This is fascinating, although it is Simon Kuper and we pretty much expect that out of him. Via Du Nord.

He's only got three spots left, and I think he's left out a few - Socrates springs to mind, especially based on Futebol by Alex Bellos. I would disqualify Maradona, because - gosh, how can I put this delicately - someone who has been coked-up and crazy over the course of decades can't be taken all that seriously, and his post-playing career shows that left-wingers are as susceptible to manipulative jock-sniffing as right-wingers. Anyone know or care whether Paul Gascoigne supports Gordon Brown?

Having said that, Kuper's articles are fascinating. Cheer once again to the stories of Weah, Sindelar, and Tull; wince once more at Paolo di Canio; see which side of the line you fall on with Boban and Lennon. (Neil, not John, OBVIOUSLY.)

Wonder who the goalkeeper will be. Pope John Paul II is an option.