Carragher Challenge

I'm sure some have seen this but it originated from a Jamie Carragher tweet. Challenge is to pick the best XI who have played professionally in your lifetime but every club and country can only be represented once. So if you pick Cristiano Ronaldo you can't have another Portuguese or anybody who has played for Sporting Lisbon, Man Utd, Real Madrid or Juventus. Any formation you want.

I was born in 1979. I went with a 4-2-3-1 with the a Keegan style '"we'll score one more than you" mentality.

Oliver Kahn

Giuseppi Bergomi
Lucas Radebe
Vincent Kompany
Ashley Cole

Graeme Souness
Dunga

Kylian M'Bappe
Diego Maradona
Cristiano Ronaldo

Marco Van Basten

It's harder than it sounds. Let's see your teams and why you think they'd beat mine.

A brave decision to omit Messi.

I think I'd manage to miss out any other Argentines/Barcelona players to include him. Maradona obviously a good player, but not consistently to the level of Messi. Same goes for Ronaldo.

Problem there is that the best defender I've ever seen was Thuram yet he's played for Juventus which would clash with Ronaldo!

No time to try and work out my team, unfortunately. I'd imagine it would take ages to cross-reference every player to avoid clashes.

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

I'm sure some have seen this but it originated from a Jamie Carragher tweet. Challenge is to pick the best XI who have played professionally in your lifetime but every club and country can only be represented once. So if you pick Cristiano Ronaldo you can't have another Portuguese or anybody who has played for Sporting Lisbon, Man Utd, Real Madrid or Juventus. Any formation you want.

I was born in 1979. I went with a 4-2-3-1 with the a Keegan style '"we'll score one more than you" mentality.

Oliver Kahn

Giuseppi Bergomi
Lucas Radebe
Vincent Kompany
Ashley Cole

Graeme Souness
Dunga

Kylian M'Bappe
Diego Maradona
Cristiano Ronaldo

Marco Van Basten

It's harder than it sounds. Let's see your teams and why you think they'd beat mine.

It’s like a rabbit warren. Head hurts...

But to remove the Radebe problem could you not switch him, Kahn and Bergomi for Chilavert, Berti Vogts, Hyypiä for instance. Anyone but Radebe. Zhang Enhua CDAJATL

Born in 1977 and just seen Pele stopped playing for Cosmos in that year. Going to have a crack at this during the day. Thinking Pat Jennings or Neville Southall as a keeper. Can't have Zhang Enhua because that would prevent me having Ben Chapman at left back!!!!

I'm guessing country refers to the national team they played for and so I can't get Matt Le Tissier in as Guernsey? 😀

Quoted from smokey111

Born in 1977 and just seen Pele stopped playing for Cosmos in that year. Going to have a crack at this during the day. Thinking Pat Jennings or Neville Southall as a keeper. Can't have Zhang Enhua because that would prevent me having Ben Chapman at left back!!!!

Apparently George Best was playing professionally into the early 80's?!  

Quoted from Abdul19

I'm guessing country refers to the national team they played for and so I can't get Matt Le Tissier in as Guernsey? 😀

I reckon so otherwise might lead to a lot of research into birthplaces of many French internationals! 😂

Balls  

I did try this last week but found it infuriating and gave up. Will give it another shot (I was born in 1923 btw )

Here goes-

3    2    3     2

Southall

Lahm
Kompany
Facchetti

Hoddle
Rijkaard

Best
Maradona
Eusebio

Pele
Mbappe

My head is spinning. You dare pull me up on something Rodley!!!!!

Some goals in that team isn't there?!

Yeah, not the most balanced but Hoddle and Rijkaard would have to sit and the back 3 can't cross the half way line!!! Think the front 5 might be able to create and score the odd goal!!!

Quoted from smokey111

Here goes-

3    2    3     2

Southall

Lahm
Kompany
Facchetti

Hoddle
Rijkaard

Best
Maradona
Eusebio

Pele
Mbappe

My head is spinning. You dare pull me up on something Rodley!!!!!

Sorry, you can't have Hoddle and Mbappe

Quoted from pizzzza

Sorry, you can't have Hoddle and Mbappe

I will swap Hoddle for Souness, add a bit of steel!!!😉

So many players have been on the books of Marseille at some point, prevented numerous options for me. I was born in 1978 and I'm playing 3-3-1-3. Very attacking with Maradona given a free role because he's Maradona.

1. Rene Higuita

2. Paul Futcher
3. Franco Barrsi
4. Trifon Ivanov

5. Jan Molby
6. Lothar Matthaus
7. Saeed 'Desert Pele' Al-Owairan

8. Diego Maradona

9. Killian M'Bappe
10. Christiano Ronaldo
11. Tony Yeboah

Obviously Futcher restricted me from getting any England or City players but he was first on the teamsheet.

Owairan, great shout (and brilliant for this!). Scorer of the best world cup goal ever!

Quoted from Abdul19

Owairan, great shout (and brilliant for this!). Scorer of the best world cup goal ever!

Ultimately it was that goal what did it and meant Lars Bohinen missed out.

Taffarel

Lahm
Adams
Alan Hansen
Ivanovic

Gourcuff
Guti
Totti

Giggs
Messi
Salas

Probably a glaring error or 2, but:

Oblak

Maldini
Lahm
Kompany

Zidane
Salah
Gascoigne
Valderrama

Messi
Bergkamp
Bebeto

One thing I've noticed with all these teams, including mine, is that they are all pretty narrow. Lots of number 10's but very few wide players. Is that a reflection that wingers are out of fashion or more that there haven't been many top class ones in the last few decades?

Quoted from Rodley Mariner

One thing I've noticed with all these teams, including mine, is that they are all pretty narrow. Lots of number 10's but very few wide players. Is that a reflection that wingers are out of fashion or more that there haven't been many top class ones in the last few decades?

Certainly in my lifetime, most of the best ‘wingers’ either end up further infield or became inverted wingers.

Robben & Ribéry stood out for me but they were also inverted of course.

John Barnes maybe. Most of the exciting young wingers usually end up more centrally with age - Giggs for instance.

Marc Overmars was one of the true, successful ‘wingers’ in my lifetime but he was past his best by 26/27 due to injuries.

That's a good point. I suppose Ronaldo started as a winger but ultimately he was so good he needed to play more centrally where he could have more impact.

I will attempt to produce a balanced  4 4 2 rather than shoe horn 11 of the best players I can find. Might be trickier. First decision Gilbert or Childs????

Quoted from smokey111

I will attempt to produce a balanced  4 4 2 rather than shoe horn 11 of the best players I can find. Might be trickier. First decision Gilbert or Childs????

Child’s play. Gilbert every day.

Quoted from smokey111

I will attempt to produce a balanced  4 4 2 rather than shoe horn 11 of the best players I can find. Might be trickier. First decision Gilbert or Childs????

👏👏👏 respect from a 3-4-3 fan