We’re just a few months from the end of the decade so what better time to reflect on what we’ve seen in world football during the past 10 years.

We’ve witnessed a decade of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominating world football.

But there have also been some incredible players joining the pair on the podium at various football awards down the years.

So with the decade drawing to a close, we’ve decided to take a look at a World Team of the Decade (2010-2020).

As you’d expect, Messi and Ronaldo make the cut. But who else joins them?

Manuel Neuer

Signed for Bayern Munich in 2011 and has already won seven Bundesliga titles and one Champions League this decade. Also won the World Cup in 2014 with Germany.

Dani Alves

Spent most of the decade at Barcelona before moving to Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and now Sao Paulo. Alves has won eight league titles and two Champions Leagues this decade - along with many other trophies.

Gerard Pique

Has been at Barcelona the entire decade, winning 22 trophies in total. Began the decade with the 2010 World Cup and also added the 2012 European Championships.

Sergio Ramos

Had already been at Real Madrid for five years when 2009 turned into 2010. Has since led the club to four Champions League titles in recent years, as well as winning the World Cup and European Championships with Spain.

Marcelo

Has also been at the Bernabeu for the entire decade and was key in the four Champions League wins. Just edges out Phillip Lahm.

Sergio Busquets

Busquets has been considered as the best defensive midfielder in world football for many years now. Has been key for Barcelona and Spain this decade winning seven league titles, two Champions Leagues, a World Cup and a European Championship.

Andres Iniesta

Left Barcelona in May 2018 for Japan but he did enough in eight years for the Camp Nou club to earn a place in our Team of the Decade. Six La Ligas, two Champions Leagues, a World Cup and a European Championship. One of the greatest midfielders to have ever played the game.

Luka Modric

Modric started the decade at Tottenham but has taken his game to a new level at Real Madrid. Has only won one La Liga title with the Spanish giants but has helped his side claim four Champions Leagues. The only player other than Messi and Ronaldo to win a Ballon d’Or this decade. That alone deserves a place in this side.

Lionel Messi

What can we say? This decade, Messi has claimed four Ballon d’Ors and produced the greatest individual campaign ever in 2012 - scoring 91 goals in the calendar year. He’s also lifted seven La Liga titles, five Copa del Reys, five Supercopa de Espana, two Champions Leagues, two Super Cups and two Club World Cups.

Luis Suarez



Suarez was at Ajax in 2010, scoring 49 goals in 47 matches in all competitions and winning the Eredivisie to kick-off the decade. He replicated that form at Liverpool with 31 goals in his final Premier League season at Anfield. That earned him a move to Barcelona, where he has scored 183 goals in 255 matches at the Camp Nou. Five league titles, a Champions League and a Copa America represents a very decent 10 years for Suarez.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Just six months before the turn of the decade, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for a world record £80 million. He’s since taken his incredible game to a new level, winning pretty much everything there is to win. At Real Madrid, he won La Ligas, Copa del Reys, Supercopa de Espana, Champions Leagues, Super Cups, Club World Cups. With Juventus, he’s already won a Serie A and a Supercoppa Italiana, while for Portugal, he’s won a European Championship and a Nations League.