Top World Football all-star team

Top World Football all-star team

Season’s end all-star team summer 2022

Another top-flight European football season has concluded for summer break. The greatest players on the planet are now taking a step back from the spotlight for the next couple of months. This article examines who those players are and assembles them onto a 23-man roster. Hypothetically speaking if there were an intergalactic football competition, this would be the all-star squad selected to represent Earth. Once identifying a 23-man roster, the article will narrow them down to a starting 11. Here are the top world football stars shining brightest at this moment.

Goalkeepers

Alisson Becker 29 – Brazil, Club-Liverpool

Alisson is considered by many to be the world’s greatest goalkeeper. He kept 20 clean sheets over 36 Premier League matches this past season. That total was good enough to earn Alisson the Premier League Golden Glove award which he shared with Ederson of Manchester City. It’s the second time Alisson has won the award, previously doing so in 2019. Alisson is often the first-choice keeper over Brazilian teammate Ederson. Brazil is favoured to win the 2022 World Cup.      

Thibaut Courtois 30 – Belgium, Club-Real Madrid

Courtois allowing only 29 goals in 36 La Liga matches helped lead Real Madrid to the Spanish league title. His greatest accomplishment though was his heroic man-of-the-match performance in the Champions League Final. Keeping a clean sheet against Liverpool in the Champions League Final was perhaps the greatest goalkeeping performance this past season. He’s been a big part of the successful Belgium teams over the last several years. Once again he’ll be looking to help lead Belgium, ranked number two in the FIFA Rankings, to the World Cup.  

Ederson Moraes 28 – Brazil, Club-Manchester City

Ederson is once again the winner of the Premier League Golden Glove award for the most clean sheets. He’s won this award in each of the past three seasons. However this year he shares the honour with Brazilian teammate Alisson. His distribution skills are otherworldly, often leading to goal-scoring opportunities for his team. He should see some action with Brazil at the 2022 World Cup.   

Defenders

Central Defenders

Marquinhos 28 – Brazil, Club-Paris Saint-Germain

Arguably the best centre-back in the world, Marquinhos was named to the FIFA 22 team of the year. The Paris Saint Germain captain once again led his club to the Ligue 1 title in France. Marquinhos with Brazil is favoured to win the World Cup as FIFA’s top-ranked international team.  

Ruben Dias 25 – Portugal, Club-Manchester City

Named Premier League player of the season for the 2020-21 campaign, Ruben Dias is a key component of Manchester City’s success. Often captaining Manchester City, Dias played a huge role in helping them to the Premier League title again this year. He’ll play a ton of minutes for Portugal at the World Cup.  

David Alaba 29 – Austria, Club-Real Madrid

The two-time Champions League winner with Bayern Munich has enjoyed the transition to Real Madrid this season. Helping Real win La Liga and qualifying for the Champions League Final proved this to be a successful move. Alaba is regarded as one of the greatest Austrian footballers of all time. Unfortunately, he won’t be playing in the World Cup as Austria fell short of qualifying.  

Virgil van Dijk 30 – Netherlands, Club-Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk has been a huge part of Liverpool’s success since arriving in 2018. Accolades include winning the Professional Footballers Association player of the year award in 2019. He helped Liverpool win the Champions League that year and the Premier League the next. Another successful Champions League run in 2022 solidifies his legacy as one of Liverpool’s all-time greatest central defenders. He looks forward to captaining the Netherlands at this year’s World Cup.  

Fullbacks/Wingbacks

Joao Cancelo 27 – Portugal, Club-Manchester City

One of the greatest fullbacks in the world, Joao Cancelo is comfortable playing on the left or right side of the pitch. He was named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and the European Sports Media Team of the Year for 2020-21. Cancelo is deserving to be on this season’s team of the year lists again. He’s part of a very strong Portuguese team challenging for this year’s World Cup.  

Trent Alexander-Arnold 23 – England, Club-Liverpool

The best offensive-minded right-back in world football, Alexander-Arnold has been involved with Liverpool FC since the age of six. Named to the 2020 FIFPro World 11, he should win similar team of the year accolades this year. Trent Alexander-Arnold has won almost every possible team trophy in club football for Liverpool. He hopes to add a World Cup to his trophy case at the end of the year for England. 

Andrew Robertson 28 – Scotland, Club-Liverpool

Arguably the best left-back in the world, Robertson has helped Liverpool become perhaps the greatest club in world football. He’s a Premier League and Champions League winner with Liverpool and should win more trophies. Robertson is expected on many pundits’ team of the year lists. He’s the captain of Scotland and hopes to lead them to the 2022 World Cup.

Alphonso Davies 21 – Canada, Club-Bayern Munich

Alphonso Davies is arguably the best and fastest attack-minded left-back in world football. Having won a Champions League and everything else with Bayern Munich before turning 20, he’s accomplished a lot for his age. Recently named the CONCACAF Men’s Player of the Year for 2021, he was also listed on the FIFPro World 11 for 2020. Davies will play a more offensive role for Canada at the 2022 World Cup. 

Midfielders

Kevin De Bruyne 30 – Belgium, Club-Manchester City

Winning the Premier League Player of the Season is a massive accomplishment. It solidifies De Bruyne’s case for being the world’s best midfielder. As one of the world’s best and most complete footballers, he’s been on everyone’s team of the year lists for the past few years. He’s looking to win the 2022 World Cup for Belgium, something that’s never been done before.    

Rodri 25 – Spain, Club-Manchester City

Rodri is Manchester City’s best central defensive midfielder. He’s a huge reason they’ve won the Premier League two years in a row. He scored in the final game of the season to help put Manchester City on top of the title race. He’ll be playing for Spain at the 2022 World Cup at the end of the year. 

Bernardo Silva 27 – Portugal, Club-Manchester City

Bernardo Silva was named Manchester City’s player of the month in September, October, and November. That’s an amazing feat with all the stars on that squad. Against PSG in November he had a 100% passing rate in a Champions League match. He could help Portugal win the World Cup at the end of the year.

N’Golo Kante 31 – France, Club-Chelsea

N’Golo Kante has been regarded as one of the greatest defensive midfielders for several years now.  He was named to the FIFPro World 11 in 2018 and 2021. Kante was also chosen as the UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the season last year. He will be looking to repeat a World Cup victory for France later this year. 

Jorginho 30 – Italy, Club-Chelsea

Jorginho was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in 2021, while included in the FIFPro World 11 last year. Winning the Champions League with Chelsea a year ago was huge. Winning the Euro Cup with Italy less than two months later in July was a spectacular accomplishment. Unfortunately, we won’t see Jorginho at the World Cup this year as Italy failed to qualify.     

Bruno Fernandes 27 – Portugal, Club-Manchester United

Although he’s had a disappointing season with Manchester United, Bruno Fernandes is one of the world’s great attacking midfielders. He’s won a lot of individual accolades including the being named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2020-2021. He’s hoping to help win Portugal’s first-ever World Cup this year.  

Forwards

Mohamed Salah 29 – Egypt, Club-Liverpool

Mohamed Salah is considered by many the best footballer on the planet. He’s scored the most Premier League goals, winning the Golden Boot award in three seasons including in 2021-2022. Liverpool has won everything possible since Salah joined the club. Unfortunately, we won’t see Salah at the World Cup as Egypt didn’t qualify.

Kylian Mbappe 23- France, Club-Paris Saint Germain

Mbappe is the leading goal scorer in Ligue 1 of France in each of the past four seasons. He’s one of the most dominant threats in World Football and he’s got time to get even better. Mbappe announced he’s staying on at PSG to try and win them the Champions League. He’s a World Cup winner with France, which he’ll try and do again later this year.   

Robert Lewandowski 33 – Poland, Club-Bayern Munich 

Any player who’s scored five goals in nine minutes is something special. Lewandowski has gotten even better with age. He was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2020 and 2021. Lewandowski holds the record for most goals in a Bundesliga season with 41 in the 2020-2021 season. He scored 35 goals in only 34 matches this past season. Lewandowski is captaining Poland at the World cup and is a huge reason they qualified. 

Karim Benzema France 34, Club-Real Madrid

Benzema is in outstanding form leading Real Madrid to the Champions League Final. He’s having one of his best seasons ever at age 34 and is Real Madrid’s all-time assists leader. Benzema is the top goal scorer in Spain’s La Liga. Benzema will be hungry for a World Cup victory this year, having been left off France’s 2018 World Cup winning side.  

Heung-Min Son 29 – Korea, Club-Tottenham Hotspur

Son shared the Premier League Golden Boot award with Salah, however, none of Son’s 23 goals were on penalties. Preferring to play on the left-wing of the attack Son helped qualify Tottenham for next season’s Champions League. Son will captain South Korea in his third World Cup tournament later this year.

Lionel Messi 34- Argentina, Club-Paris Saint Germain

Arguably the greatest footballer of all time Lionel Messi could not be left off this team. With PSG he’s not at the level he once was, yet still won the most recent Ballon d’Or award as the world’s greatest player. A big reason why is that Argentina’s play has been outstanding, having won the Copa America last year. Messi will have one last chance to win the World Cup with Argentina at the end of the year.  

Summary

The players in this 23-man-squad are all legendary. Of the Premier League players, six were chosen from Manchester City, five from Liverpool, two from Chelsea and one from Manchester United and Tottenham. Three were chosen from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid and two from Bayern Munich. This shows how club football at the highest level is totally dominated by the very few strongest organizations. 

As for countries represented with multiple players, Portugal tops the list with four. Brazil and France are represented with three players each and Belgium with two. This gives a pretty good indication of who the strongest teams will be at the World Cup. 

Formations

I’ve chosen the first squad and arranged them into a starting 11. The formation is a 4-3-3 with an all Manchester City midfield as follows in the graphic here:

The secondary squad could be nearly as good. With the players left here’s how they could line up in either a 4-2-3-1 formation or a 4-3-3 formation: