stylish centre-half has developed into an outstanding defender and the linchpin in the Barcelona back line.

He never really made an impact at Manchester United, unfortunately representing the club during the peak of the Vidic/Ferdinand partnership. Once back at Barca, Pique began to flourish into a world-class defender.

Whereas Carles Puyol provides the brute force and the sheer determination to get to the ball first, Pique complements his defensive partner with complete and utter assurance on the ball. He is decent in the air, an astute tackler of the ball and an excellent reader of the game. However, it is his talent in possession of the ball that matches his talents attempting to possess it—a rarity for a centre-back.

It is no surprise Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side are as formidable as they are when they have such confidence in the ball-playing ability of their defenders. Hard enough as it is to find space in behind Pique, once he has the ball, he can pick a pass to start Barca on the attack once more.

Career Stats: 217 appearances, 17 goals

International Stats: 38 caps, four goals

Centre-Midfield: Daniele De Rossi

Roma through and through, Daniele De Rossi has served the Giallorossi admirably since breaking into the first team in 2004 aged just 20. And now, almost a decade on, he is being lauded as the natural successor to Francesco Totti and the club continues to fight off interest in his services.

Every side needs a midfield enforcer—a player who doesn't mind doing the dirty work and everything they can to disrupt the flow of opposition attacks. Currently, there are none better than Daniele De Rossi.

Oozing with aggression and a real "never say die" attitude, De Rossi has spent his entire career pounding from box to box for boyhood club AS Roma. He never neglects a tackle, is strong in the air and provides an excellent foil for the back four. His positional awareness is exceptional, always appearing in the right space of the pitch at the right time.

And for all his defensive discipline, De Rossi is more than competent driving the team forward.

As determined as he is to win the ball, De Rossi is just as determined to keep hold of it. Though not as technically (or theatrically) gifted as holding midfielders like Sergio Busquets, De Rossi isn't quite of the same mold as the Gennaro Gattuso battering ram. He occupies a space between the two—a fluid combination of force and finesse.

Of course, as the 2006 World Cup most famously illustrated, De Rossi has a characteristic "dark" side to his game when he nearly took Brian McBride's head off with a well-placed elbow. Still, not a high price to pay for the most complete box-to-box player in the world.

Career Stats: 381 appearances, 46 goals

International Stats: 71 caps, 10 goals

Centre-Midfield: Xavi

Xavi is the man that makes Barcelona tick. An admirer of arguably the modern game's greatest playmaker, Paul Scholes, Xavi exerts many of the same qualities: incredible vision, an innate sense of space, a wonderful ability on the ball and a phenomenal pass success rate.

Being the man who dictates the way the greatest team in the world plays would surely make him the world's greatest player...right?

The near-unstoppable passing machines that are Barcelona and the national Spanish side have something in common: Xavi is the playmaker. He dictates the pace of the play, deciding where and when players run with his exquisite understanding of space and angles. They call him "Puppet Master" in Spain and for very good reason: When Xavi makes a pass, you run.

He has spent his entire career with Barcelona, amassing a phenomenal amount of accolades. He is widely regarded to be one of the best playmakers of his generation. In fact, the recent 2012 UEFA Champions League second leg between AC Milan and Barcelona was the first time many fans had seen his pass success rate slip below 90 percent.

On top of his exquisite ability to create chances out of nothing, Xavi has the ability to score a more-than-modest number of goals to boot. He isn't a high-scoring midfielder a la Scholes, but those he does score are wonders to behold—perfectly weighed chips and curling drives.

Career Stats: 681 apps, 77 goals

International Stats: 108 caps, 10 goals

Centre-Midfield: Wesley Sneijder

Another playmaker, Sneijder is bit of a variation to Xavi. He's more of a goal-getter, can kick adeptly with both feet and is a dead-ball specialist.

The Dutchman has played his way across the length and breadth of Europe, turning out for Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter Milan. He's collected a host of winners' medals along the journey. He was a driving factor behind Inter's treble in 2010, his flair in behind Diego Milito creating numerous chances for the Argentine striker to go on to score 30 goals that season.

He has long been rumoured to be a target for current Premier League champions Manchester United, as reported by the Daily Mail. His wide array of passing and proficiency from dead-ball situations would be the perfect replacement for Paul Scholes.

Most critics would fill the third midfield slot in this side with Xavi's teammate at Barcelona, Andres Iniesta. However, Sneijder's goal-scoring instincts, especially for a centre-midfielder, cannot be underestimated; he almost single-handedly carried the Dutch side to the 2010 World Cup final with five goals. He was also awarded the Silver Ball award.

Whether or not Sneijder departs an ailing Inter side this summer has little impact on the reputation he has already built as one of the best playmakers in recent years.

Career Stats: 337 appearances, 87 goals

International Stats: 81 caps, 23 goals

Right-Winger: Lionel Messi

Officially the best player in the world for three years running, Lionel Messi has won three Champions Leagues and five Primera Divisions. For some, he's the finest player in the history of the sport. Regardless, Messi is integral to any attempts at discerning a world XI.

He has an incredible dribbling ability—a low centre of gravity coupled with superb ball control—that allows him to ghost past four, five—even six players at will. His touch on the ball is unparalleled, his finishing is always composed, his passing rarely inaccurate—but it is his ability to make the team work around him as a fluid, cohesive unit that is so impressive.

His movement with and without the ball creates space and opportunities for his fellow teammates. He provides almost as many assists as he scores goals.

Already with an astonishing 58 goals so far this season, Messi appears to be continuing the sensational form that has seen him crowned World Player of the Year for the past three seasons. He rarely has an off-day; instead, every touch is weighted perfectly, every pass is to feet and almost every attempt on goal finds the back of the net.

The argument as to whether he could perform in the Premier League seems inconsequential; would the physicality of the game really do much to dampen his genius? Whatever the stance, it would be refreshing to see the world's greatest player test himself in a division that isn't turning into a replica of the Scottish Premier League.

Even so, when the midweek Champions League fixtures roll around, you can count on the little wizard to demolish even the toughest sides.

The only quandary when addressing Messi's place in the side is just where to actually play him. He defies conventional formations, popping up along the forward line in every position—be it the striker, on the wing or in the trequartista role.

Career Stats: 318 appearances, 238 goals

International Stats: 68 caps, 22 goals

Left-Winger: Cristiano Ronaldo

Explosive. Rapid. Powerful.

Where Lionel Messi is celebrated for his graceful, poetic motion to his game, Cristiano Ronaldo is the opposite.

A Greek sculpture of a man, Ronaldo is unlucky to be playing at the same time as Messi; otherwise he would surely have been the recipient of the Ballon d'Or these past three seasons. He has scored 135 goals in 134 games for Madrid (as of April 7th, 2012) and has an incredible combination of fine dribbling skills, a ferocious shot and a tenacity for always putting the ball in the back of the net. In fact, his goals-to-games ratio tops that of even Lionel Messi over the past three years.

He won everything there was to win under Sir Alex Ferguson's tutelage at Manchester United, racking up three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and that coveted Champions League trophy. He was also named World Player of the Year for 2008 and was unlucky not to have won it the year before in 2007, eventually finishing third behind Kaka and Messi.

Since his earth-shattering £80 million move from United to Real Madrid, Ronaldo's conversion from winger to striker to all-out goal-scoring phenomenon has been completed. He is the focal point of Madrid's rapid counterattacks, utilizing his blistering pace all along the frontline to cause nightmares for defenders.

And even Ronaldo's one "flaw" in the eyes of most critics appears to have been addressed this season; goals against Barcelona in the Supercopa and the Copa del Rey have eradicated any belief that he disappears in big games. He's also netted eight goals in as many games in the UCL.

His place in this team is just as guaranteed as Leo Messi's, and what a joy it would be to behold the top two players in the world tearing apart opposition defences.

Career Stats: 457 appearances, 258 goals

International Stats: 88 caps, 32 goals

Centre-Forward: Wayne Rooney

There are many contenders for the role of centre-forward, and although not generally considered an "out-and-out" striker, Wayne Rooney's game is far more complete than that of Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Gonzalo Higuain.

Not only can the former Everton man play the lone striking role, effectively holding up the ball to bring teammates into play, but he can drop deep and utilize his creative talents to spread the ball out to the wings. That's all without mentioning his goal-scoring record with both his head and his feet.

Rooney currently stands as Manchester United's fourth-highest goal scorer of all time. To put that into perspective, consider that forwards such as Law Charlton, Eric Cantona and Ruud van Nistelrooy have graced the Old Trafford turf over the decades. He can score all manner of goals, such as 25-yard thumpers—like that against Newcastle—to headers from all angles, as well as picking up on anything in the penalty box.

What sets him apart from most top strikers is his unflappable work ethic and his determination to always be on the ball, whether that requires moving into space, or more impressively, tracking back to win the ball. Technically gifted, thoroughly devoted to the team's cause and with an excellent eye for goal, it is no surprise Rooney is first choice for both club and country—and for the lone striker role in this world XI.

With four Premier League medals, two League Cups and three appearances in the Champions League final (winning one), Rooney is one of the most decorated plays in the side. He has been included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year on three occasions on top of twice being named the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Career Stats: 432 appearances, 192 goals

International Stats: 73 caps, 28 goals

The Bench

As with all great teams, the world XI needs strength in depth. Here are the seven players that missed out on the starting 11.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Lauded as the successor of the great Oliver Kahn in both the German national side and at Bayern Munich, his shot-stopping and command of the area are impeccable. A real challenger to Casillas in this year's IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award.

Defender: Walter Samuel

The grisly Argentine centre-half has been around for years, with spells at Roma and Real Madrid. Though he is now well on the wrong side of 30, he is one of the world's toughest defenders to beat. Strong in the air, powerful in the challenge and with a wealth of top-flight experience.

Defender: Thiago Silva

The only Brazilian on the list, Silva is a pacy, composed centre-back that has been the foundation of Milan's excellent defensive record over the past two seasons. You know you're good when you make the experienced Alessandro Nesta look bad.

Midfielder: Javier Mascherano

Tough and uncompromising, the hard-working Argentine has played most defensive roles for Barcelona. He would have made the starting XI if his all-round play exhibited a little more finesse and dynamism.

Midfielder: Andres Iniesta

Most people's choice for a starting place, the Catalan magician has been integral to the attacking prowess of the current Barcelona side for the best part of a decade. His wondrous eye for a pass and ball retention rivals that of teammate Xavi.

Forward: Arjen Robben

His time at Chelsea was chequered, but the Dutch wingman has gone from strength to strength since. A superb dribbler of the ball, he's lethal coming in off the right wing to use his pace against defenders.

Forward: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The imposing Swede has won eight domestic championships in a row and has contributed more than his fair share of goals in each triumph. Powerful, deft on the ball and a consummate finisher—pretty much the full package.