The greatest XI to have won the Ballon d'Or

Defender - Matthias Sammer (Borussia Dortmund and Germany)

Matthias Sammer became only the second defender to win the Ballon d'Or award, in 1996.

Matthias Sammer, the 1996 Ballon d'Or winner, began his career as a deep-lying midfielder for Dynamo Dresden in Germany. He then moved to Stuttgart for a few years. A largely unsuccessful year-long spell at Inter Milan in 1993 forced him to return home to Germany for a fresh start.

Sammer reinvented himself as a sweeper and a centre-back during his time at Borussia Dortmund. That was when he became key for his national team as well.

He was instrumental in BvB's successive Bundesliga and DFL Supercup doubles in 1995 and 1996. Sammer also captained the Dortmund side that won the UEFA Champions League in 1997, defeating Juventus in the final.

Sammer went on to make 153 appearances for Dortmund, scoring 23 goals and providing 24 assists, establishing himself as a club icon.

Matthias Sammer was also part of the Germany team that finished runner-ups in the 1992 Euros, before winning the tournament in 1996. His exploits with the national side led to Sammer being awarded the Ballon d'Or award in 1996.

His win was special, as the awardees chose him ahead of Alan Shearer and Ronaldo Nazario. Both were great players, but did not have as much of an impact as Sammer on the pitch. Non-tangible factors such as vocal instruction, organisational skills and leadership helped the German win the prestigious accolade.

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Midfielder - Zinedine Zidane (Juventus and France)

Zinedine Zidane was one of the greatest midfielders of all time, who won almost every major title.

Zinedine Zidane was born in Marseille, France, in 1972 to Algerian immigrants. Zizou began his career at Cannes, before moving to Bordeaux where he established himself as one of the best midfielders in Ligue 1.

In 1996, Zidane completed a move to Italian giants Juventus, where he won his first major honours at club level, including two Serie A titles. In 2001, he moved to Real Madrid in a then world-record fee of €77.5 million, a record that stood till 2009.

Zidane won the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in 2001-02. He scored one of the most iconic and memorable winners in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Zizou was also highly successful with the French national team. He won the 1998 World Cup with France, defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final on home soil. Zidane scored twice in that match, helping his side win.

The Frenchman was awarded the Ballon d'Or award that year for his success with his national and club team. Zidane was also an integral part of the France squad that beat Italy in the Euro 2000 final. He retired after the 2006 World Cup final, in which the France captain was sent off for an ugly headbutt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi.

Zinedine Zidane went on to make a total of 631 appearances in club football, bagging 121 goals and 122 assists. Winning the Ballon d'Or award in 1998 further cemented his legacy as an all-time great.

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Midfielder - Michel Platini (Juventus and France)

Michel Platini was one of the greatest midfielders to play for Juventus.

Michel Platini, like the previous player on the list, was one of the greatest midfielders in history to don the jerseys of Juventus and France. He was also the first player in history to win the Ballon d'Or award in three consecutive years, between 1983 and 1985. That was a feat many thought would remain unmatched.

Platini made his name as one of the most fluid, effortless and effective attacking midfielders in the game. He was a prolific goalscorer, hitting double figures for goals in seven seasons across his career.

The Frenchman won the Capocannoniere (Serie A top goalscorer for a season) award three consecutive times between 1983 and 85. That coincided with his Ballon d'Or wins.

Michel Platini won 12 trophies at club level, making him one of the most decorated French players of all time. He also won the 1984 European Championship with France, where he was the top scorer in the tournament with nine goals.

That set a record for the most goals in a single edition of the European Championships as well as overall. This summer, Cristiano Ronaldo broke Platini's overall record. However, Platini still holds the record for the most goals in a single European Championship.

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner scored 159 goals and dished out 24 assists in 313 career appearances. That makes Platini an easy pick in our hypothetical list.

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Midfielder - Johan Cruyff (Ajax/Barcelona and Netherlands)

Johan Cruyff was so good that he invented a new skill move that is taught worldwide today - The Cruyff turn.

Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest players to grace a football pitch. After his playing career, Cruyff went on to become one of the greatest managers in football history too.

He changed the common perception that great players cannot become great coaches and vice versa. He believed that playing football was simple, but playing simple football was the hardest. One of his former sides, Ajax, embody Cruyff's philosophy in the present day:

Cruyff was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and went on to play for his local club Ajax for the first 11 years of his illustrious career. In Amsterdam, he won eight Eredivisie titles, five KNVB Cups and three consecutive European Cups between 1970 and 1973.

His goal contribution tally for the club is ridiculous, to say the least. Johan Cruyff played 288 games for Ajax, scoring 196 goals and assisting 192. That tallies up to 100 more goal contributions than appearances made, which is mind-boggling.

The Dutchman made an impact on the sport that lasted way beyond his playing years and even his years as manager. Cruyff 'invented' a feint move in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, earning the monicker 'Cruyff turn', and is a basic move taught by coaches worldwide in the present day.

He was also the cornerstone for the revolution of Dutch football in the 1960s and 1970s. Cryuff was the key proponent of the 'Total Football Philosophy' executed by former Dutch and Ajax coach Rinus Michels.

Johan Cruyff won three Ballon d'Or awards, one in 1971 with Ajax, and two with Barcelona in 1973 and 1974.