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When selecting players for an all-time soccer dream team, several key criteria are typically considered:

Performance and Achievements

Individual accolades: Ballon d'Or awards, FIFA World Player of the Year titles, and other prestigious individual honors.

Team success: Contributions to World Cup victories, Champions League titles, and other major tournament wins.

Statistical excellence: Goals scored, assists provided, clean sheets kept, and other relevant performance metrics.

Skill and Ability

Technical prowess: Exceptional dribbling, passing, shooting, and ball control abilities1.

Tactical understanding: Positional awareness, game intelligence, and strategic decision-making.

Physical attributes: Speed, strength, agility, and endurance appropriate for their position.

Historical Impact and Legacy

Longevity: Consistent performance at the highest level over an extended period.

Influence: Impact on the game's evolution and inspiration to future generations.

Reputation: Recognition by peers, experts, and fans as one of the greatest in their position.

Team Composition

Positional balance: Ensuring representation across all key positions on the field.

Tactical compatibility: Selecting players who could theoretically work well together in a cohesive system.

Era representation: Including players from different time periods to create a truly all-time team.

Selection Process

Expert panel: Often involves a group of knowledgeable journalists, former players, or coaches.

Voting system: May use a points-based voting system to rank players across different eras.

Consideration of different leagues and nationalities to ensure a global representation.

It's important to note that the selection of an all-time dream team is inherently subjective and can vary based on the specific criteria emphasized by the selectors. The Ballon d'Or Dream Team, for example, was voted on by 170 journalists worldwide, showcasing the collaborative nature of such selections.

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