FIFA World Cup Dream Team

Last updated

The FIFA World Cup Dream Team is an all-time FIFA World Cup all-star team published by FIFA in 2002 after conducting an internet poll of fans to select a World Cup dream team. It was announced on 18 June 2002 during the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Contents

Background

After publishing the World Team of the 20th Century including the contintental selections just before the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, FIFA decided to release an XI about the best players featured in a World Cup from 1930 until 2002. It was the second time that FIFA organized an Internet poll after the FIFA Player of the Century poll in 2000. The result of the XI would be announced during the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan.

Poll

More than one-and-a-half million fans worldwide voted in the poll, conducted by the official FIFA website, www.FIFAworldcup.com, with Diego Maradona of Argentina receiving 111,035 the most votes of every player. [1] Brazil's Pelé, who played for three World Cup-winning teams, won 107,539 votes, 1974 World Cup Champion with West Germany Franz Beckenbauer received 81,442 and Zinedine Zidane who scored twice for France in their 1998 triumph, came in fourth with 80,527. [1] [2] It was the second time in two years that Maradona would beat Pele in an internet worldwide poll. [3] [4]

Top 5 by votes

RankPlayerNationalityVotes
1 Diego Maradona Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 111,035
2 Pelé Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 107,539
3 Franz Beckenbauer Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 81,442
4 Zinedine Zidane Flag of France.svg  France 80,527
4 Paolo Maldini Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 58,523

FIFA Goal of the century
Diego Maradona's second goal against England in their 1986 quarter-final was also voted the FIFA goal of the century. [5]

Selection

It is an eleven-member side divided as one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three forwards (3–4–3 formation). The XI includes three defenders with left-back Paolo Maldini chosen as a right back.

3-4-3 formation Soccer formation 3-4-3.svg
3–4–3 formation
Player [1] Career playing position National side(s)
Years represented
Votes
Lev Yashin GoalkeeperFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
24,587
Paolo Maldini Left-back and central defenderFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
1990, 1994, 1998, 2002
58,523
Franz Beckenbauer Central defenderFlag of Germany.svg  West Germany
1966, 1970, 1974
81,442
Roberto Carlos Left-back defenderFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
1998, 2002, 2006
58,200
Roberto Baggio Second striker, or as an attacking midfielderFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
1990, 1994, 1998
55,625
Zinedine Zidane Attacking midfielderFlag of France.svg  France
1998, 2002, 2006
80,527
Michel Platini Advanced midfield playmakerFlag of France.svg  France
1978, 1982, 1986
53,783
Diego Maradona Attacking midfielder or as a second strikerFlag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
1982, 1986, 1990, 1994
111,035
Romário StrikerFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
1990, 1994
29,480
Johan Cruyff Forward or attacking midfielderFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
1974
53,645
Pelé Forward or attacking midfielderFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
107,539

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "FIFA DREAM TEAM: Maradona voted top player". Express India. 19 June 2002. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  2. Marcelo Leme de Arruda (24 July 2014). "World All-Time Teams". RSSSF . Retrieved 2 August 2017.
  3. Maradona beats Pele and Beckenbauer in poll to decide the all-time greatest team (2002) - independent.co.uk
  4. Pele 'freezing me out' of FIFA says Maradona -timesofmalta.com
  5. Maradona lands in Tokyo - BBC