Seven Man United players, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo up front… Carlos Tevez names dream XI

Carlos Tevez has chosen as many as seven Manchester United stars past and present as part of his dream XI – with a host of other star-studded names also featuring.  

The 36-year-old striker is nearing the end of a prolific career, after spending two years with United between 2007 and 2009, and has reflected on the players he would call upon for one final farewell game.

And, despite enjoying four years at neighbours Manchester City, Tevez has selected a large number of his former Old Trafford team-mates for his team, and entirely snubbed those he played alongside at the Etihad.

Tevez spent seven years in total in England, and began his spell in the Premier League with West Ham in 2006. He helped United and City to three top flight titles in total, with two coming during his years with the red half of Manchester.  

He also infamously won the Champions League in 2008 at United, and four of the stars who also lifted the highly-coveted trophy in Moscow were named in Tevez’s dream team.

So, who has made the cut?  

GOALKEEPER

Gianluigi Buffon

Tevez played with long-standing Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon during his two-year stint in Turin. 

The 42-year-old labelled Tevez an ‘unbelievable surprise’ in 2015 due to his superb form, and the frontman helped the club to back-to-back Serie A titles and a Champions League final.

DEFENCE

Hugo Ibarra

Having enjoyed three different spells with Boca Juniors, Hugo Ibarra was part of the Argentine outfit’s first-team when Tevez was ascending through their ranks. 

The full back, now 46, also played for Porto, Monaco and Espanyol during his European adventures before calling time on his career in 2010. 

Rio Ferdinand

Manchester United stalwart Rio Ferdinand was also part of the team that won the Champions League in 2008, and infamously formed a steadfast partnership with Nemanja Vidic.

Ferdinand, now a pundit, admitted that former team-mate Tevez never ‘used to go over the top in training’, and instead would conserve his energy for matchdays. 

After 12 years at Old Trafford, Ferdinand made 12 appearances for QPR in the 2014-15 campaign before retiring. 

Gabriel Heinze

Former Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze was perhaps better known for his exploits at full back, but has been chosen by Argentine compatriot Tevez to fill in alongside Ferdinand.

Heinze was only on the books at United with Tevez for roughly two weeks before departing on sour terms for Madrid, but played alongside him on the international stage from 2004 until 2010. 

Patrice Evra

Tevez formed an unbreakable bond with Patrice Evra during their time at Old Trafford, with the latter even incurring the wrath of Sir Alex Ferguson as a result of their friendship.

Evra was another of the XI that beat Chelsea on that rain-sodden night in Russia, and played for United for eight years before once again uniting with Tevez at Juventus.

MIDFIELD

Andrea Pirlo

Juventus midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo is rightly idolised by the Turin faithful, and was also lauded by ex team-mate Tevez during their brief stint together.

Tevez’s two years with the Serie A giants saw him regularly fielded with the now 41-year-old, and admitted that playing with the Italian was a ‘pleasure’.

Paul Scholes

As part of a three-man midfield in the 2008 Champions League final, Paul Scholes helped United seize control of the clash – and has been widely lauded as one of the finest passers of the ball in the history of the sport.

Tevez himself agrees, having chosen his former team-mate as the player he was most impressed by for his unparalleled vision across the field.

Paul Pogba

World Cup winner Paul Pogba is the only player selected in Tevez’s dream XI that is still playing for United. Despite being dogged by injuries and speculation over his future, the 27-year-old has finally battled his way back into the team after the season’s restart.

Pogba featured alongside Tevez during his time at Juventus, and the pair were later reunited in 2017 in China. The United star had been touring the Far East with his club during pre-season, when the Argentine ace played for Shanghai Shenhua.

ATTACK

Cristiano Ronaldo 

Despite United having won the coveted European trophy at the Luzhniki Stadium, the television images showed Cristiano Ronaldo had slumped to the turf in tears as his team-mates charged to celebrate with Edwin van der Sar.

The current Juventus talisman powered home a header in Moscow to hand United the lead, but was also guilty of missing from 12 yards after the tie went to penalties. 

Tevez was on target from the spot for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to hand Ronaldo a reprieve, and the superstar was left inconsolable after the Red Devils’ victory was confirmed.

Wayne Rooney

Also featuring in United’s attack on that evening was Wayne Rooney. The 34-year-old was part of the lethal trio that fired the club to the Premier League title and Champions League trophy in the 2007-08 campaign.

And in hindsight, Rooney has since identified Tevez as having been his ‘preferred partner’. He added:  ‘I always remember it must have been horrible for defenders to play against us because we were always in opponents’ faces.’

Lionel Messi

Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Tevez are team-mates for Argentina on the international stage

Tevez holds grand ambitions to unite global superstars, and football powerhouses, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the same team. 

The duo are battling it out to be the world’s best player, but have never featured in the same team.

Messi and Tevez are Argentina team-mates on the international stage, however, and may once again be paired together when the latter opts to hang up his boots.