UEFA Team of the Year


The UEFA Fan's Team of the Year is a football award given by UEFA through a poll on its official website. This award started in 2001 and only allow its users of the organization's website to choose their own eleven players and a coach based on their overall performances in European club football and international competitions.

Selection process

Until 2011, the writers at the website had constructed a short-list of sixty footballers and coaches who have performed well in European club competitions, domestic competitions and international tournaments for that particular year. Users then cast their vote of a line-up consisting of eleven players and a coach based on who they believed excelled in European football. After the selection is made, the user also has to select one of the players to be the captain of their team.
The format of the vote was changed in 2012 – now users first choose their preferred formation, and then choose the relevant number of players for each position. The voters have a choice between 4 goalkeepers, 12 defenders, 12 midfielders and 12 forwards. The voting for best coach was discontinued.
After the votes are cast, they are tallied and the final team is announced on the UEFA website.

Appearance records

The player with the most appearances in the team is Cristiano Ronaldo, having appeared fourteen times. Second is Lionel Messi, having appeared eleven times. Sergio Ramos comes third with eight appearances. The most consecutive appearances in the team is thirteen for Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by Sergio Ramos with seven then Iker Casillas and Lionel Messi, with six each.
The teams with the most player appearances are Real Madrid and Barcelona with 49, followed by Bayern Munich and Juventus. Barcelona has been the team with the most players selected in a single season with six players in 2009 and 2010. The only other teams with more than three players in one season are Bayern Munich, with four players in 2013 and five in 2014, Liverpool with five players in 2019 and Real Madrid, with five players in 2017 and 2018, and four in 2003, 2012–2014 and 2016.
The manager with the most appearances is José Mourinho, with four appearances. He is followed by Alex Ferguson, who has two appearances.

Team of the Year 2001

PlayerTeamAppearance
Santiago Cañizares Valencia1st
Cosmin Contra Deportivo Alavés
AC Milan		1st
Sami Hyypiä Liverpool1st
Patrik Andersson Bayern Munich
Barcelona		1st
Bixente Lizarazu Bayern Munich1st
David Beckham Manchester United1st
Patrick Vieira Arsenal1st
Zinedine Zidane Juventus
Real Madrid		1st
Kily González Valencia1st
Thierry Henry Arsenal1st
David Trezeguet Juventus1st

Coach: Gérard Houllier: Liverpool
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2002

PlayerTeamAppearance
Rüştü Reçber Fenerbahçe1st
Carles Puyol Barcelona1st
Alessandro Nesta Lazio
Milan		1st
Cristian Chivu Ajax1st
Roberto Carlos Real Madrid1st
Clarence Seedorf Internazionale
Milan		1st
Michael Ballack Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich		1st
Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid2nd
Damien Duff Blackburn Rovers1st
Thierry Henry Arsenal2nd
Ronaldo Internazionale
Real Madrid		1st

Coach: Şenol Güneş: Turkey
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2003

PlayerTeamAppearance
Gianluigi Buffon Juventus1st
Paulo Ferreira Porto1st
Alessandro Nesta Milan2nd
Paolo Maldini Milan1st
Roberto Carlos Real Madrid2nd
Luís Figo Real Madrid1st
David Beckham Manchester United
Real Madrid		2nd
Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid3rd
Pavel Nedvěd Juventus1st
Thierry Henry Arsenal3rd
Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United1st

Coach: José Mourinho: Porto
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2004

Coach: José Mourinho: Porto / Chelsea
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2005

PlayerTeamAppearance
Petr Čech Chelsea1st
Cafu Milan2nd
John Terry Chelsea1st
Carles Puyol Barcelona2nd
Paolo Maldini Milan2nd
Luis García Liverpool1st
Steven Gerrard Liverpool1st
Ronaldinho Barcelona2nd
Pavel Nedvěd Juventus3rd
Samuel Eto'o Barcelona1st
Andriy Shevchenko Milan2nd

Coach: José Mourinho: Chelsea
Source:

Team of the Year 2006

PlayerTeamAppearance
Gianluigi Buffon Juventus3rd
Gianluca Zambrotta Juventus
Barcelona		1st
Fabio Cannavaro Juventus
Real Madrid		1st
Carles Puyol Barcelona3rd
Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich1st
Steven Gerrard Liverpool2nd
Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal1st
Kaká Milan1st
Ronaldinho Barcelona3rd
Thierry Henry Arsenal5th
Samuel Eto'o Barcelona2nd

Coach: Frank Rijkaard: Barcelona
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2007

PlayerTeamAppearance
Iker Casillas Real Madrid1st
Dani Alves Sevilla1st
Alessandro Nesta Milan4th
John Terry Chelsea2nd
Eric Abidal Lyon
Barcelona		1st
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United2nd
Steven Gerrard Liverpool3rd
Kaká Milan2nd
Clarence Seedorf Milan2nd
Zlatan Ibrahimović Internazionale1st
Didier Drogba Chelsea1st

Coach: Alex Ferguson: Manchester United
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2008

PlayerTeamAppearance
Iker Casillas Real Madrid2nd
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid1st
John Terry Chelsea3rd
Carles Puyol Barcelona4th
Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich2nd
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United3rd
Xavi Barcelona1st
Cesc Fàbregas Arsenal2nd
Franck Ribéry Bayern Munich1st
Lionel Messi Barcelona1st
Fernando Torres Liverpool1st

Coach: Alex Ferguson: Manchester United
Source:

Team of the Year 2009

PlayerTeamAppearance
Iker Casillas Real Madrid3rd
Dani Alves Barcelona2nd
John Terry Chelsea4th
Carles Puyol Barcelona5th
Patrice Evra Manchester United1st
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United
Real Madrid		4th
Xavi Barcelona2nd
Kaká Milan
Real Madrid		3rd
Andrés Iniesta Barcelona1st
Lionel Messi Barcelona2nd
Zlatan Ibrahimović Internazionale
Barcelona		2nd

Coach: Pep Guardiola: Barcelona
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2010

PlayerTeamAppearance
Iker Casillas Real Madrid4th
Maicon Internazionale1st
Gerard Piqué Barcelona1st
Carles Puyol Barcelona6th
Ashley Cole Chelsea2nd
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid5th
Xavi Barcelona3rd
Wesley Sneijder Internazionale1st
Andrés Iniesta Barcelona2nd
Lionel Messi Barcelona3rd
David Villa Valencia
Barcelona		1st

Coach: José Mourinho: Internazionale / Real Madrid
Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2011

PlayerTeamAppearance
Iker Casillas Real Madrid5th
Dani Alves Barcelona3rd
Gerard Piqué Barcelona2nd
Thiago Silva Milan1st
Marcelo Real Madrid1st
Arjen Robben Bayern Munich1st
Xavi Barcelona4th
Andrés Iniesta Barcelona3rd
Gareth Bale Tottenham Hotspur1st
Lionel Messi Barcelona4th
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid6th

Source:
Voting for a coach ended this year.

Team of the Year 2012

PlayerTeamAppearance
Iker Casillas Real Madrid6th
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid2nd
Gerard Piqué Barcelona3rd
Thiago Silva Milan
Paris Saint-Germain		2nd
Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich3rd
Andrés Iniesta Barcelona4th
Xavi Barcelona5th
Andrea Pirlo Juventus1st
Mesut Özil Real Madrid1st
Lionel Messi Barcelona5th
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid7th

Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2013

PlayerTeamAppearance
Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich1st
Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich4th
Thiago Silva Paris Saint-Germain3rd
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid3rd
David Alaba Bayern Munich1st
Gareth Bale Tottenham Hotspur
Real Madrid		2nd
Marco Reus Borussia Dortmund1st
Mesut Özil Real Madrid
Arsenal		2nd
Franck Ribéry Bayern Munich2nd
Zlatan Ibrahimović Paris Saint-Germain3rd
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid8th

Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2014

PlayerTeamAppearance
Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich2nd
Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich5th
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid4th
Diego Godín Atlético Madrid1st
David Alaba Bayern Munich2nd
Arjen Robben Bayern Munich2nd
Toni Kroos Bayern Munich
Real Madrid		1st
Ángel Di María Real Madrid
Manchester United		1st
Lionel Messi Barcelona6th
Zlatan Ibrahimović Paris Saint-Germain4th
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid9th

Source:
Players who played for two teams during the voting year have the club they transferred to during a transfer window listed second.

Team of the Year 2015

PlayerTeamAppearance
Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich3rd
Dani Alves Barcelona4th
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid5th
Gerard Piqué Barcelona4th
David Alaba Bayern Munich3rd
Paul Pogba Juventus1st
Andrés Iniesta Barcelona5th
James Rodríguez Real Madrid1st
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid10th
Lionel Messi Barcelona7th
Neymar Barcelona1st

Source:

Team of the Year 2016

PlayerTeamAppearance
Gianluigi Buffon Juventus4th
Jérôme Boateng Bayern Munich1st
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid6th
Gerard Piqué Barcelona5th
Leonardo Bonucci Juventus1st
Luka Modrić Real Madrid1st
Toni Kroos Real Madrid2nd
Andrés Iniesta Barcelona6th
Lionel Messi Barcelona8th
Antoine Griezmann Atlético Madrid1st
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid11th

Source:

Team of the Year 2017

PlayerTeamAppearance
Gianluigi Buffon Juventus5th
Dani Alves Juventus
Paris Saint-Germain		5th
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid7th
Giorgio Chiellini Juventus1st
Marcelo Real Madrid2nd
Luka Modrić Real Madrid2nd
Toni Kroos Real Madrid3rd
Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City1st
Eden Hazard Chelsea1st
Lionel Messi Barcelona9th
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid12th

Source:

Team of the Year 2018

PlayerTeamAppearance
Marc-André ter Stegen Barcelona1st
Sergio Ramos Real Madrid8th
Virgil van Dijk Liverpool1st
Raphaël Varane Real Madrid1st
Marcelo Real Madrid3rd
Luka Modrić Real Madrid3rd
N'Golo Kanté Chelsea1st
Eden Hazard Chelsea2nd
Kylian Mbappé Paris Saint-Germain1st
Lionel Messi Barcelona10th
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid
Juventus		13th

Source:

Team of the Year 2019

PlayerTeamAppearance
Alisson Liverpool1st
Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool1st
Matthijs de Ligt Ajax
Juventus		1st
Virgil van Dijk Liverpool2nd
Andrew Robertson Liverpool1st
Frenkie de Jong Ajax
Barcelona		1st
Kevin De Bruyne Manchester City2nd
Lionel Messi Barcelona11th
Cristiano Ronaldo Juventus14th
Robert Lewandowski Bayern Munich1st
Sadio Mané Liverpool1st

Source:

Most appearances

By player

PlayerAppearances
Cristiano Ronaldo14
Lionel Messi11
Sergio Ramos8
Iker Casillas6
Carles Puyol6
Andrés Iniesta6
Gianluigi Buffon5
Dani Alves5
Thierry Henry5
Philipp Lahm5
Gerard Piqué5
Xavi5
Alessandro Nesta4
John Terry4
Zlatan Ibrahimović4
David Alaba3
Steven Gerrard3
Kaká3
Toni Kroos3
Marcelo3
Luka Modrić3
Manuel Neuer3
Pavel Nedvěd3
Ronaldinho3
Thiago Silva3
Zinedine Zidane3
Gareth Bale2
David Beckham2
Cafu2
Ashley Cole2
Kevin De Bruyne2
Samuel Eto'o2
Cesc Fàbregas2
Eden Hazard2
Paolo Maldini2
Mesut Özil2
Franck Ribéry2
Arjen Robben2
Roberto Carlos2
Clarence Seedorf2
Andriy Shevchenko2
Virgil van Dijk2
55 players1

By coach

ManagerAppearances
José Mourinho4
Alex Ferguson2
Gérard Houllier1
Şenol Güneş1
Frank Rijkaard1
Pep Guardiola1

By club

By country

UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year

In November 2015, UEFA published their Ultimate Team of the Year, composed of the 18 players with the all-time most appearances in the UEFA Team of the Year, since its inception in 2001.
All-time XIGoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
Iker Casillas ' Philipp Lahm '
Carles Puyol '
Alessandro Nesta '
Sergio Ramos '
 Andrés Iniesta '
Steven Gerrard '
Xavi '		 Cristiano Ronaldo '
Thierry Henry '
Lionel Messi '

SubstitutesAppearances
John Terry4
Zlatan Ibrahimović4
Gianluigi Buffon3
Pavel Nedvěd3
Zinedine Zidane3
Ronaldinho3
Kaká3

In November 2017, UEFA published an UEFA all-time XI of the century so far, their second Ultimate Team of the Year, composed of the 11 players with the all-time most appearances in the UEFA Team of the Year, since its inception in 2001.
All-time XIGoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
Iker Casillas ' Philipp Lahm '
Carles Puyol '
Gerard Piqué '
Sergio Ramos '
 Andrés Iniesta '
Steven Gerrard '
Xavi '		 Cristiano Ronaldo '
Thierry Henry '
Lionel Messi '