Picking a South American All-Time Greats XI

Over the course of footballing history, no continent has produced talent in quite the same quantity and quality as South America. Thus, picking a best eleven from the continent's history is a challenging job, with a huge number of potential candidates to choose from.

Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay have amassed an incredible nine World Cup titles between them, there is a host of incredible sides to choose players from, before even considering the best players from the remainder of the continent.

It is an unenviable task, that will no doubt lead to a range of opinions being aired to the contrary. But, such is the nature of picking a Best XI of any type—it is a subjective choice.

Below, then, is my attempt to select a South American All-Time Greats XI.

Goalkeeper: Gilmar (Brazil)

Winner of the 1958 and 1962 World Cup, Brazilian goalkeeper Gilmar is known as one of the historical greats in his position, and South America's finest.

An idol at both Sao Paulo giants Santos and Corinthians, Gilmar earned 94 caps for his country over a 16-year period, writing his name indelibly on the history of Brazilian football.

It was with Pelé's Santos that he would enjoy sustained success at club level—winning both the Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup twice in his first two years at the Vila Belmiro.

While South America has had several iconic and hugely talented goalkeepers over the years, there is no doubting Gilmar's claims to a place in our side.

Full-Backs: Carlos Alberto (Brazil), Nilton Santos (Brazil)

When it comes to choosing full-backs for our side, there are two obvious candidates who helped define the role of a full-back as we have come to know it today. On the right, Carlos Alberto Torres of the great Brazil 1970 side, and on the left, Nilton Santos—World Cup winner in 1958 and 1962.

It was Nilton Santos, as part of the great Botafogo side of the 1950s who first showed that full-backs could push past the halfway line and be a force in attacking play—a previously unheard-of concept.

His influence was then taken further by Carlos Alberto, just over a decade later, with the Santos star becoming one of the game's first true wing-backs.

Between the two players, they managed to define the evolution of the full-back position to the role we know today, and would possibly both line up in an all-time World XI for this reason.

Centre-Backs: Passarella (Argentina), Figueroa (Chile)

Every successful football team is built upon a formidable centre-back partnership, and there is no doubting that our pair of defenders are among the best in the business.

Argentine 1978 World Cup winning captain Daniel Passarella will be natural leader of our side, with his organisational skills central to the structure of our defensive unit.

The former River Plate and Fiorentina star will also be an extra attacking option for our side, having boasted a sensational scoring record throughout his career.

Despite being just 5'8" tall, Passarella was renowned for his heading ability and powerful leap. It is a dimension of his game that will be very useful to our side.

Alongside him will be Chilean centre-back Elias Figueroa, star of three World Cups between 1966 and 1982.

Figueroa spent the much of his career around South America, playing in Uruguay with Penarol and Brazil with Internacional.

While Passarela was known for his aerial threat, Figueroa's claim to fame revolved around his ability to read the game. An elegant defender, he was named South American Footballer of the Year three years in a row between 1974 and 1976.

Between Passarela's organisation and Figueroa's reading of the game, as well as their bountiful experience at international level, our defence should be fully equipped to handle everything thrown at them.

Defensive Midfield: Didi (Brazil), Varela (Uruguay)

The two defensive midfielders in our 4-2-2-2 formation are two of the finest exponents of their role ever to play the game.

Firstly, Brazilian midfielder Didi—centrepiece of the 1958 and 1962 World Cup winning sides and twice European Cup winner—will be our side's passing outlet from the base of midfield.

The inventor of the "falling leaf" free-kick technique will be a threat from long-range shooting opportunities, and offer the dynamic box-to-box presence our midfield requires.

Alongside him is Uruguayan football legend Obdulio Varela. The captain of La Celeste's 1950 World Cup winning side, Varela is known as one of the best holding midfielders in history.

The winner of six league titles as part of the famous Penarol side of the 1940s and 50s, Varela's abilities were already widely known across South America.

However, it was his role in the "Maracanazo" triumph that sealed glory at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil that truly identified Varela as both an inspiring leader and a leading defensive midfielder.

Attacking Midfield: Garrincha (Brazil), Maradona (Argentina)

By the end of his career, it is highly likely that Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will have replaced one of our two attacking midfielders from their berths in our South American XI.

However, for the moment, he is kept out of the side by bow-legged Brazilian sensation Garrincha, and the man to whom he is most often compared—Diego Armando Maradona.

Garrincha, the man many in Brazil consider to have been the equal of Pele, will play from the right for our side. With his pace and trickery, he will act as the side's direct outlet on the flank.

Alongside him in attacking midfield would be Argentine great Diego Maradona—considered by many worldwide to also be the equal of Pele.

The star of the 1986 World Cup, the Boca Juniors and Napoli legend inspired footballers the world over with his playmaking abilities and sensational goalscoring over a number of years.

The Argentine will be the No. 10 of our side, looking to provide service for our side's sensational forward line, as well as Garrincha on the flank.

Strikers: Pele (Brazil), Di Stefano (Argentina)

Despite the claims of the likes of Ronaldo and Romario for a place in the side, the two forward positions for our side are both relatively simple choices.

Firstly, three-time World Cup winner and twice Copa Libertadores champion Pele—the man widely recognised as the greatest football player ever. With an all-around skill set that few others have ever come close to matching, the Brazilian was the first name on the teamsheet.

Alongside him, although normally used as an inside forward, is Real Madrid icon Alfredo di Stefano. A five-time winner of the European Cup, five-time La Liga top scorer and twice winner of the Ballon d'Or, the Argentine is one of European football's greatest ever players.

With both players among the most prolific goal scorers of the 1950s and 1960s in our side, outscoring opponents should never be an issue.

Substitutes: Mazurkiewicz (Uruguay), Djalma Santos (Brazil), Domingos da Guia (Brazil), Jose Leandro Andrade (Uruguay), Messi (Argentina), Alberto Spencer (Ecuador), Ronaldo (Brazil)

Attempting to pick substitutes for our side is a difficult ask, with a huge number of outstanding players to potentially choose from.

With Gilmar occupying the goalkeeper slot in our starting lineup, 1970 World Cup best goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz takes to the bench as our substitute between the posts.

Legendary right full-back Djalma Santos sees off strong competition from the likes of Cafu, Junior, Roberto Carlos and Javier Zanetti to take to the bench as cover in the full-back positions.

Our replacement centre-back, meanwhile, is Brazilian Domingos da Guia—regarded as his country's best ever central defender.

Double Olympic gold medal and 1930 World Cup winning wing-half Jose Leandro Andrade comes onto the bench as cover for the defensive midfield positions, while Argentine sensation Lionel Messi offers the ability to cover an array of attacking midfield berths.

Among those to miss out in favour of the Barcelona man are Flamengo icon Zico, inventor of the elastico Roberto Rivellino, Uruguay icon Enzo Francescoli and the creative Brazilian hub of 1970, Gerson and flying-winger Jairzinho.

As striking reinforcements, our side can offer Ecuadorian Alberto Spencer—known as one of the most lethal finishers South America has ever witnessed—and the "fenomeno" Ronaldo, scorer of the most World Cup goals ever.

Once more, a host of great players miss out on a place in our side including Romario, Leonidas da Silva, Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Kempes and Jose Manuel Moreno.

It is a thankless task attempting to select the best ever side from a continent that has produced so many true great players. However, while everyone will have different preferences, it is a great discussion to have, so why not leave your suggestions in the comments below.