​This team isn't based on sole international performance, but the best players from these nations in a balanced squad.
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STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
To qualify for this team, a player must be from a nation whose starting XI doesn't average out at Gold level by my metrics of rating individual players. Murtaz Khurtsilava narrowly missed out to Bratseth and Minelli at centre-back. Irwin and Jusufi can cover as left and right-backs in the squad, so there was no need for Johnny Carey or Alphonso Davies, the latter of whom could still make the squad in future. Sekularac and Yaya Toure are the back-up deep lying midfielders. Because Keane can also be a back-up holding midfielder, there was no need for Michael Essien.

​I could have started Eto'o as a withdrawn striker, with Stoichkov out wide. The team needed someone in this role, as the best wide options were closer to wide forwards than wide midfielders, and were better as part of an attacking-trio. However, the team was better with Salah on the right, and Stoichkov centrally. Eto'o could function as a supporting striker, but it was less natural to him. He still makes the bench as back-up option in this role alongside Hagi - he just made it ahead of Larbi Benbarek. Because Stoichkov could also play out wide, there was no overload of players in the attacking-midfield position. Erico starts upfront, with Sanchez and Weah as alternative options. Sanchez is the only player outside of the three major footballing continents (Europe, South America and Africa) in the squad. Erling Haaland certainly still has time to make the squad in the future.
Players By Nation:
  • Northern Ireland (3), Republic of Ireland (3)
  • Paraguay (2)
  • Bulgaria; Cameroon; Egypt; Ivory Coast; Kosovo; Liberia; Mexico; Morocco; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Norway; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Switzerland (1)
Best Player Not In Squad: Alberto Spencer (ECU)
​2nd Best: Erling Haaland (NOR)
3rd Best: Didier Drogba (IVO)
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Other players close to the squad:
  • ​GK: Navas (COS), N'Kono (CAM), Soskic (KOS), Scott (NIR), Carbajal (MEX), Handanovic (SVE)​​
  • CB: Khurtsilava (GEO), Popescu (ROU), Ondrus (SVA), Gamarra (PAR), Belodedici (ROU), Katalinski (BOS), Zitouni (ALG), Stefanescu (ROU), Naybet (MOR), O'Leary (IRE), Hyypia (FIN), Koulibaly (SEN), Holcer (SVE), Penev (BUL), Manolov (BUL)​
  • RB: Carey (IRE), Stankovic (BOS), Dobias (SVA), Arce (PAR), Fazlagic (BOS), McCracken (NIR), Shalamanov (BUL), Petrescu (ROU), Dzodzuashvili (GEO)
  • LB: A.Davies (CAN), Chivu (ROU), Ramseyer (SWI), Elder (NIR), T.Dunne (IRE)​
  • MID: Valderrama (COL), Giles (IRE), Essien (GHA), Benbarek (MOR), Susic (BOS), Dobrin (ROU)​, Romerito (PAR)​​​
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World Class players not yet mentioned:
  • MID: A.Pele (GHA), Brady (IRE), J.Rodriguez (COL), Bonev (BUL), Balakov (BUL), Balaci (ROU)
  • ATT: Mane (SEN), Mahrez (ALG), Kvaratskhelia (GEO), Heung Min Son (SKO), Litmanen (FIN), Gonzalez (ELS), A.Gonzalez (PAR), Asparuhov (BUL), Falcao (COL), Mijatovic (MON), Paulino (PHI), Aubameyang (GAB), Galic (BOS), Avar (ROU), A.Abegglen (SWI)​

New Squad Entries since 2022:​
  • 2025: Achraf Hakimi (Starting XI)
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