Barcelona star, Lionel Messi has expressed satisfaction at being named alongside other greats like Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi in the Ballon D’Or Dream Team XI.
He took to Instagram to appreciate France Football, which organises the Ballon D’Or, after the list was unveiled on Monday, describing his inclusion as “an honour”.
140 journalists voted for their Ultimate XI that lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Messi, Lev Yashin, Cafu, Franz Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini, Xavi Hernandez, Lothar Matthaus, Pele, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario make up the Ballon D’Or Dream Team XI.
The 33-year-old wrote, “For me, it’s an honour to have been included in the XI of the Ballon d’Or Dream Team,” Messi wrote on Instagram.
“I want to say thank you for selecting me and also congratulate all the players that were chosen in both teams and all the nominees.
“Here are some true legends in that list!!!”
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Meanwhile, France Football also unveiled a second and third XI, comprising other greats that could not make it into the first.
The second XI comprised: Gianluigi Buffon, Carlos Alberto, Franco Baresi, Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Andrea Pirlo, Frank Rijkaard, Alfredo Di Stefano, Garrincha, Ronaldinho and Johan Cruyff.
The third XI comprised: Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, Paul Breitner, Michel Platini, Didi, Johan Neeskens, Andres Iniesta, George Best, Thierry Henry, and Marco Van Basten.