Spain's Xavi Hernandez, playmaker for the national soccer squad, told Mexican television station Televisa on Monday that his ideal team features five major players from Barcelona, his home team in the Spanish league.
Hernandez would chose compatriot and close friend Iker Casillas as goalkeeper, and Brazil's Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, better known as Cafu, as main defender.
"Although I don't know him personally, I think Cafu is a fantastic player," Hernandez said. "Despite his age and all he has achieved, he remains the best right defender in the world."
Hernandez would chose another friend, Carlos Puyol, central defender for both at Spain and Barcelona because "he loves to defend, something that is hard to find in today's soccer. My other central defense would be Italy's Paolo Maldini. He is an exceptional footballer, who has played at an extraordinary level for many years."
Brazil's Roberto Carlos would be the left winger, a man Hernandez describes as one of the best players in the world, with a magnificent career and tremendous strength when he shoots. "As well as being a defender he can also shoot; which is marvelous," Hernandez said.
He would choose himself in mid-field, because "my work as a player is passing the ball and I like having the responsibility of uniting the team with my passing. Controlling the ball at my feed is one of my strong points," he said.
Another Barcelona colleague Anderson Luis de Souza, a Brazilian-born player better known as Deco, would be his partner in mid-field, in a perfect team. According to Hernandez, Deco is a total footballer: powerful, accurate and aggressive. "He has really surprised. I barely knew him when he joined Barcelona, but now that I have played alongside him, I know he is a great player."
On the far right, Hernandez would pick Ludovic Giuly, who plays that position for both France and Barcelona: "like me he is always looking to make passes and I find a lot of things in his game that work well with me. It allows me to play long deep balls. Having such a fast player on your side is very important, given how soccer is played today."
Up front, Hernandez would play Ronaldo de Assis, known as Ronaldinho, a striker for Brazil and Barcelona. "I believe he is the best footballer in the world right now. He has show it and he still has many good years ahead of him,' he said.
Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o, Barcelona's other star striker, would be Ronaldinho's partner at the front of the team. "Eto'o is the ideal modern soccer player," Hernandez said. "He has speed, flair and a winning personality, and he scores goals."
Brazil and Real Madrid striker, would be Hernandez's third attacking player despite his recent spate of injuries.
"I think that at the goal, when its one on one, he is really better," Hernandez said.