Most decorated XI in European history from Messi to Giggs and Maldini… but no place for Cristiano Ronaldo

CRISTIANO RONALDO has failed to even make the bench of a team of the most decorated players in European history.

The Manchester United forward has picked up major honours in England, Spain and Italy, but it wasn’t enough to make this squad.

There was no place for Cristiano Ronaldo in the most decorated XI in European history

The team assembled by William Hill, included the three most decorated players from Europe’s top five leagues – which means there are also four subs.

Along with Ronaldo, one other notable omission from the squad is Dani Alves.

Despite the Brazilian legend winning an incredible 43 trophies, his 28 honours he picked up in Spain are bettered by three of his ex-Barcelona team-mates.

Here SunSport runs you down the complete team.

GK – GIANLUIGI BUFFON

The Italian shot-stopper returned to the Old Lady in the summer of 2019 from Paris Saint-Germain.

He has won 22 medals with Juve including ten Serie A titles, before leaving for Parma earlier this year.

Gianluigi Buffon left Juve a second time earlier this yearCredit: AFP

@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Regular.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Medium.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:500;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-stretch:semi-condensed;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-Bold.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:normal;font-display:swap;}@font-face{font-family:’The Sun’;src:url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff2’) format(‘woff2’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.woff’) format(‘woff’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.ttf’) format(‘truetype’),url(‘/assets/fonts/the-sun/TheSun-HeavyNarrow.svg#’) format(‘svg’);font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-stretch:condensed;font-display:swap;}.css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}

.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}

.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}

.css-zkaekv{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-zkaekv::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -1px);}.css-zkaekv::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}

.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}

MOST READ IN FOOTBALL

.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}

.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}

.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

RB – GARY NEVILLE

Neville burst on to the scene at Manchester United during the 1992-93 season, and spent his whole career at the club before retiring in 2011.

He won 20 medals with the Red Devils – including eight Premier League titles and the Champions League twice.

CB – THIAGO SILVA

After winning Serie A with AC Milan, the Brazilian moved to PSG where he was a key member of the side from 2012.

The Brazilian racked up 315 appearances for the club, where he won 25 trophies before moving to Chelsea last summer – where he added the Champions League to his bustling cabinet.

CB – PAOLO MALDINI

The legendary defender’s career spanned across three decades, with the one-club hero playing for AC Milan between 1984-2009.

In that time, he featured an incredible 902 times, winning 25 titles.

LB – PHILIPP LAHM

Bayern Munich’s esteemed former defender won 21 trophies in Germany before he called it quits in 2017.

Named in Uefa’s Team of the Year six times, he finally managed to win the Champions League in 2013.

Manchester United legend Gary Neville is included in the European XICredit: Getty – Contributor

CM – ANDRES INIESTA

One of the best midfielders to ever grace the game, the Barcelona cult icon won 32 major honours in Spain.

Now plying his trade in Japan, he helped his side Vissel Kobe win the first trophy in their history.

CM – MARCO VERRATTI

Silva’s former PSG team-mate has thrived in Ligue 1 since he swapped Italy for France, with the midfielder establishing himself as one of the finest players in Europe.

Still only 28, Verratti has already 26 winners medals with Les Parisiens.

CM – PAUL SCHOLES

One of the best midfielders in Premier League history, the Manchester United legend won 26 titles in England.

Like Neville, he retired having only played for the Red Devils, though he did have two spells at the club having come out of retirement to re-join his team-mates.

RW – LIONEL MESSI

Still continuing to turn heads, the former Barca magician has picked up 35 major team honours – and seven Ballon d’Ors.

He added the Copa America this year at international level, and will surely pick up more silverware with Paris Saint-Germain.

Lionel Messi will go down as one of the best footballers that has ever lived

LW – RYAN GIGGS

Another United one-club man, the Welshman is one behind Messi having won 34 titles during his career.

He won the Premier League an incredible 13 times, which stands as a record still.

ST – THOMAS MULLER

A surprising name to lead the line, the Bayern forward has been a mainstay of the side since breaking through towards the end of the 2008-09 campaign.

Still only 31, he has plenty of time to add to the 29 trophies he has so far collected.

SUBS

Moving on to the subs, former Bayern ace Oliver Kahn grabs himself a spot on the bench with 22 trophies won, along with PSG defender Marquinhos (18), Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets (29) and former Juve star Alessandro Del Piero (18).

FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk