Piers Morgan reveals all-time world football XI on Twitter, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Piers Morgan has revealed his all-time 'World Football XI' on social media, as if he wasn't controversial enough already.

The outspoken broadcaster chose to reveal his XI on Twitter to his eight million followers (not that anyone asked for it) but it received over 37k likes at the time of writing.

Morgan often likes to stay involved in some way in the sporting world, with his interview with Cristiano Ronaldo going on to to score millions and millions of views that ultimately saw him part ways with Manchester United.

For the most part, it includes most of the great names and, of course, one of his very close friends, Ronaldo.

However, in terms of an all-time list, certain players just have to be included, but has he fulfilled that criteria?

This incredibly strong XI begins with England's Gordon Banks; he was a six-time FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year and, of course, the 'keeper who helped England to their iconic 1966 World Cup triumph.

He's also responsible for one of the greatest saves of all time as Pele's fine header was somehow dugout in the 1970 World Cup.

The defence is made up of Cafu, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore and Paolo Maldini.

Cafu was a two-time World Cup winner and considered as one of the best right-back of all time for his exploits on the international stage, but also at club level for AC Milan, Roma and Sao Paulo.

Beckenbauer is regularly picked in people's greatest teams because of the effect he had on football - he was the original ball-playing centre back.

His list of achievements are endless, but his standouts include being a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, alongside captaining his country to a World Cup and European Championships.

My all-time World Football XI:
Banks
Cafu
Beckenbauer
Moore
Maldini
Zidane
Matthaus (c)
Ronaldo (CR7)
Messi
Maradona
Ronaldo (R9)

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 3, 2022

A controversial pick in Moore, England's captain at the 1966 World Cup, there's no doubt he's a great, iconic player, but there are certainly other centre-backs that could qualify over him; perhaps some English bias from Morgan there.

Italy's Maldini is almost untouchable and was a true defensive star whose career was as long as it was successful - he managed to play against Diego Maradona and Ronaldo for reference.

His achievements fall painfully shorts of his other defenders as he was runner-up in both the World Cup and the European Championship, but his 902 appearances for AC Milan is a club record and his club career was stellar to say the least.

His midfield two included the mesmeric Zinedine Zidane and the iconic Lothar Matthaus.

Zidane won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or, as well as countless other trophies, but he was truly a complete central midfielder who would run games, but also decided them on the biggest stages.

Matthaus could be switched out, but his legacy of a World Cup, European Championship and Ballon d'Or is incredible, as well as a brilliant club career at Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.

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The attacking front four are the stuff of dreams, but it includes one noticeable absentee: Pele.

Lionel Messi, Ronaldo Nazario, Maradona and, of course, Morgan's pal Ronaldo make up a frightening front four.

Messi and Ronaldo join Maldini as the only players in the team to not have won a World Cup (as of yet), with Ronaldo and Maradona both scoring and leading their countries to success. But clearly, there's not much to argue there.

Fans had plenty to say in the comments, with one replying: "You have no clue about football [Piers Morgan] leaving Pele out.... but then you just tweet to be controversial and keep you busy. U love attention [sic]!"

Whilst another questioned Moore's selection: "Moore over [Franco] Baresi..."

You certainly can't please everyone in something as subjective as a greatest football XI, but it was interesting to see the reactions from the public, and which selections people were most vocal about.

Regardless of what could be changed, even with Pele being the biggest debate, you have to agree that Morgan's side would take some beating.

We're just surprised that he didn't choose his hero and best friend Ronaldo to captain the side.