Ballon d’Or team announced: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ronaldo Nazario selected as best-ever forwards

Barcelona and Real Madrid legends have dominated the three forward positions in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team, which was announced on Monday.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario were selected as the three greatest forward players ever to play the sport.

Messi has netted 642 goals – one short of Pele’s all-time record at one club – across 746 appearances for the Catalan giants, for whom he has won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns among 34 total trophies: behind only former teammate Dani Alves in the current active player list.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored an astonishing 754 goals across his senior career at club and international level, including 450 in 438 appearances at Los Blancos – with his spell in the Spanish capital between 2009 and 2018 dominated Real Madrid news, but is now at Juventus.

Former Brazil international striker Ronaldo Nazario was also on the list – the current Real Valladolid president scored 47 goals in 49 Blaugrana appearances in 1996-97 before hitting 104 goals in 177 outings at Madrid.

Russian goalkeeping great Lev Yashin was selected as the best goalkeeper ever, while Frank Beckenbauer was selected as the greatest central defender with full-back duo Cafu – once of Real Zaragoza – and Paolo Maldini on the right and left sided defenders respectively.

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez and Lotthar Matthaus were the two defensive midfielders selected with Diego Maradona and Pele as the two attacking midfielders.

Tags Ballon d'Or Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi Ronaldo Nazario

8 Comments

  1. Where is Steve Bull of Wolverhampton on this list?
    Played for England while Wolves were in the 3rd division.
    Wanted by top European teams, but gave his life to Wolves fc.
    He signed a life time contract , with his only prerequisite being, if Wolves aren’t playing on a Sunday, he can play for a local pub team.
    Loyalty, passion and English.

    They don’t make them like that anymore.

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