So as many of you may be aware, each month the European Sports Media group select a team of the month based on the nomination of member magazines and newspapers. Starting in the 1995-6 season this has now been going on for over 20 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Sports_Media A while back @schwuppe undertook an excellent exercise to put together all the selections in one place and tried to compile the most selected players. Sadly the source data was lost but I have now gone back through and compiled a list of the most selected players along with details of the number of inclusions they got by season. The players are listed in order of appearances and are correct (hopefully) up to the end of the 2015-6 season. Lionel Messi 2005-6 3 2006-7 2 2007-8 4 2008-9 6 2009-10 6 2010-1 8 2011-2 9 2012-3 7 2013-4 3 2014-5 7 2015-6 2 Total 57 Cristiano Ronaldo 2004-5 2 2006-7 4 2007-8 7 2008-9 1 2009-10 2 2010-1 4 2011-2 8 2012-3 3 2013-4 5 2014-5 4 2015-6 1 Total 41 Roberto Carlos 1995-6 1 1996-7 6 1997-8 8 1999-2000 4 2000-2001 5 2001-2 4 2002-3 4 2003-4 2 Total 34 Dani Alves 2005-6 1 2006-7 5 2007-8 1 2008-9 3 2009-10 5 2010-1 6 2011-2 5 2013-4 1 2014-5 1 2015-6 1 Total 29 Paolo Maldini 1995-6 6 1998-9 2 1999-2000 3 2002-3 6 2003-4 2 2004-5 2 2005-6 1 2006-7 1 Total 23 Zinedine Zidane 1996-7 1 1997-8 5 1999-2000 2 2000-1 2 2001-2 5 2002-3 3 2003-4 4 Total 22 Ronaldinho 2002-3 1 2003-4 4 2004-5 6 2005-6 7 2006-7 2 2009-10 2 Total 22 Carles Puyol 2001-2 2 2002-3 3 2003-4 1 2004-5 5 2005-6 7 2008-9 2 2009-10 1 2011-2 1 Total 22 Raul 1995-6 1 1996-7 3 1997-8 2 1998-9 3 1999-2000 4 2000-1 1 2001-2 2 2002-3 2 2007-8 1 2008-9 2 Total 21 John Terry 2003-4 2 2004-5 7 2005-6 2 2008-9 4 2009-10 4 2014-5 2 Total 21 Ronaldo 1995-6 1 1996-7 7 1997-8 4 2001-2 1 2002-3 2 2003-4 3 Total 18 Andriy Shevchenko 1997-8 1 1998-9 1 1999-2000 3 2000-1 2 2002-3 1 2003-4 4 2004-5 4 2005-6 2 Total 18 Frank Lampard 2003-4 1 2004-5 4 2005-6 4 2006-7 1 2007-8 1 2008-9 2 2009-10 4 2012-3 1 Total 18 Xavi 2004-5 2 2005-6 1 2007-8 1 2008-9 5 2009-10 3 2010-11 5 2012-13 1 Total 18 Zlatan Ibrahimovic 2006-7 3 2007-8 3 2008-9 1 2009-10 1 2010-11 2 2012-3 3 2013-4 3 2015-6 2 Total 18 Sergio Ramos 2006-07: 2 2007-08: 5 2011-12: 3 2012-13: 1 2013-14: 2 2014-15: 4 2015-16: 1 Total: 18
Samuel Eto’o 2004-5 6 2005-6 4 2006-7 1 2008-9 3 2010-1 3 Total 17 Nemanja Vidic 2006-7 3 2007-8 2 2008-9 4 2009-10 2 2010-1 6 Total 17 Andres Iniesta 2005-6 1 2006-7 2 2007-8 2 2008-9 2 2010-1 3 2011-2 1 2012-3 2 2013-4 1 2014-5 1 2015-6 1 Total 16 Phillip Lahm 2006-07: 1 2009-10: 2 2011-12: 2 2012-13: 6 2013-14: 3 2014-15: 1 2015-16: 1 Total: 16 Luis Suarez 2009-10 1 2013-4 5 2014-5 4 2015-6 6 Total 16 Francesco Totti 1998-9 1 1999-2000 1 2000-1 3 2001-2 1 2003-4 4 2005-6 1 2006-7 4 Total 15 Lilian Thuram 1997-8 2 1998-9 6 1999-2000 2 2001-2 1 2002-3 3 2004-5 1 Total 15 Wayne Rooney 2004-5 1 2005-6 2 2006-7 2 2008-9 2 2009-10 3 2010-1 4 2011-2 1 Total 15 Edwin van der Sar 1995-6 3 1997-8 2 1999-2000 1 2006-7 1 2007-8 1 2008-9 2 2009-10 1 2010-11 3 Total 14 Fernando Hierro 1996-7 4 1997-8 5 1998-9 2 1999-2000 1 2000-1 1 2001-2 1 Total 14 David Beckham 1996-7 1 1998-9 5 1999-2000 2 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 2003-4 2 2006-7 1 2008-9 1 Total 14 Rivaldo 1997-8 1 1998-9 5 1999-2000 5 2000-1 2 2001-2 1 Total 14 Pavel Nedved 1997-8 2 2000-1 3 2001-2 1 2002-3 5 2003-4 2 2004-5 1 Total 14 Gianluigi Buffon 1998-9 1 2002-3 2 2004-5 3 2007-8 1 2009-10 2 2011-2 2 2014-15 1 2015-6 2 Total 14 Arjen Robben 2004-5 3 2008-9 1 2009-10 3 2011-2 1 2012-3 1 2013-4 1 2014-5 4 Total 14 Gerard Pique 2008-9 2 2009-10 2 2010-1 1 2013-4 3 2014-5 3 2015-6 3 Total 14 Alessandro Nesta 1997-8 1 1998-9 2 1999-2000 5 2002-3 2 2003-4 1 2004-5 1 2006-7 1 Total 13 Thierry Henry 1997-8 1 1999-2000 1 2001-2 1 2002-3 2 2003-4 5 2004-5 1 2005-6 1 2008-9 1 Total 13 Iker Casillas 1999-2000 2 2000-1 1 2001-2 1 2003-4 2 2007-8 4 2009-10 1 2010-11 1 2011-2 1 Total 13 Rio Ferdinand 2000-1 2 2001-2 2 2004-5 1 2006-7 1 2007-8 7 Total 13 Cesc Fabregas 2005-6 1 2006-7 1 2007-8 3 2009-10 4 2010-1 1 2011-2 1 2014-5 2 Total 13 Alessandro Del Piero 1995-6 3 1996-7 3 1997-8 2 2002-3 1 2007-82 2008-9 1 Total 12 Luis Figo 1996-7 1 1997-8 3 1998-9 1 1999-2000 5 2000-1 2 Total 12 Christian Vieri 1996-7 1 1997-8 3 1998-9 2 1999-2000 1 2001-2 3 2002-3 2 Total 12 Lucio 2001-2 3 2004-5 1 2005-6 3 2006-7 1 2009-10 3 2010-11 1 Total 12 Manuel Neuer 2007-8 1 2010-1 1 2011-2 3 2012-3 3 2013-4 1 2014-5 3 Total 12 Mats Hummels 2010-1 4 2011-2 3 2012-3 2 2013-4 1 2015-6 2 Total 12
Laurent Blanc 1995-6 3 1997-8 4 1998-9 4 Total 11 Maicon 2006-7 2 2007-8 1 2008-9 4 2009-10 4 Total 11 Giorgio Chiellini 2008-9 2 2009-10 1 2012-3 4 2014-5 4 Total 11 Petr Cech 2004-5 4 2005-6 3 2006-7 1 2009-10 1 2011-2 1 2015-6 1 Total 11 Ruud van Nistelrooy 1998-9 1 1999-2000 1 2000-1 3 2002-3 2 2003-4 2 2006-7 1 Total 10 Jocelyn Angloma 1996-7 4 1999-2000 2 2000-1 4 Total 10 Kaká 2003-4 2 2004-5 1 2005-6 2 2006-7 3 2008-9 1 2009-10 1 Total 10 Clarence Seedorf 1995-6 1 1996-7 3 1999-2000 1 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 2003-4 1 2006-7 1 Total 9 Fabio Cannavaro 1996-7 1 2003-4 1 2004-5 5 2005-6 2 Total 9 Michael Owen 1997-8 2 1998-9 2 2000-1 3 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 Total 9 Patrick Vieira 1998-9 2 2001-2 1 2002-3 3 2003-4 2 2005-6 1 Total 9 Oliver Kahn 1998-9 2 1999-2000 3 2000-1 2 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 Total 9 Walter Samuel 2000-1 1 2001-2 3 2003-4 2 2007-8 1 2009-10 2 Total 9 Michael Ballack 2001-2 5 2002-3 1 2005-6 2 2007-8 1 Total 9 Didier Drogba 2003-4 1 2006-7 5 2009-10 2 2011-2 1 Total 9 Branislav Ivanovic 2010-1 1 2012-3 1 2013-4 1 2014-5 6 Total 9 Gareth Bale 2010-11 2 2011-2 2 2012-3 3 2013-4 2 Total 9 Robin van Persie 2010-1 1 2011-2 5 2012-3 3 Total 9 David Alaba 2011-2 1 2012-3 2 2013-4 3 2014-5 3 Total 9 Stefan Effenberg 1995-6 1 1996-7 1 1998-9 4 1999-2000 1 2000-1 1 Total 8 Gabriel Batistuta 1995-6 2 1997-8 1 1998-9 3 1999-2000 1 2000-1 1 Total 8 Jaap Stam 1997-8 1 1998-9 3 1999-2000 1 2000-1 2 2002-3 1 Total 8 Sami Hyypia 1999-2000 1 2000-1 3 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 2009-10 2 Total 8 Bixente Lizarazu 1995-6 1 1998-9 5 2000-1 2 Total 8 Hernan Crespo 1999-2000 1 2000-1 3 2002-3 1 2004-5 2 2006-7 1 Total 8 Sinisa Mihajlovic 1998-9 3 1999-2000 5 Total 8 Daniel Van Buyten 2002-3 3 2006-7 1 2009-10 1 2011-12 3 Total 8 Andrea Pirlo 2003-4 1 2004-5 1 2007-8 1 2011-2 2 2012-3 2 2013-4 1 Total 8 Luca Toni 2005-6 5 2006-7 1 2007-8 2 Total 8 Franck Ribery 2007-8 2 2008-9 2 2011-2 1 2012-3 1 2013-4 2 Total 8 Patrice Evra 2007-8 1 2008-9 1 2009-10 3 2010-1 1 2012-3 1 2014-5 1 Total 8 Yaya Toure 2008-9 1 2011-2 1 2013-4 5 2014-5 1 Total 8 Radamel Falcao 2010-1 2 2011-2 2 2012-3 3 2013-4 1 Total 8 Mesut Özil 2008-9 1 2009-10 1 2010-1 2 2011-2 1 2013-4 1 2015-6 2 Total 8 Luis Enrique 1996-7 3 1997-8 2 1998-9 1 2000-1 1 Total 7 Steven Gerrard 2001-2 1 2004-5 1 2005-6 1 2008-9 4 Total 7 Wesley Sneijder 2003-4 1 2007-8 1 2009-10 4 2010-1 1 Total 7 Juninho Pernambucano 2003-4 1 2004-5 1 2005-6 2 2006-7 3 Total 7 Esteban Cambiasso 2005-6 3 2007-8 2 2008-9 1 2009-10 1 Total 7 Julio Cesar 2006-7 1 2007-8 1 2008-9 2 2009-10 3 Total 7 Diego Godin 2013-4 2 2014-5 1 2015-6 4 Total 7
Ryan Giggs 1998-9 1 1999-2000 1 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 2006-7 1 2010-11 1 Total 6 Angelo Peruzzi 1995-6 1 1996-7 2 1997-8 3 Total 6 Frank de Boer 1995-6 4 1997-8 1 1998-9 1 Total 6 Rui Costa 1995-6 1 1998-9 2 2000-1 2 2002-3 1 Total 6 Christian Panucci 1996-7 1 2001-2 1 2006-7 1 2007-8 2 2008-9 1 Total 6 Juan Sebastian Veron 1998-9 2 1999-2000 3 2002-3 1 Total 6 Roy Makaay 2002-3 4 2004-5 2 Total 6 Deco 2002-3 1 2003-4 2 2004-5 3 Total 6 Ashley Cole 2004-5 1 2009-10 2 2010-1 1 2011-2 1 2012-3 1 Total 6 Pepe 2007-8 1 2008-9 1 2013-4 3 2014-5 1 Total 6 Vincent Kompany 2010-1 1 2011-2 5 Total 6 Marcelo 2011-2 2 2013-4 1 2015-6 3 Total 6 Dante 2012-3 5 2013-4 1 Total 6 Thibaut Courtois 2012-3 1 2013-4 5 Total 6 Filipe Luis 2013-4 3 2015-6 3 Total 6 Neymar 2013-4 1 2014-5 3 2015-6 2 Total 6 Paul Pogba 2013-4 1 2014-5 2 2015-6 3 Total 6 Ciro Ferrara 1995-6 1 1996-7 3 2001-2 1 Total 5 George Weah 1995-6 5 Total 5 Oliver Bierhoff 1995-6 1 1997-8 2 1998-9 2 Total 5 Mehmet Scholl 1995-6 2 2000-1 3 Total 5 Jens Lehmann 1996-7 1 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 2005-6 2 Total 5 Robert Pires 1997-8 1 2000-1 1 2001-2 2 2002-3 1 Total 5 David Trezeguet 1997-8 1 2001-2 2 2005-6 2 Total 5 Roy Keane 1998-9 2 1999-2000 2 2001-2 1 Total 5 Roberto Ayala 2000-1 1 2001-2 1 2003-4 2 2006-7 1 Total 5 Mancini 2003-4 1 2005-6 2 2007-8 2 Total 5 Jamie Carragher 2004-5 2 2005-6 1 2008-9 2 Total 5 Cris 2005-6 4 2006-7 1 Total 5 Pepe Reina 2005-6 2 2006-7 1 2014-5 1 2015-6 1 Total 5 Kolo Toure 2003-4 1 2005-6 2 2006-7 1 2007-8 1 Total 5 Michael Essien 2004-5 2 2006-7 1 2007-8 1 2010- 1 1 Total 5 Victor Valdes 2003-4 2 2008-9 1 2010-1 1 2013-41 Total 5 David Villa 2005-6 2 2008-9 2 2010-1 1 Total 5 Karim Benzema 2007-8 2 2010-1 1 2014-5 1 2015-6 1 Total 5 Fernando Torres 2007-8 2 2008-9 1 2009-10 1 2012-3 1 Total 5 Mario Gomez 2007-8 1 2010-1 1 2011-2 3 Total 5 Gonzalo Higuain 2009-10 2 2015-6 3 Total 5 Eden Hazard 2010-1 1 2012-3 1 2013-4 1 2014-5 2 Total 5 Marco Reus 2011-2 2 2013-4 2 2014-5 1 Total 5 Arturo Vidal 2011-2 1 2012-3 1 2013-4 3 Total 5 Thomas Müller 2012-3 3 2015-6 2 Total 5
Peter Schmeichel 1995-6 1 1996-7 1 1997-8 1 2000-1 1 Total 4 Danny Blind 1995-6 4 Total 4 Vitor Baia 1995-6 2 1996-7 1 2003-4 1 Total 4 Predrag Mijatovic 1995-6 2 1996-7 2 Total 4 Fernando Redondo 1996-7 1 1997-8 2 1999-2000 1 Total 4 Gary Neville 1996-7 1 1997-8 3 Total 4 Filippo Inzaghi 1997-8 1 2001-2 1 2002-3 2 Total 4 Lothar Matthäus 1997-8 1 1998-9 1 1999-2000 2 Total 4 Javier Zanetti 1997-8 1 20001-2 1 2002-3 2 Total 4 Michel Salgado 1998-9 2 1999-2000 1 2003-4 1 Total 4 Cafu 1999-2000 1 2000-1 3 Total 4 Ivan Helguera 1999-2000 1 2000-1 1 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 Total 4 Gaizka Mendieta 1999-2000 1 2000-1 3 Total 4 Mateja Kezman 2000-1 1 2002-3 3 Total 4 John Arne Riise 2001-2 2 2004-5 1 2006-7 1 Total 4 Pablo Aimar 2001-2 1 2002-3 2 2003-4 1 Total 4 Ludovic Giuly 2003-4 4 Total 4 Gregory Coupet 2005-6 2 2006-7 2 Total 4 Sergio Aguero 2008-9 1 2013-4 1 2014-5 2 Total 4 Toni Kroos 2009-10 2 2012-31 2014-5 1 Total 4 Bastian Schweinsteiger 2011-2 1 2012-3 3 Total 4 Thiago Silva 2010-1 1 2011-2 2 2013-4 1 Total 4 Shinji Kagawa 2011-2 4 Total 4 David De Gea 2011-2 1 2012-3 1 2014-5 2 Total 4 Diego Costa 2013-4 3 2014-5 1 Total 4 Angel Di Maria 2013-4 1 2015-6 3 Total 4 Thomas Helmer 1995-6 1 1997-8 2 Total 3 Andreas Möller 1995-6 2 1997-8 1 Total 3 Matthias Sammer 1995-6 1 1996-7 2 Total 3 Krassimir Balakov 1995-6 1 1996-71 1997-8 1 Total 3 Jari Litmanen 1995-6 3 Total 3 Rai 1995-6 3 Total 3 Michael Reiziger 1995-6 2 1997-8 1 Total 3 Philippe Albert 1995-6 2 1996-7 1 Total 3 Diego Simeone 1995-6 1 1996-7 1 1997-8 1 Total 3 Sergi 1995-6 2 1996-7 1 Total 3 Eric Cantona 1995-6 3 Total 3 Youri Djorkaeff 1995-6 1 1996-7 2 Total 3 Frank Leboeuf 1996-7 1 1998-9 1 1999-2000 1 Total 3 Davor Suker 1996-7 3 Total 3 Pep Guardiola 1996-7 1 1999-2000 2 Total 3 Santiago Cañizares 1997-8 1 2000-1 1 2002-3 1 Total 3 Emerson 1999-2000 2 2001-2 1 Total 3 Paul Scholes 1999-2000 1 2002-3 2 Total 3 Vincent Candela 1999-2000 1 2001-2 2 Total 3 Mario Jardel 1999-2000 1 2000-1 1 2001-2 1 Total 3 Fabien Barthez 1999-2000 1 2000-1 2 Total 3 Martin Keown 1999-2000 1 2000-1 2 Total 3 Freddie Ljungberg 2000-1 1 2001-2 2 Total 3 Vincenzo Montella 2000-1 1 2001-2 1 2004-5 1 Total 3 Francesco Toldo 2001-2 2 2002-3 1 Total 3 Philippe Mexès 2001-2 1 2005-6 1 2007-8 1 Total 3 Ruben Baraja 2001-2 2 2003-4 1 Total 3 Javier Saviola 2001-2 1 2002-3 1 2006-7 1 Total 3 Christian Chivu 2002-3 1 2003-4 2 Total 3 Timo Hildebrand 2003-4 2 2006-7 1 Total 3 Adriano 2004-5 2 2005-6 1 Total 3 Mark van Bommel 2004-5 2 2006-7 1 Total 3 Rafael van der Vaart 2005-6 1 2008-9 1 2010-1 1 Total 3 Robinho 2005-6 1 2007-8 2 Total 3 Dejan Stankovic 2006-7 3 Total 3 Fredi Kanoute 2006-7 3 Total 3 Marco Materazzi 2006-7 3 Total 3 Rene Adler 2007-8 1 2008-9 1 2012-3 1 Total 3 Vedad Ibisevic 2008-9 3 Total 3 Dimitar Berbatov 2008-9 1 2010-1 2 Total 3 Grafite 2008-9 3 Total 3 Edinson Cavani 2010-1 2 2012-3 1 Total 3 Lukas Piszczek 2011-2 1 2015-6 2 Total 3 Mario Gotze 2012-3 1 2014-5 2 Total 3 Ilkay Gundogan 2012-3 3 Total 3 Robert Lewandowski 2012-3 1 2015-6 2 Total 3 Mehdi Benatia 2013-4 3 Total 3 Antoine Griezmann 2014-5 2 2015-6 1 Total 3 Kevin De Bruyne 2014-5 2 2015-6 1 Total 3 Jan Oblak 2014-5 1 2015-6 2 Total 3 Jerome Boateng 2014-5 1 2015-6 2 Total 3 N’Golo Kante 2015-6 3 Total 3
Paulo Sousa 1995-6 1 1997-8 1 Total 2 Viktor Onopko 1995-6 2 Total 2 Marc Overmars 1995-6 1 1997-8 1 Total 2 Ronald de Boer 1995-6 1 1996-7 1 Total 2 David Ginola 1995-6 1 1996-7 1 Total 2 Patrick Kluivert 1995-6 1 2000-1 1 Total 2 Bernard Lama 1995-6 1 1996-7 1 Total 2 Christian Ziege 1995-6 2 Total 2 Edgar Davids 1995-6 1 1999-2000 1 Total 2 Didier Deschamps 1995-6 1 1996-7 1 Total 2 Leonardo 1996-7 2 Total 2 Frank Verlaat 1996-7 2 Total 2 Robbie Fowler 1996-7 1 2001-2 1 Total 2 Franck Dumas 1996-7 1 1997-8 1 Total 2 Roberto Mancini 1996-7 1 1998-9 1 Total 2 Dennis Bergkamp 1997-8 2 Total 2 Stephane Guivarc'h 1997-8 2 Total 2 Tony Adams 1997-8 1 1998-9 1 Total 2 Gianluca Pagliuca 1998-9 2 Total 2 Carlos Roa 1998-9 2 Total 2 Jens Jeremies 1998-9 2 Total 2 Mazinho 1998-9 2 Total 2 Aleksandr Mostovoi 1998-9 1 1999-2000 1 Total 2 Valeri Karpin 1998-9 1 2002-3 1 Total 2 Nicolas Anelka 1998-9 1 2008-9 1 Total 2 Philipp Cocu 1998-9 1 1999-2000 1 Total 2 Dwight Yorke 1998-9 2 Total 2 Christian Abbiati 1998-9 1 1999-2000 1 Total 2 Abelardo 1999-2000 2 Total 2 Djalminha 1999-2000 1 2000-1 1 Total 2 Claudio López 1999-2000 1 2002-3 1 Total 2 Paolo Montero 1999-2000 2 Total 2 Steve McManaman 1999-2000 1 2000-1 1 Total 2 Giovanni van Bronckhorst 2000-1 1 2004-5 1 Total 2 Paul Robinson 2000-1 2 Total 2 Johan Micoud 2000-1 1 2003-4 1 Total 2 Javi Moreno 2000-1 2 Total 2 Damiano Tommasi 2000-1 2 Total 2 Fabricio Coloccini 2001-2 2 Total 2 Christian Manfredini 2001-2 2 Total 2 Diego Tristán 2001-2 2 Total 2 Fernando Morientes 2001-2 1 2003-4 1 Total 2 Francesco Antonioli 2001-2 2 Total 2 Sylvain Wiltord 2002-3 1 2004-5 1 Total 2 Juan Carlos Valeron 2002-3 1 2003-4 1 Total 2 Walter Pandiani 2002-3 1 2003-4 1 Total 2 Jerome Rothen 2002-3 1 2003-4 1 Total 2 Xabi Alonso 2002-3 1 2014-5 1 Total 2 Wayne Bridge 2003-4 2 Total 2 Jose Antonio Reyes 2003-4 1 2004-5 1 Total 2 Paulo Ferreira 2003-4 2 Total 2 Ricardo Carvalho 2003-4 1 2004-5 1 Total 2 Vicente 2003-4 1 2004-5 1 Total 2 Sol Campbell 2004-5 1 2005-6 1 Total 2 Joe Cole 2004-5 2 Total 2 Alex Dias 2004-5 1 2006-7 1 Total 2 Kakha Kaladze 2005-6 2 Total 2 Tiago 2005-6 1 2006-7 1 Total 2 Naldo 2006-7 2 Total 2 Diego 2006-7 1 2007-8 1 Total 2 Diego Milito 2006-7 1 2009-10 1 Total 2 Amauri 2006-7 1 2008-9 1 Total 2 Per Mertesacker 2006-7 1 2013-4 1 Total 2 Florent Malouda 2006-7 1 2009-10 1 Total 2 David Silva 2006-7 1 2011-2 1 Total 2 Alfonso Alves 2006-7 1 2007-8 1 Total 2 Eric Abidal 2007-8 1 2010-1 1 Total 2 William Gallas 2007-8 2 Total 2 Luis Fabiano 2007-8 2 Total 2 Alexandre Pato 2007-8 1 2009-10 1 Total 2 Emmanuel Adebayor 2007-8 2 Total 2 Joleon Lescott 2007-8 1 2011-2 1 Total 2 Andriy Arshavin 2007-8 1 2008-9 1 Total 2 Diego Lopez 2008-9 1 2012-3 1 Total 2 Marek Hamsik 2008-9 2 Total 2 Diego Forlan 2008-9 1 2009-10 1 Total 2 Nuri Sahin 2010-1 2 Total 2 Carlos Tevez 2009-10 1 2014-5 1 Total 2 Dimitri Payet 2010-1 1 2015-6 1 Total 2 Roman Weidenfeller 2010-11 1 2012-3 1 Total 2 Samir Nasri 2010-1 2 Total 2 David Luiz 2010-1 1 2014-5 1 Total 2 Javier Hernandez 2010-1 1 2015-6 1 Total 2 Isco 2012-3 1 2013-4 1 Total 2 Rafael 2012-3 2 Total 2 Pablo Zabaleta 2012-3 1 2014-5 1 Total 2 Leighton Baines 2012-3 1 2013-4 1 Total 2 Raphael Varane 2012-3 2 Total 2 Andrea Barzagli 2012-3 1 2015-6 1 Total 2 Mario Balotelli 2012-3 2 Total 2 Javi Martinez 2012-3 2 Total 2 Aaron Ramsey 2013-4 2 Total 2 Luka Modric 2013-4 1 2015-6 1 Total 2 Miranda 2013-4 1 2014-5 1 Total 2 Juan Bernat 2014-5 2 Total 2 Harry Kane 2014-5 2 Total 2 Leonardo Bonucci 2014-5 1 2015-6 1 Total 2 Keylor Navas 2015-6 2 Total 2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 2015-6 2 Total 2 Casemiro 2015-6 2 Total 2 Paulo Dybala 2015-6 2 Total 2 Juanfran 2015-6 2 Total 2
Finidi George 1995-6 1 Total 1 Jurgen Klinsmann 1995-6 1 Total 1 Tony Yeboah 1995-6 1 Total 1 Paul Okon 1995-6 1 Total 1 Jordi Lardin 1995-6 1 Total 1 Domingos 1995-6 1 Total 1 Gheorghe Popescu 1995-6 1 Total 1 Georgi Kinkladze 1995-6 1 Total 1 Ivan de la Pena 1995-6 1 Total 1 Stratos Apostolakis 1995-6 1 Total 1 Yuri Nikiforov 1995-6 1 Total 1 Christophe Dugarry 1995-6 1 Total 1 Jose Molina 1995-6 1 Total 1 Trifon Ivanov 1995-6 1 Milinko Pantic 1995-6 1 Total 1 Carsten Jancker 1995-6 1 Total 1 Moreno Toricelli 1995-6 1 Total 1 Bruno N’Gotty 1995-6 1 Total 1 Paul Le Guen 1996-7 1 Total 1 Coretin Martins 1996-7 1 Total 1 Patrik Berger 1996-7 1 Total 1 Marco Simone 1996-7 1 Total 1 Paolo Montero 1996-7 1 Total 1 Wim Jonk 1996-7 1 Total 1 Alen Boksic 1996-7 1 Total 1 Thomas Hässler 1996-7 1 Total 1 Andreas Köpke 1996-7 1 Total 1 Ibrahim Ba 1996-7 1 Total 1 Bodo Illgner 1996-7 1 Total 1 Mikael Landreau 1996-7 1 Total 1 Gianfranco Zola 1996-7 1 Total 1 Angelo Di Livio 1996-7 1 Total 1 Ali Benarbia 1996-7 1 Total 1 Alfonso 1996-7 1 Total 1 Jurgen Kohler 1996-7 1 Total 1 Gary Pallister 1996-7 1 Total 1 Juninho Paulista 1996-7 1 Total 1 Mauricio Ganz 1996-7 1 Total 1 Olaf Thon 1996-7 1 Total 1 Roberto Di Matteo 1996-7 1 Total 1 Jorg Henrich 1996-7 1 Total 1 Karl-Heinz Riedle 1996-7 1 Total 1 Giuseppe Bergomi 1997-8 1 Total 1 Faustino Asprilla 1997-8 1 Total 1 Sunday Oliseh 1997-8 1 Total 1 Fernando Couto 1997-8 1 Total 1 Didi Hamann 1997-8 1 Total 1 Luc Nilis 1997-8 1 Total 1 Francesco Moriero 1997-8 1 Total 1 Thomas Helveg 1997-8 1 Total 1 Michael Konsel 1997-8 1 Total 1 Yves Eigenrauch 1997-8 Total 1 Stefan Klos 1997-8 1 Total 1 Albert Ferrer 1997-8 1 Total 1 Emmanuel Petit 1997-8 1 Total 1 Markus Babbel 1998-9 1 Total 1 Savio 1998-9 1 Total 1 Edmundo 1998- 91 Total 1 Ilya Tsimbalar 1998-9 Total 1 Dion Dublin 1998-9 1 Total 1 Ruud Hesp 1998-9 1 Total 1 Mario Basler 1998-9 1 Total 1 Mattias Almeyda 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Kasey Keller 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Salva 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Celestine Babayaro 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Sonny Anderson 1999-2000 1 Marcelo Gallardo 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Savo Milosevic 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Zvonimir Boban 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Simone Inzaghi 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Gerard 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Donato 1999-2000 1 Total 1 Tim Flowers 2000-1 1 Total 1 Lee Dixon 2000-1 1 Total 1 Guti 2000-1 1 Total 1 Laurent Robert 2000-1 1 Total 1 Noureddine Naybet 2000-1 1 Total 1 Yegor Titov 2000-1 1 Total 1 Teddy Sheringham 2000-1 1 Total 1 Ebbe Sand 2000-1 1 Total 1 Cosmin Contra 2000-1 1 Total 1 Patrik Andersson 2000-1 1 Total 1 Gary McAllister 2000-1 1 Total 1 Eugenio Corini 2001-2 1 Total 1 Denílson 2001-2 1 Total 1 Giovane Élber 2001-2 1 Total 1 Sammy Kuffour 2001-2 1 Total 1 Serginho 2001-2 1 Total 1 Fabio Liverani 2001-2 1 Total 1 Oliver Neuville 2001-2 1 Total 1 Marcos Assunção 2001-2 1 Total 1 Dario Hubner 2001-2 1 Total 1 Alvaro Recoba 2001-2 1 Total 1 David Seaman 2001-2 1 Total 1 Ivan Cordoba 2001-2 1 Total 1 Jon Dahl Tomasson 2001-2 1 Total 1 Pierre van Hooijdonk 2001-2 1 Total 1 Juan 2002-3 1 Total 1 Tomas Rosicky 2002-3 1 Total 1 Carlo Cudicini 2002-3 1 Total 1 Luigi Di Biagio 2002-3 1 Total 1 Stefano Fiore 2002-3 1 Total 1 Sander Westerweld 2002-3 1 Total 1 Nihat 2002-3 1 Total 1 Darko Kovacevic 2002-3 1 Total 1 Ronald Waterreus 2002-3 1 Total 1 Alan Shearer 2002-3 1 Total 1 Derlei 2002-3 1 Total 1 Marcelo Bordon 2003-4 1 Total 1 Jorge Andrade 2003-4 1 Total 1 Ivan Pelizzoli 2003-4 1 Total 1 Andreas Hinkel 2003-4 1 Total 1 Dado Prso 2003-4 1 Total 1 Tim Howard 2003-4 1 Total 1 Mladen Krstajic 2003-4 1 Total 1 Ailton 2003-4 1 Total 1 Dida 2003-4 1 Total 1 Bruno Cheyrou 2003-4 1 Total 1 Valerien Ismael 2003-4 1 Total 1 Antonio Cassano 2003-4 1 Total 1 Manuel Pablo 2003-4 1 Total 1 Alberto Gilardino 2003-4 1 Total 1 Mista 2003-4 1 Total 1 Juan Roman Riquelme 2004-5 1 Total 1 Liedson 2004-5 1 Total 1 Dida 2004-5 1 Total 1 Marcelinho 2004-5 1 Total 1 Jerzy Dudek 2004-5 1 Total 1 Daniel Carvalho 2004-5 1 Total 1 Gianluca Zambrotta 2005-6 1 Total 1 Shota Arveladze 2005-6 1 Total 1 Miroslav Klose 2005-6 1 Total 1 Luisão 2005-6 1 Total 1 Simone Perrotta 2005-6 1 Total 1 John Utaka 2005-6 1 Total 1 Emmanuel Eboué 2005-6 1 Total 1 Juliano Belletti 2005-6 1 Total 1 Enzo Maresca 2005-6 1 Total 1 Henrik Larsson 2005-6 1 Total 1 David James 2006-7 1 Total Fred 2006-7 1 Total 1 Khalid Boulahrouz 2006-7 1 Total 1 David Albelda 2006-7 1 Total 1 Andres Palop 2006-7 1 Total 1 Thomas Hitzlsperger 2006-7 1 Total 1 Daniele De Rossi 2007-8 1 Total 1 Aleksandr Hleb 2007-8 1 Total 1 Julio Baptista 2007-8 1 Total 1 Julio Cruz 2007-8 1 Total 1 Joan Capdevila 2007-8 1 Total 1 Marcos Senna 2007-8 1 Total 1 Anatoliy Tymoschuk 2007-8 1 Total 1 Wes Brown 1 2007-8 1 Total 1 Igor Denisov 2007-8 1 Total 1 Dani Guiza 2007-8 1 Total 1 Jose Bosingwa 2008-9 1 Total 1 Mauro Zarate 2008-9 1 Total 1 Geovanni 2008-9 1 Total 1 Manuel Almunia 2008-9 1 Total 1 Adrian Mutu 2008-9 1 Total 1 Klaas Jan Huntelaar 2008-9 1 Total 1 Jadson 2008-9 1 Total 1 Darijo Srna 2008-9 1 Total 1 Edin Dzeko 2008-9 1 Total 1 Stevan Jovetic 2009-10 1 Total 1 Antonio Di Natale 2009-10 1 Total 1 Steve Elana 2010-11 1 Total 1 Jermain Defoe 2009-10 1 Total 1 Marco Boriello 2009-10 1 Total 1 Hans-Jorg Butt 2009-10 1 Total 1 Richard Dunne 2009-10 1 Total 1 Hugo Lloris 2009-10 1 Total 1 Kevin Kuranyi 2009-10 1 Total 1 Ivica Olic 2009-10 1 Total 1 Lewis Holtby 2010-1 1 Total 1 Jesus Navas 2009-10 Total 1 Jack Wilshere 2010-1 1 Total 1 Pedro Rodriguez 2010-1 1 Total 1 Alexis Sanchez 2010-1 1 Total 1 Freddy Guarin 2010-1 1 Total 1 Holger Badstuber 2011-2 1 Total 1 Phil Jones 2011-2 1 Total 1 Stefan Lichtsteiner 2011-2 1 Total 1 Joe Hart 2011-2 1 Total 1 Ezequiel Lavezzi 2011-2 1 Total 1 Juan Arango 2011-2 1 Total 1 Thomas Vermaelen 2011-2 1 Total 1 Ramires 2011-2 1 Total 1 Marcel Schmelzer 2012-3 1 Total 1 Andrea Ranocchia 2012-3 1 Total 1 Juan Mata 2012-3 1 Total 1 Fraser Forster 2012-3 1 Total 1 Marouane Fellaini 2012-3 1 Total 1 Stephan El Shaarawy 2012-3 1 Total 1 Adriano 2012-3 1 Total 1 Michu 2012-3 1 Total 1 Blaise Matuidi 2012-3 1 Total 1 Neven Subotic 2012-3 1 Total 1 Federico Balzaretti 2013-4 1 Total 1 Morgan De Sanctis 2013-4 1 Total 1 Miralem Pjanic 2013-4 1 Total 1 Vincent Enyeama 2013-4 1 Total 1 Mamadou Sakho 2013-4 1 Total 1 Gregory van der Wiel 2013-4 1 Total 1 Omer Toprak 2013-4 1 Total 1 Arda Turan 2013-4 1 Total 1 Alvaro Negredo 2013-4 1 Total 1 Daniel Sturridge 2013-4 1 Total 1 Martin Skrtel 2013-4 1 Total 1 Raheem Sterling 2013-4 1 Total 1 Dani Carvajal 2013-4 1 Total 1 Gabi 2013-4 1 Total 1 Jeremy Mathieu 2014-5 1 Total 1 Nicolas N’Koulou 2014-5 1 Total 1 Alexandre Lacazette 2014-5 1 Total 1 Bas Dost 2014-5 1 Total 1 Bernd Leno 2014-5 1 Total 1 Felipe Anderson 2014-5 1 Total 1 Marco Verratti 2014-5 1 Total 1 Thiago Alcantara 2014-5 1 Total 1 Ivan Rakitic 2014-5 1 Total 1 Claudio Marchisio 2014-5 1 Total 1 Matthias Ginter 2015-6 1 Total 1 Alessandro Florenzi 2015-6 1 Total 1 Douglas Costa 2015-6 1 Total 1 Nolito 2015-6 1 Total 1 Anthony Martial 2015-6 1 Total 1 Hector Bellerin 2015-6 1 Total 1 Nicolas Otamendi 2015-6 1 Total 1 Chris Smalling 2015-6 1 Total 1 Philippe Coutinho 2015-6 1 Total 1 Jamie Vardy 2015-6 1 Total 1 Serge Aurier 2015-6 1 Total 1 Laurent Koscielny 2015-6 1 Total 1 Riyad Mahrez 2015-6 1 Total 1 Claudio Bravo 2015-6 1 Total 1 Dele Alli 2015-6 1 Total 1 Sergio Busquets 2015-6 1 Total 1 Jose Gimenez 2015-6 1 Total 1 Wes Morgan 2015-6 1 Total 1 Saul Niguez 2015-6 1 Total 1 Coke 2015-6 1 Total 1 Toby Alderweireld 2015-6 1 Total 1
There is a wealth of valuable data here, and no doubt many ways to interpret it. I have not seen @schwuppe’s analysis so apologies for any repetition. If my understanding is correct, ESM publishes a composite team for each of nine separate months of the year, excluding June, July and August when international tournaments take place. So their teams, and corresponding individual appearances, could be viewed as a comprehensive gauge of European club form over the past 20 years. A few initial superficial thoughts. All that needs to be said here about Messi (57 appearances) and Cristiano Ronaldo (41) is that they are a long way ahead of the field and still going. More surprising is their being followed by the Brazilian full-backs Roberto Carlos (34) and Dani Alves (29). These are very high numbers and lead one to wonder whether the pair have been underrated in relation to their famous predecessors. Somebody on the forum said this about Alves recently. Or is it that ESM’s contributors have overrated Brazilians in general? There are a lot of Brazilian appearances compared with other South Americans for example. Staying with defenders, Maicon (11) v Zanetti (4) is one that stands out. Also Lucio (12) v Samuel (9), Godin (7), Ayala (5) and Montero (2). On the other hand, Cafu and Thiago Silva only manage four appearances apiece. Eight Brazilians make ten or more appearances, but only Messi and Suarez (16) do so from the rest of Latin America. Maldini’s 23 appearances are remarkable given they only cover the second half of his career. That time was split between left-back and central defence. Among dedicated central defenders, Puyol leads with 22 appearances, followed by John Terry (21) and Vidic (17). Terry has a comfortable lead over Rio Ferdinand (13), and a massive one over other English centre-backs Carragher (5) and the Arsenal trio Keown (3), Adams (2) and Sol Campbell (2). This does not seem to reflect English opinion. Neither does the enormous lead Lampard (18) enjoys over Gerrard (7) and Scholes (3). Not to mention other non-English EPL central midfielders such as Vieira (9) and Keane (5). The highly-regarded Argentine Fernando Redondo only appears four times. Sergio Busquets (more of a DM admittedly) just once. Chelsea bias? Probably not, when left-back Ashley Cole (6) comes out equal with Marcelo and below Evra (8). Xavi (18) and Iniesta (16) rank well ahead of Pirlo (8), but behind Zidane (22), Ronaldinho (22) and, a little unexpectedly, fellow-Spaniard Raul (21). Spain, like Brazil, has eight men in double figures, the others being Hierro (14), Pique (14), Casillas (13) and Fabregas (13). Italy has seven, including Buffon (14) – the joint highest-ranked goalkeeper with Van der Sar. They will both probably be overtaken by Neuer (12). Among African players Eto’o (17) is comfortably ahead of Drogba (9), Yaya Toure (8) and Weah (5). Brazilian Ronaldo (18) is level with Shevchenko and Ibrahimovic. Composite XI from total appearances (4-1-3-2): Buffon (as he is still playing and Van der Sar isn’t) Dani Alves – Puyol – Maldini – Roberto Carlos Hierro (due to lack of DMs with high scores) Messi – Zidane – Ronaldinho C Ronaldo – Raul Nine of the eleven have played for Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Great list @comme. From a cursory glance I could make out one correction though. I think Zidane has atleast one more appearance since he had 2 appearances in 96/97 and not 1 as you have mentioned above. http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html
A couple of additions: Sergio Ramos 2006-07: 2 2007-08: 5 2011-12: 3 2012-13: 1 2013-14: 2 2014-15: 4 2015-16: 1 Total: 18 Phillip Lahm 2006-07: 1 2009-10: 2 2011-12: 2 2012-13: 6 2013-14: 3 2014-15: 1 2015-16: 1 Total: 16 There are nine Spaniards with appearances in double figures, one more than Brazil. Lahm is the leading German and replaces Hierro in the 21-year composite team 1995-2016. Reinforcing the earlier point about defensive midfielders being under-represented, Javier Mascherano has not made a single appearance to date. Nor did Makelele.
Thanks for those. I accidentally cut them out when cut and pasting. DMs are definitely sold short on the whole thing. Hardly any appearances for any of them. Overall I really think it is a fascinating bit of data but I think it has its limitations. It obviously rewards short bursts of brilliance and in many cases I think individual games have potentially counted for too much. It's pretty good as a guide for forwards, decent for attacking midfielders and then it gets worse for defenders in particular. I also think there is a definite case of certain players becoming default picks and getting selected more than they might otherwise because the voters weren't sure who to select.
Don't know if that was available yet - I found detailed results for the ESM Team of the Month votings