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The World Cup is on the horizon – the 23rd edition of the tournament and the biggest ever.
This year, 48 teams and 1,248 players are set to compete for the Jules Rimet trophy – but thousands and thousands of stars have come before them in the world’s greatest competition.
Daily Mail Sport is asking footballers past and present to select their all-time XI from World Cups of old – and, this time, we’ve got Robbie Fowler scratching his head to pick his squad.
‘What a nightmare this is, right?’ he quips, speaking on behalf of BetMGM, before going straight for the attack. ‘Straight away – Ronaldo, R9.
‘I think I’m going to have Cristiano Ronaldo on one side and Lionel Messi on the other side, so there’s my front three straight away.’
If only it was that simple. It’s quite the trio – but there’s one man Fowler is already regretting leaving out.
Robbie Fowler (pictured) picked his all-time World Cup XI ahead of this summer’s edition
There is space for Lionel Messi (pictured) in Fowler’s side – the winning captain in 2022
‘I can’t believe I’m not even picking Diego Maradona in that team – and Maradona is my favorite. In fact, you know what… Oh God, already I’m in my head.’
The prospect of fitting four names into three is proving to be quite the struggle. It’s put to Fowler that he could play all four in an attacking formation – but he shrugs off the idea.
‘It’s impossible, because you think of the best players, and I think Maradona. And then I’ve mentioned R9, Ronaldo, and Messi, and then I think, well, I’ve got to put Maradona, because Maradona is the best player that’s ever been. So then you start thinking about formations and who’s going to play where.
‘You’ve got to find a place for Maradona. Maradona, for me, plays with R9, because Ronaldo was brilliant. Can any of them play centre half?’
He settles on all four. For now.
It’s an English duo in defence: ‘I know he never won it, but I think John Terry, and then Rio Ferdinand, were brilliant.
‘Left back, you’re going Roberto Carlos, right back, potentially Philipp Lahm.’
Things start to pick up pace venturing back up the pitch to the midfield.
Three England players – John Terry (left), Steven Gerrard (centre) and Rio Ferdinand (right) – make the cut
‘I’m going to think of three midfielders here straight away,’ Fowler insists, having staggered his way around the attack.
‘You’re thinking of Spain… I’m going in, (Andres) Iniesta. I’m having Iniesta just ahead of Xavi. I think you need a sitter: I’m probably going to go Brazil’s Dunga as a sitter.’
He then names Germany’s Manuel Neuer – who will compete at his fifth World Cup this summer – and we are done. Until we aren’t.
After the interview, an email is sent asking to include former England captain Steven Gerrard, making it three former Three Lions players in Fowler’s side.
The Brazilian Ronaldo is the man he asks to remove – full circle from being the first player he named. Job done: Seven winners, plus the England trio and Cristiano Ronaldo. Could the Portugal captain change that in what will surely be his final shot?
‘Genuinely, that is impossible,’ Fowler admits, relieved that the task is over. ‘I think I’ve done alright there.’
