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International football

Maradona, Pelé: Brazil Argentina all-time best combined XI

The original sweeper-keeper, Carrizo was voted the best South American keeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS. Noted for his ability to start attacks from the back and leave his area, which was unusual at the time, the River Plate keeper was part of the
A force of nature from the right back position, Cafu is the most-capped player in Brazil's history and won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. He was also named in the World Soccer greatest XI of all time in 2013.
Another Roma stalwart, Aldair was part of the 1994 World Cup-winning Brazil squad and capped 80 times by his country. An excellent reader of the game, Aldair was noted for his vision and ability to play the ball out from the back as well as his positionin
El Gran Capitán led Argentina to glory in 1978 and is widely regarded as one of the best and toughest defenders ever to represent the country. A central defender, Passarella also had an eye for goal, scoring over 100 for his clubs and bagging 22 in 70 cap
A World Cup winner in 1978, Tarantini pioneered the wing back position for club and country and also won the 1977 Copa Libertadores with River Plate. But surely he will rate the highlight of his career as a bizarre one-season spell at Birmingham City whic
Dunga was something of an anachronism when he emerged into the Brazil side, a no-nonsense defensive midfielder with more of an industrial approach than many of his teammates in the 1994 World Cup-winning squad. Nonetheless, he captained that side and buri
The Cosmic Barrel, arguably the greatest player ever to grace the pitch, he will always be remembered for the "Hand of God" in 1986 but he was touched by divinity at that tournament, leading Argentina to glory and scoring the "Goal of the Century" in the
The most naturally gifted player of them all, bar Maradona? Many would say so, and there was certainly no finer sight in football than the buck-toothed genius in full flight. A World Cup winner in 2002, he also lifted the Copa América in 1999 and won the
The greatest player of the modern era, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, and the only active player who would make it into a side of Brazilian and Argentinean greats. He has still to match Maradona by leading his country to a major international tournament tri
The greatest of them all? The debate will never be settled by any logic or science available to man, but O Rei has a pretty decent claim. Three World Cups (although he was injured early in the 1962 triumph, leaving Garrincha to carry the torch) 650 offici
The finest out and out striker of all-time, O fenômeno was unstoppable on his day, and he had lots of them. Had injuries not ravaged his career he may have settled the "best of all time" debate once and for all, but a career total of 352 club goals in 518
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Keeper - Amadeo Carrizo

The original sweeper-keeper, Carrizo was voted the best South American keeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS. Noted for his ability to start attacks from the back and leave his area, which was unusual at the time, the River Plate keeper was part of the

Foto:ullstein bild Dtl.ullstein bild via Getty Images

Right back - Cafu

A force of nature from the right back position, Cafu is the most-capped player in Brazil's history and won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. He was also named in the World Soccer greatest XI of all time in 2013.

Foto:SERGIO MORAESREUTERS

Central defender - Aldair

Another Roma stalwart, Aldair was part of the 1994 World Cup-winning Brazil squad and capped 80 times by his country. An excellent reader of the game, Aldair was noted for his vision and ability to play the ball out from the back as well as his positionin

Foto:Matthew Ashton - EMPICSPA Images via Getty Images

Central defender - Daniel Passarella

El Gran Capitán led Argentina to glory in 1978 and is widely regarded as one of the best and toughest defenders ever to represent the country. A central defender, Passarella also had an eye for goal, scoring over 100 for his clubs and bagging 22 in 70 cap

Foto:DIARIO ASDIARIO AS

Left back - Alberto Tarantini

A World Cup winner in 1978, Tarantini pioneered the wing back position for club and country and also won the 1977 Copa Libertadores with River Plate. But surely he will rate the highlight of his career as a bizarre one-season spell at Birmingham City whic

Foto:Mark Leech/OffsideGetty Images

Defensive midfield - Dunga

Dunga was something of an anachronism when he emerged into the Brazil side, a no-nonsense defensive midfielder with more of an industrial approach than many of his teammates in the 1994 World Cup-winning squad. Nonetheless, he captained that side and buri

Foto:Ben RadfordGetty Images

Midfielder - Diego Maradona

The Cosmic Barrel, arguably the greatest player ever to grace the pitch, he will always be remembered for the "Hand of God" in 1986 but he was touched by divinity at that tournament, leading Argentina to glory and scoring the "Goal of the Century" in the

Midfielder - Ronaldinho

The most naturally gifted player of them all, bar Maradona? Many would say so, and there was certainly no finer sight in football than the buck-toothed genius in full flight. A World Cup winner in 2002, he also lifted the Copa América in 1999 and won the

Foto:Eddie KeoghReuters

Forward - Leo Messi

The greatest player of the modern era, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, and the only active player who would make it into a side of Brazilian and Argentinean greats. He has still to match Maradona by leading his country to a major international tournament tri

Forward - Pelé

The greatest of them all? The debate will never be settled by any logic or science available to man, but O Rei has a pretty decent claim. Three World Cups (although he was injured early in the 1962 triumph, leaving Garrincha to carry the torch) 650 offici

Forward - Ronaldo

The finest out and out striker of all-time, O fenômeno was unstoppable on his day, and he had lots of them. Had injuries not ravaged his career he may have settled the "best of all time" debate once and for all, but a career total of 352 club goals in 518

Foto:PAULO WHITAKERREUTERS

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