ESPN Has Created The 'Ultimate' World XI In Football Right Now

ESPN has snubbed the likes of Alisson, Sergio Ramos and Harry Kane in its 'ultimate' world XI.

The publication has created a team oozing with world-class talent that lines up in a 4-3-3 formation.

Atletico Madrid shot-stopper Jan Oblak starts between the sticks ahead of Liverpool's Alisson and Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, who was named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year last month, is the first-choice centre-back alongside Napoli's highly rated Kalidou Koulibaly.

Either side of the two centre-backs is Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich at right-back and Liverpool's Andy Robertson at left-back.

Chelsea's N'Golo Kante features in a three-man midfield alongside Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong and Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who was in scintillating form for Belgium in their Euro 2020 qualifier on Monday.

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is on the ring wing in the trident attack force, with Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo providing support from the left.

And leading the frontline is none other than Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Fans have shared their thoughts on the team and have slammed the selection of De Jong and Mbappe ahead of City star Bernardo Silva and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski respectively.

One fan wrote on Reddit: "Definitely Lewy of [sic] Mbappe. Thiago, Verratti, Bernardo Silva all good picks over de Jong."

Someone else posted: "Get a real CF and swap a [sic] some other midfielder for de Jong."

A third argued: "The lack of modric [sic] in this thread is surprising. For me, Modric over De Jong every day."

And user mikeest wrote: "Removing potential and all age-related talk, I just have no idea how anyone can consider Mbappe to be better than the likes of Hazard, Salah, Sterling, Neymar out wide or the likes of Griezmann, Kane, Aguero, Lewandowski centrally."

Agree or disagree with ESPN's picks for the 'ultimate' world XI?

Let us know in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, Alisson, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, ESPN, Jan Oblak, Football, Lionel Messi, Joshua Kimmich, Virgil Van Dijk, Kevin de Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, Andy Robertson, Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Frenkie De Jong, Cristiano Ronaldo

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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