The prestigious magazine France Football will not award the traditional Ballon d'Or this season, but it has projected a special award to choose the best team of all time. It is called Ballon d'Or Dream Team and some of its nominees are already known, specifically the goalkeepers and defenders.
The names of the midfielders will be announced next week and the forwards will be announced immediately after. On December 17th, the 170 journalists who usually vote for the Ballon d'Or will choose the best eleven of all time by position.
- Lionel Messi won his sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019
So far, the list of the top 10 best goalkeepers of all time includes the name of Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Alongside him, other highly esteemed names such as Banks, Buffon, Maier, Neuer, Nkono, Schmeichel, Van der Sar, Yashin, and Zoff. Only one of them will be in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. Casillas is aiming for it, after his successful career at Real Madrid and with the national team.
Dream Team Ballon d'Or: vote for your greatest goalkeeper of all time https://t.co/FT0zPxEDFT
— France Football (@francefootball) October 5, 2020
The names of the best right-backs were also announced. The list includes Bergomi, Cafu, Carlos Alberto, Djalma Santos, Gentile, Kaltz, Lahm, Suurbier, Thuram, and Vogts. Brazilians are clear favorites in this position, although the notable absence of Dani Alves stands out.
Dream Team Ballon d'Or: vote for your best right back https://t.co/DtGH64jrIv
— France Football (@francefootball) October 5, 2020
In the central defenders chapter, another Spanish player is included in the list of candidates: Sergio Ramos. The Real Madrid and national team defender is among the top 10 for France Football, along with Baresi, Beckenbauer, Desailly, Koeman, Bobby Moore, Pascal, Sammer, and Scirea. There is a lot of talent in this position, but Ramos has a chance to win.
The 10 nominees as the best center back of all time! #BOdreamteam https://t.co/dOeHb2zxwR pic.twitter.com/8Ub7FYKy0Y
— France Football (@francefootball) October 5, 2020
The names of the ten left-backs who are vying for the Dream Team were also revealed. They are Brehme, Breitner, Cabrini, Facchetti, Junior, Krol, Maldini, Marcelo, Nilson Santos, and Roberto Carlos.
The 10 nominees as the best left-back of all time! #BOdreamteam https://t.co/cPqp5QDkjF pic.twitter.com/w4Yw8kHBWN
— France Football (@francefootball) October 5, 2020
France Football plans to announce on October 12th the 20 defensive midfielders and the 20 offensive midfielders who are competing for the team; finally, on October 19th, the top 10 left forwards, the top 10 right forwards, and the top 10 center forwards will be known.