No place for Ronaldo and Messi in Johan Cruyff's all time World XI

Dutch legend and former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff has no place for soccer superstars, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in his all time World XI. Even though he has seen Messi’s sensational play, he hasn’t considered the Catalan for his all time World XI.

In his recently released book, ‘Football, my philosophy’, Cruyff favoured Manchester United star Bobby Charlton over Messi and Ronaldo. The only Barcelona star who has managed to make it to the XI is legendary manager Pep Guardiola.

Even though Messi has won the Ballon D’or a record three times, he and Ronaldo, the latter his only competitor, haven’t made it to the World XI.

Messi is currently vying for Gerd Muller’s record for the highest number of goals in one calendar year. Messi, who has 80 goals in his tally, is now only five short of Muller.

Even though Messi hasn’t made it to the list, he is highly favoured by Cruyff. Cruyff has said that Messi will continue to scoop all the awards even though Ronaldo is in the race.

“These awards are all subjective,” he said. “Messi is tiny and so very quick with the ball and everything he does seem to have more magic about it because of that. It is only logical that he comes out on top.”

Johan Cruyff’s All-Time World XI

Yashin (USSR); Carlos Alberto (Bra), Beckenbauer (Ger), Krol (Hol); Guardiola (Sp), Charlton (Eng), Di Stefano (Arg/Col/Sp), Keizer (Hol); Maradona (Arg), Pele (Bra), Garrincha (Bra)