Ramos, Ronaldo, but no Messi in L'Equipe's World XI 2020
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo have made L'Equipe's World XI 2020, which is dominated by Bayern Munich. But there was no place for Leo Messi.
Organisers of the annual Ballon d’Or trophy, L’Equipe has published its World XI 2020 this Monday, with just one player from LaLiga making the cut.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is the only Spanish league representative on the French news outlet’s prestigious World XI 2020, which is dominated by Bayern Munich’s Champions League-winning squad and does not include Lionel Messi.
While Barcelona endured a difficult and trophy-less 2020, Messi still managed to score 31 goals across all competitions last season and his omission will come as a surprise to many.
L’Equipe on Ramos’ selection
On choosing Ramos for the best XI of 2020, L’Equipe highlighted the 10 goals that the Spaniard scored in the Spanish league last year, stating “he is the highest scorer among the defenders of the five top leagues.”
The French outlet added that Madrid’s veteran defender is "as important defensively as he is effective offensively, particularly in taking penalties", pointing out the 34-year-old has become the European player with the most international caps at 178.
The five players chosen from Bayern Munich – one of whom has since moved on – are FIFA’s The Best men’s player award winner Robert Lewandowski, Canadian international Alphonso Davies, Germany’s Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer, and Spanish midfielder, Thiago Alcantara (now at Liverpool).
World XI Frontline: Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Neymar, De Bruyne
Along with Lewandowski, the other forwards chosen are Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne and PSG’s Neymar, who missed out on FIFA’s Best XI in December – much to the frustration of the Brazilian himself.
"Despite the parties and controversies, the Brazilian remains above all a formidable footballer,” writes L’Equipe about the PSG star. “When he at his best level, he is almost unstoppable. He has achieved everything at the national level with PSG, whom he led to their first Champions League final.”
There was no place, however, for Neymar’s equally formidable PSG strike partner, Kylian Mbappé, in the French newspaper’s best XI.
Two Liverpool players make up defence
Along with Ramos and Davies, L’Equipe’s World XI 2020 defence is completed by two Liverpool players -- Dutchman Virgil van Dijk and England international Alexander Arnold.
In the midfield, Liverpool’s Thiago Alcántara is joined by former Bayern team mate Joshua Kimmich, while the German club’s goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer was the chosen man between the sticks.
Due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, L’Equipe took the decision to cancel the Ballon d’Or for 2020, instead naming the Ballon d'Or Dream Team made up of history’s best XI players according to a panel of some 120 football journalists from around the world.