Artificial Intelligence names Greatest Man Utd XI with Cristiano Ronaldo among big calls
An AI website has recently revealed the greatest-ever Manchester United XI, and although Cristiano Ronaldo has made the team, notable absentees include Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, and Wayne Rooney, the club’s highest goalscorer.
Throughout Manchester United’s history, they have had some of the world’s finest players wear their shirt, from the ‘Busby Babes’ to ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’ and beyond. This means that there is a wealth of options to choose from when it comes to picking the best-ever starting lineup in all positions.
It is worth noting that none of the players currently playing for the club were included in the AI’s team selection. Here is a closer look at the XI that the AI has chosen.
Peter Schmeichel, a Danish goalkeeper who joined Manchester United from Brondby in 1991, has been selected as the goalkeeper in the team. He played a crucial role in Sir Alex Ferguson’s highly successful team and made 398 appearances for the club, winning five Premier League titles.
Gary Neville, a defender born in Bury, has been chosen as the team’s right-back. He is part of a small group of players who played exclusively for Manchester United throughout their careers and went on to make over 600 appearances for the club.
The team’s centre-backs are Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. The two players formed a solid partnership for Manchester United for nearly ten years and achieved numerous major honours together, including the 2008 Champions League.
Ferdinand made 455 appearances for the club, while Vidic played exactly 300 games. Notably, other accomplished Manchester United centre-backs such as Gary Pallister, Bill Foulkes, and Jaap Stam were not selected for the team.
Dennis Irwin, a member of the successful Ferguson era Manchester United team in the 1990s, is the left-back in the team. The Republic of Ireland international played for other clubs such as Leeds, Oldham, and Wolves but reached his peak at United.
In central midfield, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes have been selected. Keane joined United from Nottingham Forest in 1993 and was renowned for his tenacious tackling abilities, but also possessed exceptional technical skills and was a crucial player for Ferguson’s team.
Meanwhile, Scholes, similar to Neville, played his entire career at Manchester United and made a remarkable 718 appearances for the club, scoring 155 goals.
The front four of the team also boasts an impressive lineup. George Best, who played for Manchester United during their dominant era in the 1960s and early 1970s, is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted players to have ever played for the club. He had a unique ability to win games single-handedly.
Another member of the so-called ‘Holy Trinity’ of Manchester United, Sir Bobby Charlton, who played a crucial role under Busby, has also been selected for the team. Charlton scored 249 goals in 758 appearances for the club, a record that stood until it was surpassed by Rooney.
The final two spots in the front four belong to Cristiano Ronaldo, who is one of the biggest names in world football and has won five Ballon d’Or awards. He is widely recognized as the most famous footballer in history, alongside the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi.
The final spot in the team is taken by Eric Cantona, who is considered a cult hero among United fans for his unique style and on-pitch performances.
Despite making the fewest appearances (185) in the team, Cantona’s impact and contribution during his time at Old Trafford have earned him a place in the lineup, ahead of other Manchester United legends such as Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Denis Law, who was also a member of the ‘Holy Trinity’.
Here is the Man Utd XI selected in full by the AI : Schmeichel; Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Irwin; Keane, Scholes; Best, B. Charlton, Ronaldo, Cantona.
Artificial Intelligence names Greatest Man Utd XI with Cristiano Ronaldo among big calls
