Team of the Decade

Just seen this on the BBC website, and couldn't resist having a go myself. For some reason they kept it to 'European' team of the year, can't think why, so here's my 11 worldwide names who have lit up the game more than any other in the last decade:

Gianluigi Buffon - Performed un-believably for Juventus since signing for them in 2001, and even spent a season with them in Serie B when people were throwing around figures of something like £40million to sign him. Pulled off some of the best saves in living memory, including a stunning one-hander from Mutu in the last Euros. And he won the World Cup.

Carlos Puyol - Started his career for both Barcelona and Spain in 2000, and almost instantly became a permanent fixture in each side. His incredible pace, power, agiliy and determination has seen him accumulate almost every club and personal honour there is.

Fabio Cannavaro - The best centre back in the world for the best part of the 00s, and played the classic captain's role in the ridiculous defence that took Italy to the 2006 world cup. The only defender to win the Ballon d'Or over the last ten years.

Alessandro Nesta - A proper centre-half. Holds the line like a rock, never scores, but maintains the ability to stroll out of defence and pick a killer pass. Has remained fairly anonymous but has quietly become one of Milan and Italy's best ever players. Still a relatively young 33, if Man City are looking for a way to avoid condeding three at home to Burnley, here lies your answer.

Paolo Maldini - You expected him to die well before the year 2000 but he kept on dominating the left flank and winning massive trophies with Milan. Even after retiring from Italy in 2002, having reached the Euro final, he went on to score in one Champions League final and lift the trophy in two others. Was Serie A defender of the year in 2004, and in a league like that honours don't come much higher.

David Beckham - So few players have stayed in the limelight for so long and enjoyed such consistent success. Titles with Man Utd and Madrid, was Milan's best midfielder in his last loan spell there, and in his bald-headed 2002 era was completely unplayable. The free kick against Greece would be enough to put him there by itself.

Zinedine Zidane - The best player ever to play the game. After winning the World Cup in 98, he got better and better, dominating the Madrid midfield, winning World player of the year twice, winning the champions league with 'that' goal, destroyed Brazil in the 2006 World Cup on his own, and would have ended up lifting the trophy if he could have been bothered.

Xavi - At the centre of everything Barcelona and Spain have done of late and has won 13 trophies in the last five years. Was a relative unknown in 2000 but ends the decade as the world's best midfielder hands down.

Michael Ballack - The biggest underachiever in the list, but it's easy to forget that Ballack was THE man in a side that reached a World Cup final and semi-final in the 00s, and displayed an unrivalled range of passing, awareness and goalscoring threat at times. Hasn't really done it at Chelsea, but if he performs to his best there is nobody better still playing the game.

Raul - All time leading scorer in the Champions League. All time leading scorer for Real Madrid. They can spend all the millions they like on forwards but nobody, but nobody, has been anything like as consistent.

Thierry Henry - The man who has won everything, and is ending the decade with a massive cloud over his head. But he still has arguably the best touch in the game, and became Arsenal's greatest ever striker in double quick time. Alongside Bergkamp (what a pairing that was) the greatest foreigner to grace the Premier league.

Subs: Who cares

In retrospect, may as well have just kept it to European team...