Theo Walcott has revealed his all-time World Cup XI, building a side around Gianluigi Buffon, Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro and an English defensive line led by Ashley Cole—while leaving out Pele and Diego Maradona entirely.
Theo Walcott’s World Cup XI feels less like a debate team and more like a statement—an all-tournament dream line drawn with sharp edges. There’s a goalkeeper who carried Italy in 2006. a midfield engine that helped France reach the final. and an attack built around Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. And yet for all the big names in, there are two legends who aren’t: Pele and Diego Maradona.
The former Arsenal winger. who made his national debut against Andorra 20 years ago at the age of 17. still holds the England record as the youngest player to make a senior debut. Walcott announced his international retirement in 2016. but the football he played through—against and alongside some of the finest players in the world—clearly shaped how he imagines a World Cup XI.
In goal, Walcott goes with Gianluigi Buffon, a recognition that speaks for itself after his retirement in 2023. Buffon featured in four World Cups. including the 2006 campaign where Italy lifted the Jules Rimet trophy after beating France on penalties. He conceded just twice in seven games and was awarded the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper of the tournament. The 48-year-old also holds the Azzurri appearance record with 176 caps.
Walcott’s back line is a two-man partnership built for tournament pressure. Cafu—born in Sao Paolo—comes in as a two-time World Cup winner and is the only player to have played in three World Cup finals. He triumphed against Italy in 1994 and Germany in 2002, but fell short with Brazil after losing to France in 1998. Walcott credits Cafu’s work ethic and his “never say die” attitude. pointing to a blend of talent. passion and love for the game that has made him one of the greatest full backs.
Next is Fabio Cannavaro, another Italy stalwart with four World Cup appearances and success in 2006 alongside Buffon. Walcott’s XI also leans into the weight of achievement: Cannavaro led Juventus to a Serie A title just weeks before his World Cup-winning campaign and became just the third defender in history to win the Ballon d’Or award. The Italians nicknamed him ‘Il Muro di Berlino’ (the Berlin Wall) thanks to his imposing defensive displays, despite being just 5’8. Now. as the 2026 World Cup looms. Cannavaro will lead Uzbekistan out to their first global tournament in the history of the country.
Paolo Maldini completes the centre-back pairing in Walcott’s XI. even if the trophies didn’t always land for him on the World Cup stage. Maldini debuted for Italy in 1988 and spent 14 years serving his country. He appeared at four different World Cups but never won the trophy. In 1994, he won his third Champions League title and finished as runner up with Italy in the World Cup. Walcott’s list also reflects the wider impact Maldini had: he became the first defender ever to win World Soccer magazine’s annual World Player of the Year award. with his reading of the game. ability on both feet and physical presence all singled out as defining traits.
On the left, Walcott turns to England for Ashley Cole. Walcott opted for his former teammate, who has featured consistently in a number of Premier League all time XIs. Cole played at five major tournaments for England—including three World Cups in 2002. 2006 and 2010—and made 107 appearances for England. making him one of the most capped defenders in the nation’s history. He also set a record for going 34 consecutive home appearances without defeat for England and was named in the team of the Tournament for the 2004 Euros. Walcott once dubbed Cole “the best left-back in Premier League history” when speaking to FourFourTwo.
The midfield is anchored by Claude Makelele, who Walcott selects as the “engine” of the team. Makelele featured at two World Cups, in 2002 and 2006. He revolutionised the role of the midfielder by dictating matches from a deep position and was praised for incredible defensive awareness—performances that helped France reach the final before being beaten by Italy in 2006. Walcott’s midfield pick also leans on physicality and understanding of role. with Makelele widely appreciated as one of the greatest French players ever.
Alongside Makelele is Xavi from Spain, a pick rooted in longevity and accuracy. Xavi featured at four World Cups, making 133 appearances in 14 years. He won the FIFA World Youth Championship with Spain in 1999 and later got his hands on the World Cup trophy after Spain defeated the Dutch. Walcott highlights the 2010 World Cup, where Xavi recorded 91% passing accuracy—providing the most accurate passes, with 599, in the tournament. He was named Euro 2008’s player of the tournament and led Spain to their first bit of silverware since 1964. In 2012, Xavi added two assists in Spain’s 4-0 thrashing of Italy to help retain the European Championship.
Then comes the creative and ruthless edge: Zinedine Zidane in attack. Walcott’s XI makes room for a player who has already delivered the biggest moments. Zidane won the World Cup final against Brazil in 1998, scoring two headers in the first half. In 2006. he starred in France’s run to the final. with the captain scoring goals against Spain in the round of 16 and Portugal in the semifinals. Walcott points to Zidane’s scintillating performance against Brazil in the campaign as proof of why he was one of the best players on the planet.
Even the infamous ending finds its place. Zidane scored in the final against Italy from the penalty spot before a headbutt to Marco Materazzi’s chest ended his involvement—an instant that has become one of the most infamous moments in World Cup history. He scored 31 goals and picked up 29 assists in 108 games.
For the other attacking half of Walcott’s XI, Lionel Messi is there too. The tournament logic is simple: Messi’s World Cup involvement in Qatar wasn’t just statistics—it was leadership. Walcott notes that Messi looks set to play in his final World Cup in North America this summer. The little magician was involved in ten of Argentina’s 15 goals at the last tournament in 2022. and the two-time Copa America winner has scored 117 goals and provided 64 assists in an illustrious 199-game international career. Walcott also describes Messi’s impact on the Argentina squad in Qatar. saying he was treated as a king and that the team put their bodies on the line for their captain.
To complete the forward line. Walcott places both Ronaldo Nazario and Cristiano Ronaldo in the XI—an unusual pairing that underlines how he values both prime brilliance and career weight. Ronaldo Nazario made his debut for the Selecao in 1994 and went on to score 62 goals in 99 appearances for Brazil. ‘O Fenomeno’ was pivotal to Brazil’s success. winning two World Cups in 1994 and 2002 and scoring a brace against Germany in the final of the latter. Walcott’s description leans into the traits people still talk about: explosive pace. a ridiculous skillset and the ability to punish teams. Despite injuries and time out on the sidelines. Walcott’s list still puts Nazario among the deadliest strikers of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo closes the attack with record-setting international output. Walcott notes that in his 23rd year of international football. Cristiano Ronaldo has recorded the most international appearances with 227 and the most goals at international level with 143. Portugal won the 2016 European Championship final against France, a day marked by mixed emotions for the Portugal captain. An injury in the first half forced him to be subbed off with the forward visibly distressed. yet Walcott says he still adopted a player-manager role on the bench. guiding Portugal to their first ever piece of silverware.
The 41-year-old will take on his sixth World Cup campaign, joined by Messi and Guillermo Ochoa as the only players to have featured at six or more global tournaments. And as always, Walcott’s list circles the same central idea about Ronaldo: the one trophy that has evaded him his whole career.
Taken together. Walcott’s World Cup XI doesn’t just mix eras and nations—it maps out a tournament preference that favors match-winning defenders. midfield control and forward inevitability. Buffon’s record-setting 2006 campaign. Makelele’s defensive midfield impact. and Zidane’s defining finals moments sit alongside Messi’s influence in Qatar and Ronaldo’s numbers built across international careers.
Walcott has also teamed up with Amazon to celebrate the return of Prime Day, live from 23rd to 26th June. The choice then opens up to fans: do you agree with Walcott’s XI?. Pick a team from the shortlist. submit a final selection. compare it to Daily Mail football experts. share it with friends. and see how it stacks up against thousands of other Mail readers. There’s even a World Cup quiz for those ready to test themselves on the action so far.
Theo Walcott World Cup XI Gianluigi Buffon Cafu Fabio Cannavaro Paolo Maldini Ashley Cole Claude Makelele Xavi Zinedine Zidane Lionel Messi Ronaldo Nazario Cristiano Ronaldo Pele Diego Maradona Prime Day England debut Andorra
So he picked Messi and Ronaldo but not Maradona? kinda wild.
I feel like leaving out Pele is disrespectful. Like how is that even a “XI” if you don’t have Pele somewhere??
Wait, didn’t Walcott play like striker for Arsenal, not on defense? Also Buffon carried Italy in 2006 but Ashley Cole was English so how does that work like… do they mean mixed World Cups or something?
Maradona not being in it is probably because people always argue about him anyway. But I’m confused why it mentions his Andorra debut like that’s relevant to a World Cup XI. Also Walcott retired in 2016?? feels late, I thought he was done way sooner lol.