The Greatest: – how the panel voted

The Greatest XI:

Lev Yashin

Cafu

Paolo Maldini

Bobby Moore

Franz Beckenbauer

Johan Cruyff

Alfredo di Stefano

Zinedine Zidane

Diego Maradona

Pele

Lionel Messi

By position

Goalkeepers

Lev Yashin (Soviet Union) 31

Gordon Banks (England) 6

Dino Zoff (Italy) 6

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) 5

Peter Schmeichel (Denmark) 5

Iker Casillas (Spain) 4

Sepp Maier (West Germany) 3

Pat Jennings (Northern Ireland) 2

Oliver Kahn (Germany) 2

Edwin Van der Sar (Holland) 2

Amadeo Carrizo (Argentina) 1

Petr Cech (Czech Republic) 1

Michel Preud’homme (Belgium) 1

Walter Zenga (Italy) 1

Full Backs

Paolo MaIdini (Italy) 48

Cafu (Brazil) 24

Carlos Alberto (Brazil) 18

Roberto Carlos (Brazil) 13

Djalma Santos (Brazil) 11

Giacinto Facchetti (Italy) 7

Nilton Santos (Brazil) 6

Berti Vogts (West Germany) 4

Lilian Thuram (France) 3

Ruud Krol (Holland) 2

Victor Rodriguez Andrade (Uruguay) 2

Karl-Heinz Schnellinger (West Germany) 2

Andreas Brehme (West Germany) 1

Paul Breitner (West Germany) 1

Dani Alves (Brazil) 1

Claudio Gentile (Italy) 1

Phillip Lahm (Germany) 1

Bixente Lizerazu (France) 1

Danny McGrain (Scotland) 1

Javier Zanetti (Argentina) 1

Central Defenders

Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany) 68

Bobby Moore (England) 23

Franco Baresi (Italy) 22

Daniel Passarella (Argentina) 4

Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) 3

John Charles (Wales) 3

Marcel Desailly (France) 3

Paul McGrath (Republic of Ireland) 3

Giuseppe Bergomi (Italy) 2

Jack Charlton (England) 1

Riccardo Ferri (Italy) 1

Elias Figueroa (Chile) 1

Fernando Hierro (Spain) 1

Alessandro Nesta (Italy) 1

Roberto Rosato (Italy) 1

Jose Santamaria (Uruguay/Spain) 1

Georg Schwarzenbeck (West Germany) 1

Gaetano Scirea (Italy) 1

John Terry (England) 1

Obdulio Varela (Uruguay) 1

Billy Wright (England) 1

Midfielders

Diego Maradona (Argentina) 64

Johan Cruyff (Holland) 58

Zinedine Zidane (France) 28

Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina/Spain) 24

Michel Platini (France) 18

Garrincha (Brazil) 15

George Best (Northern Ireland) 12

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 7

Bobby Charlton (England) 5

Lothar Matthaus (West Germany) 5

Andres Iniesta (Spain) 4

Xavi (Spain) 4

Didi (Brazil) 3

Socrates (Brazil) 3

Roberto Baggio (Italy) 2

Toninho Cerezo (Brazil) 2

Francisco Gento (Spain) 2

Ryan Giggs (Wales) 2

Stanley Matthews (England) 2

Johan Neeskens (Holland) 2

Rivelino (Brazil) 2

Zico (Brazil) 2

Liam Brady (Republic of Ireland) 1

Zoltan Czibor (Hungary) 1

Roberto Donadoni (Italy) 1

Luis Figo (Portugal) 1

Jairzinho (Brazil) 1

Roy Keane (Republic of Ireland) 1

Grzegorz Lato (Poland) 1

Claude Makelele (France) 1

Luis Monti (Argentina/Italy) 1

Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic) 1

Gunter Netzer (West Germany) 1

Fernando Redondo (Argentina) 1

Rob Rensenbrink (Holland) 1

Frank Rijkaard (Holland)  1

Bryan Robson (England) 1

Ronaldinho (Brazil) 1

Juan Schiaffino (Uruguay/Italy) 1

Strikers

Pele (Brazil) 56

Lionel Messi (Argentina) 46

Ferenc Puskas (Hungary) 11

Ronaldo (Brazil) 9

Marco Van Basten (Holland) 5

Gerd Muller (West Germany) 4

Oleg Blokhin (Soviet Union) 2

Eusebio (Portugal) 2

Guiseppe Meazza (Italy) 1

Luigi Riva (Italy) 1

Romario (Brazil) 1

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (West Germany) 1

Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) 1

Panel

Paddy Agnew, World Soccer, Italy

Team: Jennings, Thuram, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Cruyff, Neeskens, Zidane, Messi, Maradona, Van Basten

Manager: Mourinho, Lippi, Michels, Pozzo, Weisz

Marco Ansaldo, La Stampa, Italy

Team: Zoff, Vogts, Passerella, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Garrincha, Neeskens, Maradona, Rivelino, Van Basten, Pele

Manager: Kovacs, Happel, Sacchi, Guardiola, Michels

Philippe Auclair, France Football

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Moore, Fachetti, Garrincha, Di Stefano, Platini, Blokhin, Pele, Cruyff

Manager Chapman, Herrera, Hogan, Lobanovskyi, Ferguson

Patrick Barclay, London Evening Standard, England

Team: Buffon, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Messi, Platini, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Trappatoni, Lippi, Pozzo, Chapman, Mourinho

Colin Benjamin, Dominica

Team: Yashin, Carlos Alberto, Moore, Baresi, Maldini, Best, Beckenbauer, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Ferguson, Michels, Clough, Paisley, Lippi

Nick Bidwell, World Soccer, Germany

Team: Banks, Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Facchetti, Matthews, Didi, Platini, Maradona, Pele, Di Stefano

Manager: Zagallo, Sacchi, Michels, Busby, Happel

Fredi Bobic, former Germany international

Team: Zoff, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Brehme, Figo, Maradona, Pele, Cruyff, Messi, Muller

Manager: Ferguson, Hitzfeld, Mourinho, Lattek, Wenger

Zbigniew Boniek, former Poland international

Team: Buffon, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Scirea, Facchetti, Lato, Platini, Zidane, Messi, Cruyff, Maradona

Manager Trapattoni, Lobanovskyi, Piechniczek, Guardiola, Mourinho

Packie Bonner, former Rep Ireland international

Team: Jennings, McGrain, Moore, McGrath, Maldini, Maradona, Keane, Cruyff, Messi, Pele, Best

Manager: Zagallo, Ferguson, Beckenbauer, Michels, J Charlton

Francois Colin, De Standaard, Belgium

Team: Preud’homme, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Socrates, Di Stefano, Messi, Maradona, Pele, Cruyff

Manager: Ferguso, Paisley, Sacchi, Cruyff, Santana

Mike Collett, Reuters, England

Team: Jennings, Moore, Gentile, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Cruyff, Platini, Zidane, Messi, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Ferguson, Mourinho, Michels, Chapman, Guttmann

Sean Creedon, World Soccer, Rep Ireland

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, McGrath, Maldini, Best, Messi, Maradona, Brady, Pele, Cruyff

Manager: Ferguson, Mourinho, Lippi, Michels, Clough

Peterjon Cresswell, World Soccer, Hungary

Team: Yashin, Vogts, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Cruyff, Netzer, Platini, Puskas, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Santana, Weisweiler, Happel, Herberger, Sacchi

Steve Darby, coach, Vietnam

Team: Banks, Cafu, Baresi, Moore, Maldini, Cruyff, Robson, Di Stefano, Best, Maradona, Messi

Manager: Shankly, Paisley, Ferguson, Lobanovskyi, Sacchi

Jan-Hermen De Bruijn, Elf, Holland

Team: Yashin, Schnellinger, Beckenbauer, Moore, Roberto Carlos, Maradona, Pele, Cruyff, Best, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo

Manager: Herrera, Lobanovskyi, Michels, Mourinho, Guadiola

Jaap de Groot, De Telegraaf, Holland

Team: Casillas, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Zidane, Platini, Cruyff, Iniesta, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Michels, Santana, Beckenbauer, Ferguson, Del Bosque

Martin Del Palacio Langer, World Soccer, Mexico

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Desailly, Maldini, Platini, Iniesta, Maradona, Cruyff, Messi, Pele

Manager: Ferguson, Lobanovskyi, Sacchi, Guttman, Guardiola

Klaas-Jan Droppert, World Soccer, Holland

Team: Yashin, Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck, Maldini, Messi, Zidane, Maradona, Puskas, Cruyff, Pele

Manager: Michels, Herrera, Chapman, Guttmann, Shankly

Jerzy Dudek, TV pundit, Poland

Team: Casillas, Roberto Carlos, Gentile, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Ronaldinho, Platini, Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Maradona

Manager: Ferguson, Mourinho, Benitez, Houllier, Beenhakker

John Duerden, World Soccer, South Korea

Team: Buffon, Vogts, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Garrincha, Cruyff, Maradona, Best, Pele, Messi

Manager: Ferguson, Clough, Michels, Guardiola, Herrera

Paul Gardner, World Soccer, United States

Team: Banks, Carlos Alberto, Moore, Figeroa, Nilton Santos, Cruyff, Maradona, Rivelino, Pele, Romario

Manager: Santana, Menotti, Del Bosque, Michels, Bearzot

Philippe Germain, World Soccer, Canada

Team: Casillas, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Garrincha, Maradona, Zidane, Gento, Pele, Puskas

Manager: Ferguson, Michels, Trapattoni, Herrera, Pozzo

Brian Glanville, World Soccer, England

Team: Banks, Rodriguez Andrade, Varela, Beckenbauer, Breitner, Garrincha, Cruyff, Maradona, Messi, Di Stefano, Pele

Manager: Michels, Bearzot, Pozzo, Chapman, Ferguson

Mark Gleeson, World Soccer, South Africa

Team: Schmeichel, Carlos Alberto, Krol, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Xavi, Cruyff, Zidane, Messi, Maradona, Pele

Manager: Michels, Guttmann, Mourinho, Schon, Shankly

Rex Gowar, Reuters, Argentina

Team: Carrizo, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Passarella, Maldini, Messi, Zidane, Cruyff, Maradona, Di Stefano, Pele

Manager: Michels, Zagallo, Feola, Bielsa, Menotti

Victor Gusev, World Soccer, Russia

Team: Yashin, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Terry, Maldini, Giggs, Cruyff, Zidane, Platini, Maradona, Pele

Manager: Michels, Herrera, Guttmann, Fergusonm Happel

Gavin Hamilton, World Soccer

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Moore, Charles, Facchetti, Garrincha, Cruyff, Di Stefano, Maradona, Pele, Van Basten

Manager: Michels, Hogan, Lobanovskyi, Sacchi, Santana

Simon Hill, Fox Sports, Australia

Team: Banks, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Cruyff, Platini, Messi, Best, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Ferguson, Hitzfeld, Herrera, Paisley, Michels

Jim Holden, World Soccer, England

Team: Yashin, Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Charles, Maldini, Schiaffino, Di Stefano, Maradona, Puskas, Pele, Cruyff

Manager: Michels, Lobanovskyi, Guttmann, Ferguson, Guardiola

Brian Homewood, World Soccer, Switzerland

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Moore, Nilton Santos, Zico, Socrates, Maradona, Cruyff, Pele, Ronaldo

Manager: Michels, Santana, Menotti, Del Bosque, Sacchi

Alexander Ischenko, TV pundit, Ukraine

Team: Yashin, Vogts, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Roberto Carlos, George Best, Baggio, Zidane, Cruyff, Messi, Pele

Dobrivoje Jankovic, Serbia

Team: Yashin, Schnellinger, Beckenbauer, Santamaria, Facchetti, Cruyff, Maradona, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Puskas, Pele

Manager: Luis Aragones, Bearzot, Ferguson, Lobanovskyi, Schon

Howard Johnson, World Soccer, France

Team: Schmeichel, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Best, Zidane, Maradona, Cruyff, Pele, Muller

Manager: Clough, Shankly, Sacchi, MichelsDel Bosque

Brian Kerr, TV pundit, Rep Ireland

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Maldini, Best, Cruyff, Zidane, Maradona, Pele, Messi

Manager: Ferguson, Hitzfeld, Mourinho, Michels, Paisley

Roy Kitson, World Soccer, Northern Ireland

Team: Yashin,: Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Charles, Facchetti, Best, Cruyff, Zico, Rivelino, Pele, Eusebio

Manager: Lobanovskyi, Hitzfeld, Happel, Guttmann, Ferguson

Dariusz Kurowski, World Soccer, Poland

Team: Maier, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Facchetti, Messi, Cruyff, Maradona, Zidane, Pele, Di Stefano

Manager: Michels, Happel, Pozzo, Herrera, Mourinho

Erich Laaser, commentator Sat 1, Germany

Team: Kahn, Lahm, J Charlton, Nesta, Maldini, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Pele, Messi, Muller, Ronaldo

Manager: Ferguson, Herrera, Sacchi

Javier Leira, Reuters, Chile

Yashin, Roberto Carlos, Baresi, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Maradona, Zidane, Cerezo, Messi, Muller, Pele

Manager: Michels, Bilardo, Ferguson, Herrera, Santana

Lasana Liburd, World Soccer, Trinidad & Tobago

Team: Van Der Sar, Zanetti, Beckenbauer, Desailly, Maldini, Garrincha, Matthaus, Maradona, Zidane, Pele, Messi

Manager: Zagallo, Guardiola, Michels, Ferguson, Sacchi

Sid Lowe, World Soccer, Spain

Team: Zoff, Dani Alves, Beckenbauer, Hierro, Roberto Carlos, Platini, Cruyff, Xavi, Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Michels, Ferguson, Paisley, Lobanovsky, Herrera

Abdul Rahman Magdy, Egypt

Team: Schmeichel, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Maradona, Zidane, B Charlton, Cruyff, Messi, Pele

Manager: Ferguson, Hitzfield, Mourinho, Del Bosque, Bradley

Jimmy Magee, RTE, Rep Ireland

Team: Schmeichel, Carlos Alberto, McGrath, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Ronaldo, Messi

Manager: Ferguson, Zagallo, Michels, Mourinho, Menotti

Bhasi Malaparamba, India

Team: Yashin, Roberto Carlos, Maldini, Fachetti, Nilton Santos, Moore, Monti, Beckenbauer, Wright, Matthews, Pele

Manager: Pozzo, Winterbottom, Feola, Sebes, Ramsey

Bora Milutinovic, coach, Mexico

Team: Buffon, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Messi, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo

Manager: Ferguson, Lobanovskyi, Guardiola, Michels

Glenn Moore, Independent, England

Team: Banks, Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Messi, Cruyff, Di Stefano, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maradona, Pele

Manager: Ferguson, Lippi, Happel, Michels, Zagallo

Manfred Munchrath, Kicker, Germany 

Team: Yashin, Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Desailly, Facchetti, Messi, Xavi, Maradona, Di Stefano, Muller, Pele

Manager: Chapman, Guttmann, Herrera, Michels, Weisweiler

Les Murray, SBS, Australia

Team: Yashin, Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Garrincha, Di Stefano, Maradona, Gento, Cruyff, Pele

Manager: Chapman, Pozzo, Sebes, Michels, Guardiola

Fred Musisi, journalist, ex pro, Uganda

Team: Zoff, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Jairzinho, Zidane, Platini, Cruyff, Maradona, Pele

Manager: Ferguson, Zagallo, Guardiola, Schon, Paisley

Andres Must, World Soccer, Estonia

Team: Schmeichel, Thuram, Baresi, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Cruyff, Zidane, Maradona, Giggs, Pele, Messi

Manager: Bilardo, Ferguson, Herrera, Lobanovskyi, Rehhagel

Yoshiyuki Osumi, journalist, Japan

Team: Petr Cech, Djalma Santos, Figueroa, Beckenbauer, Roberto Carlos, Messi, Di Stefano, B Charlton, Maradona, Pele, Cruyff

Manager: Michels, Herberger, Chapman, Santana, Guardiola

Michael Oti Adjei, journalist and TV pundit, Ghana

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Roberto Carlos, Garrincha, Matthaus, Zidane, Messi, Maradona, Pele

Manager: Paisley, Ferguson, Michels, Sacchi, Del Bosque

Diego Daniel PAZ, Diario Diez, Honduras

Team: Casillas, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Roberto Carlos, Cruyff, Xavi, Zidane, Maradona, Ronaldo, Messi

Manager: Mourinho, Ferguson, Del Bosque, Parriera, Scolari

Pedro Pinto, CNN, Portugal

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Cannavaro, Maldini, Cruyff, Zinedine Zidane, Platini, Maradona, Eusebio, Pele 

Manager: Capello, Mourinho, Ferguson, Clough, Happel

Maurizio Pizzoferrato, Area Agenzia, Rome

Team: Yashin, Djalma Santos, Rosato, Scirea, Fachetti, Garrincha, Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Meazza, Riva

Manager: Herrera, Ferguson, Mourinho, Lobanovskyi, Shankly

Mike Plastow, World Soccer, Japan

Team: Maier, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini, Roberto Carlos, Garrincha, Matthaus, Maradona, Cruyff, Messi, Pele

Manager: Capello, Michels, Guardiola, Hitzfeld, Ferguson

Keir Radnedge, World Soccer, England

Team: Yashin, Rodriguez Andrade, Beckenbauer, Moore, Fachetti, Garrincha, Cruyff, Pele, Maradona, Di Stefano, Puskas

Manager: Pozzo, Ferguson, Trappatoni, Michels, Herberger

Carlos Ramirez, Mexico

Team: Yashin, Baresi, Beckenbauer, Paserella, Roberto Carlos, Didi, Puskas, Cruyff, B Charlton, Pele, Di Stefano

Manager: Herberger, Zagallo, Gorski, Michels, Meisl

Zdravko Reic, World Soccer, Croatia

Team: Yashin, Djalma Santos, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Facchetti, Cruyff, Maradona, Pele, Iniesta, Di Stefano, Messi

Manager: Michels, Zagallo, Ferguson, Weisweiler, Guardiola

Tom Saintfiet, national coach, Yemen

Team: Van der Saar, Cafu, Baresi, Bergomi, Maldini, Cristiano Ronaldo, Matthaus, Maradona, Blokhin, Messi, Van Basten

Manager: Herrera, Mourinho, Trappatoni, Heynckes, Ivic

 

Paolo Jorge Santos, A Bola, Portugal

Team: Yashin, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore, Nilton Santos, Cruyff, Di Stefano, Maradona, Messi, Pele, Eusébio 

Manager: Ferguson, Mourinho, Herberger, Happel, Stein

Manos Staramopoulos, Greece

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Zidane, Didi, Rijkaard, Maradona, Pele, Di Stefano

Manager: Vicente Del Bosque, Ferguson, Paisley, Lippi, Hitzfeld

Milorad Stojmanovski, World Soccer, Macedonia

Team: Yashin, Thuram, Beckenbauer, Moore, Roberto Carlos, Cruyff, Zidane, Maradona, Pele, Messi, Puskas 

Manager: Ferguson, Herrera, Michels, Mourinho, Capello

Masahiko Tejima, World Soccer Digest, Japan

Goalkeeper: Buffon, Maldini, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Roberto Carlos, Messi, Platini, Iniesta, Zidane, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Ferguson, Michels, Sacchi, Chapman, Cruyff

Troels Bager Thogersen, TIPSbladet, Denmark

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Passarella, Nilton Santos, Garrincha, Di Stefano, Cruyff, Czibor, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Ferguson, Clough, Sacchi, Guttmann, Lobanovskyi

Robbie Thomson, Ligue1.com, France

Team: Schmeichel, Carlos Alberto, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Cruyff, Redondo, Maradona, Zidane, Puskas, Ronaldo 

Manager: Michels, Herrera, Guardiola, Sacchi, Szebes

Darren Tullet, BeIN Sport, France

Team: Zoff, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Lizarazu, Cristiano Ronaldo, Makelele, Messi, Zidane, Ronaldo, Maradona

Manager: Mourinho, Ferguson, Paisley, Clough, Lippi

Martin Tyler, Sky Sports, England

Team: Banks, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Di Stefano, Maradona, Puskas, Messi, Pele, Van Basten

Manager: Ramsey, Ferguson, Michels, Paisley, Guardiola

Colin Udoh, journalist and TV pundit, Nigeria

Team: Zoff, Cafu, Franz Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Cruyff, Zidane, Maradona, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Pele

Manager: Ferguson, Michels, Herrera, Stein, Lippi

Cees Van CuilenbOrg, European Sports Media, Holland

Team: Banks, Carlos Alberto, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Socrates, Platini, Cruyff, Puskas, Maradona, Messi

Manager: Ferguson, Michels, Lobanovskyi, Herrera

Tim Vickery, World Soccer, Brazil

Team: Banks, Krol, Baresi Passarella, Roberto Carlos, Garrincha, Di Stefano,.Cerezo, Cruyff, Pele, Maradona

Henry Winter, Telegraph, England

Team: Yashin, Cafu, Moore, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Messi, Platini, Cruyff, Best, Pele, Maradona

Manager: Ferguson, Paisley, Michels, Trapattoni, Mourinho

Mike Woitala, Soccer America, United States

Team: Maier, Djalma Santos, Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Nilton Santos, Platini, Maradona, Cruyff, Messi, Pele, Muller

Manager: Ferguson, Guardiola, Michels, Scolari, Schon

Oleg Zadernovsky, World Soccer, Ukraine

Team: Kahn, Cafu, Beckenbauer, Moore, Maldini, Matthaus, Baggio, Platini, Nedved, Shevchenko, Messi

The Greatest Manager