{
  "id": 12362544,
  "title": "SN's all-time international soccer XI: Do Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo make our one-per-country lineup?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/sns-all-time-international-soccer-xi-do-lionel-messi-cristiano",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T11:03:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/sporting-news-time-international-soccer-090002502.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Argentina's Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for his national team on Tuesday as he bids adieu to international soccer. The 39-year-old sensation announced his retirement from international play earlier this year, while still continuing his club career with Inter Miami. His illustrious career reached its peak in 2022 when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, and again in 2026, netting eight goals and providing four assists before Argentina's narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final. Messi's place alongside Diego Maradona in Argentina's pantheon of great international players is cemented by his performances. To commemorate Messi's exit from the international scene, we present our all-time greatest soccer XI, with the stipulation of having only one player from each country. Here's our lineup:\n\nGoalkeeper: Lev Yashin (USSR) - The only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or, Yashin's athleticism and skill set him apart. He won Olympic gold in 1956 and led the USSR to European Championship victory in 1960.\n\nRight-back: Philipp Lahm (Germany) - Captained Germany to a World Cup triumph in 2014 and showcased his technical brilliance throughout his international career.\n\nLeft-back: Paolo Maldini (Italy) - Widely regarded as one of the finest defenders in history, Maldini was a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and a key figure for Italy, coming close to World Cup glory in 1994.\n\nCentre-back: Bobby Moore (England) - Moore led England to their only World Cup victory in 1966 and was renowned for his leadership and defensive organizing skills.\n\nCentre-back: Diego Godin (Uruguay) - A formidable presence in his prime, Godin made 161 appearances for Uruguay and represented his country at four World Cups.\n\nCentral midfield: Andres Iniesta (Spain) - Iniesta's exceptional vision and passing ability were instrumental in Spain's 2010 World Cup victory. He is widely considered one of the greatest pure midfielders of all time.\n\nCentral midfield: Zinedine Zidane (France) - Zidane's impact on two World Cup finals, with a brace in 1998 and the winning goal in 2006, is unparalleled. His combination of grace and physicality made him a unique talent.\n\nRight-wing: Lionel Messi (Argentina) - Messi's late-career contributions for Argentina, often in a free-roaming forward role, have been nothing short of extraordinary. His Barcelona days were when he truly shone.\n\nAttacking midfield: Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) - The architect of Barcelona's playing style, Cruyff's visionary approach influenced the game for decades. He led the Netherlands to the brink of World Cup glory in 1974.\n\nLeft-wing: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - As the all-time record international goalscorer, Ronaldo's impact on the international stage is undeniable. His leadership as Portugal's captain culminated in Euro 2016 success.",
  "summary": "To mark Lionel Messi bowing out of international soccer, we've put together our greatest international XI of all-time, with one stipulation: only one player per nation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}