TheFIFA World Cup Dream Team is an all-timeFIFA World Cupall-star team published byFIFA in 2002 after conducting an internet poll of fans to select a World Cup dream team. It was announced on 18 June 2002 during the2002 FIFA World Cup.
After publishing theWorld Team of the 20th Century including the continental selections just before the1998 FIFA World Cup in France,FIFA decided to release an XI about the best players featured in a World Cup from 1930 until 2002. It was the second time thatFIFA organized an Internet poll after theFIFA Player of the Century poll in 2000. The result of the XI would be announced during the2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan.
More than one-and-a-half million fans worldwide voted in the poll, conducted by the official FIFA website, www.FIFAworldcup.com, withDiego Maradona ofArgentina receiving 111,035 the most votes of every player.[1]Brazil'sPelé, who played for three World Cup-winning teams, won 107,539 votes,1974 World Cup Champion with West GermanyFranz Beckenbauer received 81,442 andZinedine Zidane who scored twice forFrance in their1998 triumph, came in fourth with 80,527.[1][2] It was the second time in two years that Maradona would beatPele in an internet worldwide poll.[3][4]
Top 5 by votes
| Rank | Player | Nationality | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diego Maradona |  Argentina | 111,035 |
| 2 | Pelé |  Brazil | 107,539 |
| 3 | Franz Beckenbauer |  Germany | 81,442 |
| 4 | Zinedine Zidane |  France | 80,527 |
| 4 | Paolo Maldini |  Italy | 58,523 |
FIFA Goal of the century
Diego Maradona's second goal against England in their 1986 quarter-final was also voted theFIFA goal of the century.[5]
It is an eleven-memberside divided as onegoalkeeper, threedefenders, fourmidfielders, and threeforwards (3–4–3 formation). The XI includes three defenders with left-backPaolo Maldini chosen as a right back.
| Player[1] | Career playing position | National side(s) Years represented | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lev Yashin | Goalkeeper |  Soviet Union1958,1962,1966,1970 | 24,587 |
| Paolo Maldini | Left-back and central defender | Italy 1990,1994,1998,2002 | 58,523 |
| Franz Beckenbauer | Central defender | West Germany 1966,1970,1974 | 81,442 |
| Roberto Carlos | Left-back defender | Brazil 1998,2002,2006 | 58,200 |
| Roberto Baggio | Second striker, or as an attacking midfielder | Italy 1990,1994,1998 | 55,625 |
| Zinedine Zidane | Attacking midfielder | France 1998,2002,2006 | 80,527 |
| Michel Platini | Advanced midfield playmaker | France 1978,1982,1986 | 53,783 |
| Diego Maradona | Attacking midfielder or as a second striker | Argentina 1982,1986,1990,1994 | 111,035 |
| Romário | Striker | Brazil 1990,1994 | 29,480 |
| Johan Cruyff | Forward or attacking midfielder |  Netherlands1974 | 53,645 |
| Pelé | Forward or attacking midfielder | Brazil 1958,1962,1966,1970 | 107,539 |
