Real v Barca: teams of the century

Can't really argue with that to be honest... although where are owen, beckham and *ahem* woodgate? :-p

I think Real Madrid would win.
Even over a tie of two games, I'd fancy them to go through.

That Barca team there is awseome, but I'll go with gut feeling on this one.

Henrik Larsson without a shadow of a doubt

Arsenal fans will know about him very well!

Arguably you could have just used Barca's current 1st choice 11 (with maybe exception of the current left back). I think it would have more balance than the team shown above with Busquets in the holding role and Pedro and Villa up front with Messi. Although it would be very hard to leave out Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o at the peak of their powers. I just think with the current side you get the most out of 3 of the best Barca players ever in Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.

Your right about the left back slot though, since Gio Van Bronckhorst Barca have struggled in that area. Abidal, Maxwell etc haven't quite cut it!!

No Lineker or Maradona?

For the Real side, the only gripe I have is Cannavaro. For this reason i'd put in Ivan Helguera.

Cannavaro in his prime was a far better player, however Helguera was a real leader and achieved a lot more in his time with the club than Fabio, so in he comes.


For Barcelona, i'd possibly remove Deco and have Toure Yaya in there.

Fascinating though

Real without a shadow of a doubt. Barcelona may have a great team at the moment but Real have been a top force for the whole of the century. Not long ago Barca finished outside of the European places while Real have always challenged at the top. Zidane is possibly the best midfielder to ever live while a strike force of Ronaldo and Raul at their prime must be the best pairing ever along with one of the greatest keepers to ever play and a sublime Hierro and Roberto Carlos. Barcelona may have had outstanding players but only now have they come to better Real

Dani Alves isn't a right back either, so I don't know why you've put him there.

I would have to say that the current barca starting 11 would surely be right up there in the "teams of all time" list so why not have the current team?

Ok better individuals maybe but better team than the current? I've only been watching football about 25 years but I've never seen anything like this Barca team... it's like football pornography!

Looking at both teams, I would have to say Madrid would have the strongest defence. Both look awesome going forward so the team with the strongest defence would win.

no-one to hold for Barca in midfield? A Real style selection for both teams, I'd fancy the current Barca XI to trounce them both to be honest

I didn't mention the Real side, which is mega. Would have been amazing to see Cristiano Ronaldo play with Ronaldo, Figo and Zidane. Plus with Makelele holding it all together and Hierro and Cannavaro at the back.

This team would definitely give the Barca side a run for the money, in fact going forward I think they may even top the Barca side.

I'm just gonna go ahead and make a straight-forward statement:

Barcelona > Real Madrid

;)

Good choices for positions. Only notable omission from Real's team is Guti, but I suppose C. Ronaldo has been a bit too good over these two years. Glad to see people remember how good Deco was pre-Chelsea days. Anyone got any ideas for these teams without their current crop (Barcelona's particularly challenging!)

Gotta plump for Ramos over Salgado for Madrid's Right Back

Yep, that's pretty much spot on the money that one.

Pity really, I was looking forward to partaking in one of those rants in which I would suggest that I had been to some extent mortally offended. Offended to such a degree, off the back of what would have been in truth nothing more than the simple exclusion of a player I rated higher than one you did and in making my argument digress further and further in to lunacy until finally I was expressing views that were not only incoherent but also views that suggested a much greater summised personal dismay that you, despite your role as football correspondent (or whatever) were clearly a cretin and were a shininng example of just how low the BBC's quality of journalism had shrunk and that I would vow from this day forward to never pay the license fee.

But, yeah, I pretty much agree with your teams so lets just let sleeping dogs lie, eh.

Hard to argue but I would put Seydou Keita somewhere in the Barca midfield. That man is the most underrated player in football.

Why not Luis Figo for Barcelona as well? Pretty sure he qualifies becasue he left in 2000.

Would have been more interesting to have the all-time greatest teams, including the likes of Alfredo di Stefano, Johan Cruyff and Ferenc Puskás.

One player missing from the Barcelona squad is Rivaldo.

Alfredo Di Stéfano?????? Where is he? He won the European cup five times, scored 216 goals in 282 league matches making him Real's 2nd highest goal scorer, won Ballon d'Or twice, and is widely regarded as one of the most complete footballers to have ever graced the game. Truly shocking that he is not in this line up...

Pretty much perfect... but. RIVALDO FOR BARCA?

JimPuffin, did you not read the whole blog, it is for players from 2000 onwards, Di Stefano is a tad old now!

I would just have todays Barcelona team rather than the one above. Firstly I don't beleive Samuel Eto has the technical keep the ball ability which the lintch pin to how Barcelona destroy teams. He would be week. In some ways Aleves is week in that area however he does enough running up and down the wing to get away with it overall. Second I wouldn't have Rhonadino as I'm just not sure he would be able to play second fiddle to the team work they currently employe and would do too many flicks and no-looks which would go against the clinical passing nature they have. I might be wrong mind as he was a turely awesome player but he is no Messi.

Good post but what about a the best team made up of the two teams

i agree schop, then i would put the real ronaldo beside messi, oh my word..........would that even be allowed? not to mention diego. deary me

Agree with most of it but surely there has to be a place in the Barca side for Rivaldo? A true legend who is often remembered for his play acting at World Cup 2002, rather than (Amongst other things of course) his destruction of England in World Cup 2002. 36 goals in 2000/1 and almost single handedly hauled them into the champions league. This is one of the best individual performances of a player i can think of... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CHDx3kvFUo

Yes JimPuffin, it is truly shocking that Stefano wasn't included in the team of the current century... Like you, I don't care what anyone says, with 74 years of experience both on the field and in a management role it is a disgrace worthy of ceasing to pay ones licensing fee that this old man was not included.

The country's gone to the dogs I tell ya.

Where is Henrik Larsson ? Must be some sort of mistake.

Those calling for Barca missing a holding midfielder in this team....really? They don't lose the ball!

I couldn't really disagree with either side, they're just awesome, not merely 'really good', or even 'great', but truly AWESOME.

Who kows who'd win in a match between those two giants, but I'm 99.99% certain that they'd beat ANY other team of the millennium quite easily, with the possible exception of AC Milan.

Pique a greatest ever defender? I really cannot get my head around the hype that surrounds him

bob tart, did you ever watch the barca team with eto'o messi(very young and still as good) and ronaldinho. to me they were still playing then like they do today but for some reason people are only starting to notice now.

Well done the BBC, ok'ing another pointless blog!! A whole feature dedicated to a pointless exercise!!! PLEASE can someone who works for the Beeb write about something interesting and relevant?! I know you have had cutbacks and cannot afford decent journalists anymore but for the love of God surely you can do better then this?

Zindane is the best player I have ever seen play....simply incredible. Without a doubt the best player of a generation. Any team with him in it will probably win whatever they're playing in!

would have been interesting if you included the best real/barcelona players of the last twenty years, since 2000 i think the teams you have chosen i cant really argue with. If it was the last twenty years i would probably include hugo sanchez, seedorf, redondo and . Barcelona probably have alot more players that would be included with romario, stoichkov, koeman, laudrup, the de-boer brother, luis enrique, guardiola, rivaldo, kluivert, cocu.

If he hadn't played for Barca before the turn of the century I'd have had Ronaldo as the striker in both dream teams - which demonstrates just how good he was. In fact, if the period we were allowed to draw from was just a couple of seasons longer, I would have had Figo in both teams as well!

REAL MADRID:

Iker Casillas

Sergio Ramos
Pepe
Ricardo Carvalho
Marcelo

Xabi Alonso
Sami Khedira

Angel Di Maria
Mesut Ozil
Cristiano Ronaldo

Gonzalo Higuain



BARCELONA:

Victor Valdes

Dani Alves
Gerard Pique
Carles Puyol
Eric Abidal

Xavi
Sergio Busquets
Andres Iniesta

Lionel Messi
David Villa
Rodriguez Pedro

Both the teams are pretty much what I would choose and I think what a large percentage of other people would choose. Good selections and actually enjoyed a blog going into more detail about why that player should be there, top stuff!

For Barcelona, I would perhaps have Kluivert or Rivaldo (depending on position) instead of Eto'o, certainly Guardiola instead of Deco (not a fan at all of the greatest diver the game has seen, rivaled by Robert Pires) and I know not many would agree, but personally Robert Enke instead of Valdes. I don't think Valdes is very good and it's mainly as a tribute to the German keeper. I would keep Guardiola as coach though, despite him playing! However, we still have no idea what he can do with a less talented group of players so perhaps Rijkaard would be in the same boat as him. Thinking about it, I've always had a soft spot for Henrik Larsson so he may even edge the strikers mentioned above!

For Madrid, I would be close to putting Carvalho in for Cannavaro but the Italian may just edge it. Also a personal choice would be Steve Mcmanaman instead of Figo, he may not have been up to the same standards of some of the Madrid greats but I could not help but marvel at his dribbling ability and despite being a Man United fan he remains a favorite player of mine. Can't really argue with the rest. I don't like Makelele at all but he did his job to perfection. He was a filthy player though.

Also Pep Guardiola gets all the credit for the work Frank Rijkard started

I think if the two teams you've selected were to play against each other tomorrow (whilst all the players mentioned were in their prime) Real Madrid would eat that Barcelona team for breakfast.

TennisEquality,

With this blog getting more than 35 replies in the first ten minutes of it being up, I would suggest that the enough people here find this interesting to warrant it's inclusion on the site.

Great read. It would be interesting to see your all time XIs for the likes of Liverpool, Man Utd and Arsenal.

JIMPUFFIN,

best 11 of this century,

couldnt argue any of them selections would be a fascinating game, i think madrid would win it with zidane figo ronaldo c.ronaldo and raul attacking and makalele holding,

Jonathan guess you're right. The Barca team now is arguably the best they've ever had. Can you give us your 7 subs from both teams comprising 1 GK, 2 DFs, 2 MDs and 2 FWs? Can't really decide which team will win but Barca's chemistry with majority current players might just give them an edge.

No Romario or Stoichkov?

No Redondo?

Controversial.

totally agree with the real madrid side but i would change the barca side slightly with luis enrique instead of deco and find a place for rivaldo in there

When you see the Barcelona back four and keeper written down like that you realise how laughable it is to suggest the current side is one of the best ever.

They are distinctly average.

as much as I like Cannavaro -probably one of the all-times best defenders- I think he played poorly for Real Madrid esp. after the high standard he set in World Cup 2006.

What I could envision was there would be plenty of goals between these 2 selections. Bring the match on :)

Where is Romario for Barcelona?

Sorry folks, beckham, owen, woodgate, even macmanaman were simply not good enough to be included.

Sorry but having the cut off at 2000 makes this Blog an automatic FAIL of the highest order.

2 unbelievable teams. Surely no other club could come close with their respective 'team of the centuries'.

Also, Ronaldo played best when he was in a Barca shirt, forget about the time when he was in Real.

Why can't people read a blog before posting? Why is everyone complaining that players who finished playing way before the year 2000 aren't included, despite the author stating that the yare only picking players since the year 2000. If it was a "greatest ever" then Valdes clearly wouldn't be in the Barca team, would he?

Christ.

Only Deco is a dodgy pick.

I think that is pretty much spot on. I think as good as Deco was pre-Chelsea, I think Yaya Toure was better - plus that would give the team more balance. Sergio Busquests and Seydou Keita who miss out are also excellent, along with of course David Villa. Obviously too Beckham and Owen were excellent for Madrid, along with Guti.

Chygrynsky in place of Puyol. He is a giant of a player. Puyol is like a mouse in front of him.

Oh and Real would win should these teams meet purely down to the fact they have Zidane!

"...Luis Figo gets the nod ahead of David Beckham because on his day the Portuguese winger was unstoppable."

=========================================================================


Figo gets the nod ahead of Beckham? You make it sound like it a was close decision. Beckham had a great right foot for crosses and freekicks, but that's about it. Comparing them both at their best, Beckham wasn't even remotely close to Figo as an all round player.

I know that we're talking about the Real's top team from 2000 onwards, but if we included the last century, no way could the likes of Di Stefano and Puskás be left out.

Do some people not read the blog before commenting? You would think it was simple enough to understand that these teams are made from players after the year 2000. Contribute something useful to the discussion rather than stating players who were clearly before the year 2000.

There are some strange ones on here.

Firstly we have people who clearly can't read the title of the blog.

Secondly, we have people advocating Steve McManaman in the Real team ahead of European and World Player of the year winner Luis Figo.

Thirdly, we have Robert Enke being proposed as Barca goalie, despite playing twice for the first team.

Then we have a joker claiming that the current Barca team is "distinctly average". A team who has cleaned up all in front of them for the past 4 years.

Deary me.

Step away from the keyboard folks!

Is it only United fans who would argue that
Schmeichel, Neville, Staam, Vidic, Evra, Giggs, Keane, Scholes, Beckham, Ronaldo & Rooney,
could beat/rival those teams? Or would they need Eric Djemba Djemba as well?

Plus if there was any way in which this game could be played, I'd predict -

Real Madrid 4-2 Barcelona

Madrid goals - Raul (2), Zidane, C.Ronaldo

Barca goals - Eto'o, Messi.

who the hell is fernando hierro? Never heard of him. Pepe would come in as a CB anyday

@The Good Dr_M so would "who is better, Ronaldo or Messi?", does prevent this blog from being lazy and lacking in substance! My post has been removed too which to me would suggest I hit a nerve. Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of the BBC website (and have been for years!) which is why it is frustrating to see it become so weak! Spelling errors, grammar errors, 2nd hand news etc etc. I would like to read something that actually gets me thinking This is a WEAK blog!

What a silly blog!

The major problem with these BEST players of the past DECADE is that the teams they played in were never really truly dominant in European or World football. They were sporadic winners of the major trophies and regularly fell at the final hurdle.

This Barcelona team is one of the truly great teams that I have seen in over sixty years of watching football...good, if not better, than Brazil's 1970 team, although it would have been some match...... especially given the Brazilians current ages!

In my opinion, George Best would have been the most memorable player of all time had he not lost his way and wasted half of his career years but Zidane is by some margin the most gifted all round player of the past 25 years. I just wish pundits would judge such comparisons over a longer period than two or three 'flash' seasons. If they did, the judgements they make might be a bit more sound, since the longevity of current day 'great' forwards is usually fleeting.

Right, so under a bit of pressure, here's the best team from both XIs - with a 4-3-3 formation, because frankly Barca have rocked that for most of the century.

GK - Casillas

RB - Dani Alves
LB - Roberto Carlos
CB - Fernando Hierro
CB - Carles Puyol

DMC - Claude Makelele
MC - Zinedine Zidane
MC - Xavi

LW - Ronaldinho
RW - Messi
ST - Ronaldo

No place for Pique, Iniesta, Raul or Cristiano Ronaldo. Brutal.

@Daniel Thomas

I think United's defence there is better than Barca's and up there with Madrids. I think they'd competer but I don't know if Keane and Scholes could stop Zidane and Figo or Xavi & Iniesta, or if Evra and G.Neville would cope with C.Ronaldo or Messi of Barca. Plus anyside with C. Ronaldo in has a chance of competing.

Compete? Yes, definitely. Win? I can't see it I'm afraid.

Zidane is sheer class and a proposition that the current Barca team will unfortunately never face. The way he inspires his team mates is testament to his talents.

He simplifies the game for his team mates by making himself available and taking on the creative duties. I think it was Lizarazu who said `If we don't know what to do, we just pass it to Zizou'.

His skill and technique was simply peerless. He coupled that with immense mental toughness and self confidence to produce consistently breathtaking performances and usually on the biggest of occasions.

I miss him so much. I hope we see another player like him although it's very unlikely.

Is it just me, or is this adulation of Spanish football getting a bit over the top?

There is a duopoly (leaning towards a monopoly) and both of those clubs are massively in debt.

Yet time and again, they are given free advertising on the BBC. Perhaps if the BBC spent as much time promoting the League Cup in this country, that competition would be in better health.

Isn't Redondo better than Makelele? Or is he before the 2000's (1999-2000 does not count, only half a season)? A very good list, although I agree with one commenter who said that the Barca team is not balanced enough since they dont have the enforcer Real have in Makelele. Somehow Busquets (first choice),Van Bommel or Mascherano need to fit in the team to create the balance(replacing deco, although as you mentioned, deco-ronnie combination was irressistible). Busquets and Senna's role in ensuring Spain atlast become champions should not be underestimated. Just for the sake of argument, if we are judging on quality and not performance for their respective team, I would also say riquelme can put up a fight with them as he is absurdly talented.

You most definitely can't pick Ronaldo for a Real 11 when you consider what he achieved at Barcelona. Again demonstrating why having the cutoff at 200 is a FAIL. Visca El Barca.

A Change in the Barca Side for sure i think is Ronaldinho out and Histo Stoichkov in!!!!
Also Deco i don't think he was up there with Barca's best!!!

61)
I clearly stated the choice of Mcmanaman and Enke were for personal reasons. The fact that one is a player I personally enjoyed watching a lot in his time and the other a tribute to a man who was killed by a severe illness many football fans wouldn't care about. That is why I would choose those two players.

And why the lack of people mentioning Pep Guardiola in Midfield? Anyone who watched him play knows that he was absolutely brilliant. Many of the current Barcelona team and youth team state him as the reason they play football.

Stevenson

Would Xavi be as good alongside Zidane as he is with Iniesta, given their knowledge of each other? Figo in for Xavi simply because Zidane has to replace one of Xavi and Iniesta, and I dont know if either could work as well alongside Zidane. Otherwise, fair play spot on :)

@67 Jonathan, Please give up. Raul in place of Ronaldo firstly because he is spanish, and secondly, he is spanish. same goes for Iniesta in place of Zidane.

Can't really argue with the Madrid line-up, but I might have added Luis Enrique, Rivaldo or Kluivert to the Barca side

if your memory is not too short: Butragueño, Redondo, Hugo Sanchéz, Maradona, Cruyff

@MrBlueBurns

I think I'd agree. Certainly Valencia, At.Madrid and Deportivo aren't the forces they once were - and the gap at the top between Barca/Madrid and everyone else is massive. So what happens when one of Barca and Madrid collapse because of the sheer volume of debt?

Right, so under a bit of pressure, here's the best team from both XIs - with a 4-3-3 formation, because frankly Barca have rocked that for most of the century.


Iker Casillas

Dani Alves
Carles Puyol
Pepe
Marcelo

Xavi
Mesut Ozil
Andres Iniesta

Lionel Messi
David Villa
Cristiano Ronaldo

Now there's a game of football! Can't really argue with the teams although maybe Rivaldo would get a place in the Barca line up.

That Madrid side would get smashed. No balance in midfield, you can't even pretend C. Ronaldo is a midfielder.

I'd put Fernando Redondo in for C. Ronaldo, even if he did only play half of 2000 with Real before going to Milan.

I can not believe this man has hardly been mentioned........RIVALDO! He carried that Barca season when they were struggling to qualify for Champions league. In 2001 Barca had to beat Valencia to qualify......Rivaldo scored the most stunning hat trick at the Nou camp, including the winner in the final minute - the most audacious overhead kick when he flicked it up to himself 20 yards out and rifled it into the top corner.

Ask any barca fan about that moment and they will tell you that Rivaldo is a GOD to them!!!

A very good idea for promoting Spanish football.
My first thought was "what about Ajax and AC Milan as best teams of the century?".

What's this about best in the world / best in the century, in England?
You lot make it sound like a disease kind of thing.

@Jamos1992

I agree, and thank you - I didn't expect anyone to take it seriously.

I agree that these two line ups are destructive on paper, 7 world player of the years on show, 5 on the Madrid side. Though I would say the current Barca side provides more balance and the current player attributes (Pedro,Busquests,etc) fit perfectly into the Barca way of playing, really completing and bringing the best out of Messi and Iniesta.
Rivaldo definitely should on the list, his 00-01 season was phenomenal, though if the list is really concerned with 2000 onwards then 1 season won't cut it.

Not been reading Sid Lowe recently by any chance Stevo?

https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/sid_lowe/01/03/barca.alltime/index.html
https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/sid_lowe/12/28/realmadrid.alltimeXI/index.html

Those teams are very formidable but would echo a few others sentiments that perhaps Rivaldo deserved a spot?

He was awesome although my remaining memory of him was when he play acted to to get a Turkish player sent off in the 2002 WC.

Also i think if this was done in 2 years time Villa would probably overtake Etoo as the goal machine.

As an Arsenal fan i would have liked Henry to make more of an impact than he did but he arrived a bit late.

Great blog and very refreshing from other senior writers controversial, divisive and sometimes simply rubbish blogs designed to provoke angst amongst at least one set of fans.

If that Madrid team were around today, it would be a guaranteed champions league winner every year. Absolute footballing prime right there. The attacking finesse of that team would be outstanding to watch.

66. At 17:08pm 19th Apr 2011, gadfly wrote:

What a silly blog!

The major problem with these BEST players of the past DECADE is that the teams they played in were never really truly dominant in European or World football. They were sporadic winners of the major trophies and regularly fell at the final hurdle.

This Barcelona team is one of the truly great teams that I have seen in over sixty years of watching football...good, if not better, than Brazil's 1970 team, although it would have been some match...... especially given the Brazilians current ages!

In my opinion, George Best would have been the most memorable player of all time had he not lost his way and wasted half of his career years but Zidane is by some margin the most gifted all round player of the past 25 years. I just wish pundits would judge such comparisons over a longer period than two or three 'flash' seasons. If they did, the judgements they make might be a bit more sound, since the longevity of current day 'great' forwards is usually fleeting.

-----------------------------

What a silly post.

You state that players from this article were in teams that didn't dominate world or european football? You then go on to say that this Barca team are one of the best you have ever seen? I would like to mention that they infact have appeared in 1 champions league final in the last 3 years, and may well make it to 2 finals in 4 years if they dispose of Madrid in the Semis. Hardly European domination? Come back to me when they've won 2 back to back Champions Leagues.

Just thought I'd throw in that if Manchester United get past Schalke, we will have appeared in 3 finals in 4 years, including 2 back to back champions league finals. Not to mention winning 3 premier leagues in the last 4 years, losing out on the 4th by 1 point, and looking likely to make it 4 premierships in 5 years if the league stays as it is.

Oh god, here you go again with your best XI combos...

First thoughts, Messi (worlds greatestest player eva if you believe the pundits) surely has to be ahead of Raul. I know he's a living legend, but I don't think you can compare, especially if you're including Cristiano.

Then you have Cannavaro instead of Puyol. Sorry, but Puyol has been at the club for at least a decade rather than a couple of seasons after running away from a scandal at Juventus.

Other than those two clangers, i'd say Xavi ahead of Makelele, who is a far more complete player, if fundamentally different; and i'd prefer either of Alves or Ramos at right back.

At least you had Ronaldo up front!

Come on! An all time Real Madrid side without Ferenc Puskas? A goal machine alongside Di Stefano and that was in old money! Fat Ronaldo in in the Real side? Dream on!

That Real team is majestic. I think they'd overcome the Barca of today.

https://timhi.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/aja-1973/

You might find there another best team of the century.
Sometimes these blogs are really funny :-)

what about luis enrique

I'll probably be shouted down for this given how good Ronaldo was as an individual... But what about pairing Fernando Morientes with Raul? Together they formed the most formidable strike force in Europe. While Ronaldo is unquestionably a better player, in my opinion Morientes was a much better partner for Raul.
Additionally, I have to agree with many others, the Barca team looks too unbalanced. It's missing a Yaya Toure or a Busquets. While Deco had an eye for a tackle, he was never a player in the same mould as Toure or Busquets.

1. Read Blog
2. Comment

Otherwise you just seem like twa...

Good blog I thought, not news-ey but not pretending to be! Also you've made me wistful for Ronaldo, he was class wasn't he!

Then we have a joker claiming that the current Barca team is "distinctly average". A team who has cleaned up all in front of them for the past 4 years.

===

Except that they haven't!! Stop ignoring the occasions when Barcelona have lost!

Surely Rivaldo in for probably Deco... I personally preferred Rivaldo in his prime to Ronaldinho. Otherwise, hard to argue with.

As good as it can be and a great choice in picking Salgado instead of Ramos who is hugely over rated. I can not wait for tomorrow!!!