Former England striker Michael Owen selects his ultimate World Cup lineup, including icons like Pele, Maradona, Messi, and Ronaldo, along with defensive stalwarts Beckenbauer and Maldini.
Former England striker Michael Owen has curated his personal all-time FIFA World Cup dream team, set to be unveiled in an exclusive column for Daily Mail Sport.
The 46-year-old, who famously burst onto the global stage at the 1998 World Cup with a stunning solo goal against Argentina, draws on his own experiences across three tournaments to assemble a lineup brimming with legends from football's most iconic nations. Owen's selection, which follows a 4-2-3-1 formation, comprises eight players who have collectively lifted the World Cup 14 times, underlining the sheer weight of talent and achievement within this hypothetical starting eleven.
At the back, Owen opts for English goalkeeping great Gordon Banks, whose heroic saves in England's 1966 triumph remain etched in football lore, including his remarkable denial of Pele's header in the 1970 quarter-final. The full-back positions are manned by two Brazilian stalwarts: Cafu, the only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals and winner in 1994 and 2002, and Roberto Carlos, whose marauding runs and thunderous free-kicks defined Brazil's 2002 victory.
The center-back pairing is a European masterclass, pitting together Franz Beckenbauer, the German libero who captained West Germany to glory in 1974 and later won the World Cup as a manager, and Paolo Maldini, the Italian defensive colossus whom Owen hails as the greatest defender of all time, edging out England's Bobby Moore for the spot. In midfield, Owen deploys a double pivot of two attack-minded maestros: Zinedine Zidane, the French playmaker who orchestrated France's 1998 title with two goals in the final, and Sir Bobby Charlton, an English legend whose midfield mastery and lethal shot powered England's 1966 campaign.
Owen playfully questions who will win the ball from such a creative duo, emphasizing their offensive capabilities. The attacking midfield trio is a fearsome collection of three of football's greatest talents: Pele, the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970) and a symbol of Brazil's golden era; Diego Maradona, whose virtuoso displays carried Argentina to victory in 1986, highlighted by his 'Hand of God' and the 'Goal of the Century'; and Lionel Messi, the modern maestro who finally secured his World Cup in 2022, cementing his legacy.
Up front, Owen selects Ronaldo Nazario, the Brazilian phenomenon who won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002, and who briefly overlapped with Owen at Real Madrid. Ronaldo's 15 World Cup goals stood as a record until Miroslav Klose surpassed him in 2014. This XI represents a blend of eras, styles, and nations, each player chosen for their indelible impact on the world stage.
Owen's selections inevitably spark debate, particularly the omission of players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, or Gerd Muller, but his choices reflect personal admiration and historical significance. The 4-2-3-1 formation allows for a fluid attacking setup, with the midfield three capable of interchanging positions, while the defensive solidity of Beckenbauer and Maldini provides balance. Owen's column promises deeper insights into his rationale, drawing on his own encounters with many of these icons.
As the World Cup prepares to captivate again, Owen's dream team serves as a nostalgic reminder of the tournament's rich history and the legends who have defined it
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