Pep Guardiola Best XI Soccer

[Tom]

Iniesta in the position that Villa is (as he often played in the national team), De Bruyne in the midfield where Iniesta is, Messi as a false 9 and Robben on the right.

Alba in place of Alaba because of the connection he had with Messi, and there's a strong case to be made for Rodri in place of Busquets also.

Neuer
Alves Puyol Pique Alba
De Bruyne Xavi Busquets
Robben Messi Iniesta​

I'm not sure you can mess with the Barcelona midfield trio. Attack is interesting, like you've done, play about with the shape, having Messi central and Robben right for instance, and/or accommodate another midfielder type.

 

[Tom]

There is no known universe where Kevin De Bruyne supplants Iniesta. You're talking about two different tiers of player.

Yeah, totally agree. De Bruyne is good but not that good.

 

[John Steed]

The Barcelona midfield 3 is untouchable. The rest of the forward line is there to get the best out of Messi (the greatest player of all time) - and for that you need 2 forwards who are great off the ball. Constantly stretching that backline for Messi to pick them out, or to reduce the congestion in the middle of the pitch for him to just dribble his way through the middle of the pitch.

Alves is also untouchable because he again also stretches the pitch like no other fullback of his generation, and had almost a perfect partnership with Messi.

Neuer
Alves Puyol Dias Lahm
Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Robben Messi Eto'o

That's my XI. The only City player I've included is Ruben Dias where other have chosen Pique.

 

[The GOAT]

I would take out Pique from there and replace him with Boateng and have Agüero over Lewandowski, and Henry on the left instead of David Villa although Villa was class in that Barcelona team.

Neuer
Alves Puyol Boateng Alaba
Xavi Busquets Iniesta
Messi Aguero Henry​