OK, I sort of lied to you in the title. It really is supposed to be an all global team, but, the best players are playing in Europe. So the team is made up of players that play in Europe. Sorry, but that's where the best action happens these days, and thus, the best players. My team is a 4-3-3, I couldn't decide only two out of my three forwards. After this post, I will post a Global Team of the Year Under 20. And after that, some other awards as well. Well, here goes. Remember, this is a list of players who performed the best THIS SEASON. I'm not going to take into account anything else but this season.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), and Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
- Cristiano Ronaldo scored 40 goals in his La Liga season. I say again, 40. That's more than an average of one goal per game. That's incredible. Plus, he's probably the best Real Madrid player right now. And, plus, everything everybody else says about Ronaldo. I don't personally like him because he's a former Red Devil, but I do respect him, and I think he deserves to be on this team.
- Mario Gomez scored 28 goals in the League, the top scorer. Out of the 8 games he played for Bayern Munich in the Champions League this season, he scored 8 goals. Even though his team only made it to the Round of 16, he was the tournaments second best scorer. He was Bayern Munich's best forward this season, and he deserves a spot on the Global Team.
- Lionel Messi...where do I even begin? 12 goals in Champions League this season, the most of anyone this season. Plus, he was named Player of the Tournament. 31 goals in La Liga season, with 17 assists. Out of his 55 appearances in all competitions this year, he scored 53 goals. 53 goals, 55 games. Pretty outstanding. Those are his stats for this year, but I believe this 23 year old has a very long and prosperous career ahead of him.
Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Wesley Sneijder (Inter)
- Xavi Hernandez is perhaps the craftiest midfielder player in the world. He was a key component to Barcelona's success in La Liga, as well as in the Champions League. He's one of the players that makes Barcelona so good, and he has earned this spot on the team.
- Andres Iniesta, is much like Xavi. The two are spanish midfielders who have played their whole careers at Barcelona. Both are short, and knock in goals every now and again. Iniesta had the second most amount of assists in the Champions League, and was also vital to Barcelona's success this season. He deserves this spot.
- This was a hard choice on the last midfield spot. But, I have to give it to an outstanding midfielder, who is consistent in his abilities as a footballer. Many players could have gotten this third midfield spot, but Sneijder did an excellent job this season, as he does every other season. He knocked in a good amount of assists and goals this season for Inter, even though they didn't win the Serie A title or Champions League. Sneijder is a very talented footballer, and everyone wants someone as good as he is.
Defenders: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Thiago Silva (AC Milan)
- Ashley Cole is the best wing back in football. He's up the field, helping out the attack, getting assists, almost every single time his team are in possession. He played in all 38 league games for Chelsea, and with good reason. Cole is certainly one of the greatest defenders currently playing the game. He's smart, fast, and strong. Exactly what a defender needs.
- Nemanja Vidic is the leader behind the immovable Manchester United defense. He was named The Premier League Player of The Year, and he most certainly deserves a spot on this team. I may not personally like him because of his team, but I most certainly acknowledge him as probably the best centre back in the world.
- Gerard Pique, the new face of defence. He's young, big, strong, fast, and he even knocks in a few goals every now and again. Carles Puyol is getting old, and this man, Pique, is his replacement. He's already the most used defender by the world's greatest team (Barcelona), and, he only gets better and better as you watch him. This man has a very bright future in football.
- The Serie A Champions need a representative, and Thiago Silva is my choice. I'm not just picking him because Milan won the title, I'm picking him because he is one of the REASONS Milan won the title. He's part of arguably the best line of defense in the world, and he's a lightning fast Brazilian who likes to get forward. He played in 39 games this season for AC Milan, and I'd like to think, that he is the future of their defense. He's a fantastic footballer, and he's earned a spot on this team.
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04)
- This was a tough decision. Between Neuer and Van Der Sar, it's almost impossible to decide on the best goalkeeper this season. But, I made my choice, and I'm going to stick with it. Neuer is one of the major reasons that Schalke were so successful in the Champions League this season. He's agile, and he's overall a very good goalkeeper. He had 11 clean sheets in the Bundesliga this season, and gave up 44 goals, which is only a small amount above 1 goal a game. Neuer is Germany's number one goalkeeper, and he's attracting the eye of bigger clubs. One being, Bayern Munich, where he will be moving to in the summer.
Manager: Rudi Garcia (Lille)
- Over 50 years. Over 50 years ago, Lille last won the Ligue 1 title. This manager, Rudi Garcia, made it happen once again. Much of the team that he managed were given Ligue 1 awards, and he is greatly applauded for his efforts with the French side. He plans on making Lille a top name in football, and he is definetly a manager that could possibly do it.
Well, there's the team for you! I hope you enjoyed reading about who I think makes up the greatest team in football this year. Comment below if you feel someone else should have made the team, or any other concerns you have. Thanks! And stay tuned for more awards I will be giving.
