Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and more: When ex-Manchester City star Sergio Aguero named his greatest football XI of all time
Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero once included Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Sergio Ramos and other greats in his greatest football XI of all time. The diminutive Argentinean is the highest goalscorer in the history of The Cityzens, having netted 260 goals in 390 games for the club across competitions.
In a video published on Manchester City's official YouTube channel on April 29, 2015, the Independiente Academy graduate selected the best players in history to formulate an invincible XI in football. Aguero opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation.
The ex-Manchester City forward picked German legend Oliver Kahn as the man between the sticks. Thereafter, he went with the trio of Roberto Ayala, Sergio Ramos and Fernando Hierro in the back three.
Aguero explained that both Hierro and Ayala were good in the air and were legends of the game during their primes.
“Then Sergio Ramos is a player I like a lot. It’s a courageous back line. They would just need to focus on winning the ball back and passing it to the midfielders,” said the Argentine, lauding the former Manchester City forward.
Roberto Carlos, Xavi Hernandez Fernando Redondo, and Andres Iniesta were picked to man the midfield for Sergio Aguero's dream eleven.
“It’s a line of four in midfield. All but one are genuine midfielders. The exception is Roberto Carlos who I would play on the left wing to cross the ball,” he explained.
Despite picking three of the best midfielders to have ever played the game, the Manchester City legend was skeptical of their defensive prowess and off-the-ball movements.
“The other three midfielders are Xavi, Redondo and Iniesta, they would keep the ball. I don’t know how they are going to track back, though,” he said.
In the attack, the Argentinean forward went with an all-South-American trio of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Ronaldo Nazario. Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona are considered two of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the game.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo Nazario - monikered 'R9' - is one of the rare greats to have proved his goalscoring mettle for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
When Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero opened up about Lionel Messi's mentality
Sergio Aguero recently opened up on what to expect from Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. At 37, Lionel Messi is approaching the tail end of his career and the FIFA Club World Cup is expected to be one of the last major tournaments for the Argentine talisman.
Speaking about Lionel Messi's mentality in the 2025 Club World Cup, Aguero said (via GOAL):
“We know that Messi is one of the players that everyone wants to see, so it'll be very nice to see Inter Miami compete at the tournament, especially with Leo in the team. He’s going to want to give his all as he doesn't like to lose anything."
He added:
“Opponents will need to be wary even if there’s only a minute of two left on the clock, as he’s capable of punishing you with one of his thunderous strikes, precision-guided free-kicks or just a delightful bit of play out of the blue. And that’s because he’s the best player in the world."
Despite having a season riddled with injuries, Lionel Messi has been exemplary for Inter Miami in 2024. In 25 games for the Herons, he has scored 23 goals and created 13. With him in the side, Inter Miami has also won the first MLS Supporter's Shield in the club's history.