Messi and Ronaldo Lead the Pack as Ferdinand Reveals His Dream Madrid-Barcelona XI
6 January 2026
Lineup spotlight
Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has named an all-time XI drawn from Real Madrid and Barcelona ahead of the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, broadcast exclusively via the Eight app, the official carrier of the Roshn Saudi League.
Best XI from Barca and Real Madrid
In Ferdinand's Madrid selection, he slots Thibaut Courtois in goal, with a back four featuring Dani Alves, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro and Ronald Koeman; a midfield trio of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Zinedine Zidane; and a formidable forward line of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
Separately, Ferdinand names the greatest combined XI from Barcelona and Real Madrid: Casillas in goal; a backline of Dani Alves, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro and Ronald Koeman; a midfield of Xavi, Iniesta and Zidane; and a front three of Ronaldo, Messi and Ronaldinho.
He also notes modern contenders such as Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior as potential additions to a contemporary version, with Kylian Mbappé tipped to push for a Madrid-frontline ahead of competing targets.
The exercise is playful nostalgia, not a forecast, Ferdinand muses, and the debates should be taken with a pinch of humor.
If nothing else, the XI would deliver a showreel of galactic levels of talent; and if this lineup ever played, the scoreboard would need a new multiplication table.
Meanwhile, the ball would probably request a selfie with Messi and Ronaldo before the whistle.
