Messi, Ronaldo, Beckham, Ronaldinho up for Dream Team place
France Football has announed the 30 candidates to fill the attacking positions in the Ballon d'Or Dream Team, which replaces the individual award.
France Football has announced the nominees for the forward positions in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team after revealing in recent weeks the publication’s choices for goalkeeper, defenders and midfielders. Due to the coronavirus pandemic France Football elected not to award the Ballon d’Or in 2020, instead choosing to try and select a best historical XI of players from the history of the sport.
Messi, Beckham, Garrincha and Best in the running
As was the case with defenders and midfielders, the forwards have been separated into right-sided, central and left-sided players for the vote with 10 candidates for each position. France Football announced the nominees for the right side of the attack on Monday, with Leo Messi heading a list that includes greats of the game such as Garrincha, George Best, David Beckham, Luis Figo, Jairzinho, Kevin Keegan and Stanley Matthews.
Ronaldo, Romário, Müller, Cruyff, Dalglish in the middle
For the central attacking role, France Football has selected Brazilian greats Romário and Ronaldo, with Johan Cruyff, George Weah, Kenny Dalglish, Marco van Besten, Eusébio, Dennis Bergkamp and Sandor Kocsis also included in the options.
Cristiano, Rivaldo, Ronaldino, Rivelino light up the left
There is also a Brazilian flavour to the left flank with Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivelino all included, alongside the likes of former Barcelona forward Hristo Stoichkov, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
The final team will be selected by 170 France Football correspondents around the world.