Michael Owen has picked an all-time World Cup XI for his new World Cup columns, choosing a 4-2-3-1 packed with four Brazilians, two Argentines, two Englishmen, plus players from France, Germany and Italy—while leaving England’s 1966 stars debating place for le
On the eve of his World Cup column debut. Michael Owen has reached back into football’s biggest stage and built an all-time World Cup XI that looks almost impossible to break down. The former England striker. now 46. has selected a 4-2-3-1 featuring four Brazilians. two Argentines. two Englishmen. and one each from France. Germany and Italy—players who between them have won 14 World Cups.
It’s also a lineup that instantly invites the inevitable question: where does an England legend land when the conversation turns global?. Owen’s answer begins in goal with England’s 1966 shot-stopper Gordon Banks. while also acknowledging Banks’ famous save from Pele in the 1970 quarter-final defeat by Brazil.
From there, the choices tilt strongly toward the teams that have repeatedly haunted the rest of the world. At right back, Owen picks Cafu, a World Cup winner in 1994 and 2002. Roberto Carlos takes the left-back role. and Owen frames the selection around the pair’s chemistry in Brazil’s 2002 triumph—when the Selecao completed a record-extending fifth World Cup win.
Centre back pairing brings European authority. Franz Beckenbauer—captaining West Germany to the 1970 World Cup—joins Paolo Maldini of Italy. Owen makes his view clear in the midfield-to-defence flow of the XI, arguing Maldini is the world’s greatest-ever defender. In the same breath, he reveals what the selection costs England: Bobby Moore, the 1966 icon, is “just pipped by Maldini.”.
Midfield is where Owen’s XI starts to feel like a statement about control and ambition. Zinedine Zidane anchors the centre of the park, with Owen pointing back to France’s success in 1998. Sir Bobby Charlton completes the central midfield, with both men linked to England’s 1966 generation. Owen then adds the line that sums up his logic in one challenge—“who will take the ball off this team?”—before pushing the attack further forward.
Three-time World Cup winner Pele takes the attacking midfield role, with Owen listing the Brazilian’s titles in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Diego Maradona slots in alongside him as Argentina’s 1986 winner, and Lionel Messi completes the front wave after winning the 2022 World Cup.
And then there’s the striker’s seat at the top of the system: Ronaldo. the Brazil legend who won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002. Owen’s World Cup XI is even more pointed in how it connects careers—Ronaldo was a team-mate of Owen’s at Real Madrid. as was Zidane. Owen also reminds readers of Ronaldo’s own place in tournament history. noting he was the competition’s all-time leading scorer with 15 goals in 19 games before Germany’s Miroslav Klose surpassed him in 2014.
Owen isn’t choosing players in a vacuum. It was at this global showpiece 28 years ago that he announced himself to the world with a goal against Argentina during England’s last-16 penalty shootout defeat. Across his career. he played in two more World Cups—losing 2-1 in the quarter-finals to eventual champions Brazil in 2002. before a knee injury against Sweden in the group stages curtailed his involvement in 2006.
With 40 goals in 89 caps for England over a 10-year international career. Owen feels set to draft a World Cup dream XI. But the roster he’s produced—four Brazilians included. Maldini edging out Bobby Moore at centre back. and an attack that reads like a finals invitation—will quickly become its own kind of debate as the 2026 World Cup launch approaches and his columns begin.
Michael Owen World Cup XI 4-2-3-1 Gordon Banks Cafu Roberto Carlos Franz Beckenbauer Paolo Maldini Zinedine Zidane Sir Bobby Charlton Lionel Messi Pele Diego Maradona Ronaldo Bobby Moore