In a surprising turn of events, Argentine footballer Angel Di Maria has named his all-time best XI teammates and notably excluded Cristiano Ronaldo from the lineup.
The Benfica midfielder, who is nearing the end of his international career, recently shared his thoughts on the greatest players he has played alongside in an interview with MARCA.
His selection showcased his personal preferences and experiences on the pitch.
He opted for Emiliano Martinez as the best goalkeeper he has played with while selecting Otamendi and Mascherano as the central defensive pairing.
On the flanks, he chose Marcelo as the left-back and Sergio Ramos as the right-back.
In midfield, he included himself alongside Rui Costa and Neymar, speaking on their contributions and skill sets.
Notably, he omitted Cristiano Ronaldo, despite having played together at Real Madrid for four years.
The decision raised eyebrows and has created buzz online among football fans, especially considering the successful partnership the two had during their time at the Spanish club.
Continuing his selection, Di Maria placed Lionel Messi as the right winger and Kylian Mbappe as the left winger.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was chosen as the striker, completing the star-studded lineup.
The omission of Ronaldo, along with the inclusion of former Real Madrid teammates Marcelo and Ramos, has sparked discussions and debates among football fans.
While personal preferences and playing experiences likely influenced his choices, the decision to exclude Ronaldo has created much buzz and debate online, in regards to the relationship between the two players and the reasons behind the omission.
