Ballon d'Or Dream Team facts for kids
The Ballon d'Or Dream Team is a special "all-star" football team picked by France Football magazine in 2020. It's like choosing the best football players of all time! First, fans voted online, and then 140 football experts from around the world made the final choices. They even picked a second and third team because there are so many amazing players!
Picking the Best Players
France Football announced the players who were nominated (or chosen to be considered) between October 5 and October 19, 2020. The final teams were revealed on December 14, 2020. The main team was set up in a 3–4–3 formation, which means 3 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 3 forwards.
Brazil had the most players nominated, with 20 athletes. Italy was next with 16, followed by Germany (13), Netherlands (12), Spain (8), and England and France (7 each).
The experts looked at players from different positions, like goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. They chose the very best for each spot.
The Dream Teams
Here are the amazing players who made it into the top three Ballon d'Or Dream Teams!
First Team
This is the ultimate dream team, featuring some of the greatest players ever to play football.
| Playing position | Nationality | Player |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper |  Soviet Union |
Lev Yashin |
| Right-back |  Brazil |
Cafu |
| Centre-back |  Germany |
Franz Beckenbauer |
| Left-back |  Italy |
Paolo Maldini |
| Defensive midfielder |  Spain |
Xavi |
| Defensive midfielder | Germany |
Lothar Matthäus |
| Offensive midfielder |  Argentina |
Diego Maradona |
| Offensive midfielder | Brazil |
Pelé |
| Right winger | Argentina |
Lionel Messi |
| Centre-forward | Brazil |
Ronaldo |
| Left winger |  Portugal |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
Second Team
The second team is also full of legendary players who have achieved incredible things in football.
| Playing position | Nationality | Player |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Italy |
Gianlugi Buffon |
| Right-back | Brazil |
Carlos Alberto |
| Centre-back | Italy |
Franco Baresi |
| Left-back | Brazil |
Roberto Carlos |
| Defensive midfielder | Italy |
Andrea Pirlo |
| Defensive midfielder |  Netherlands |
Frank Rijkaard |
| Offensive midfielder | Argentina |
Alfredo Di Stéfano |
| Offensive midfielder |  France |
Zinedine Zidane |
| Right winger | Brazil |
Garrincha |
| Centre-forward | Netherlands |
Johan Cruyff |
| Left winger | Brazil |
Ronaldinho |
Third Team
Even the third team has many famous players who are considered among the best in football history.
| Playing position | Nationality | Player |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Germany |
Manuel Neuer |
| Right-back | Germany |
Philipp Lahm |
| Centre-back | Spain |
Sergio Ramos |
| Left-back | Germany |
Paul Breitner |
| Defensive midfielder | Netherlands |
Johan Neeskens |
| Defensive midfielder | Brazil |
Didi |
| Offensive midfielder | France |
Michel Platini |
| Offensive midfielder | Spain |
Andrés Iniesta |
| Right winger |  Northern Ireland |
George Best |
| Centre-forward | Netherlands |
Marco van Basten |
| Left winger | France |
Thierry Henry |
Images for kids
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Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or award.
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Cafu, the only footballer to have played in three FIFA World Cup finals in a row.
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A picture of the Ballon d'Or Dream Team's Third Team Squad.
In Spanish: Dream Team del Balón de Oro para niños
