First XI

The greatest teams ever

January 20, 2011
By Robin Hackett
Barcelona have taken a record 52 points from the first half of the season, winning 17 out of their 19 games in La Liga.

In Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, they boasted all three shortlisted players for the FIFA Ballon d'Or and the current side, including the Champions League-winning predecessors of 2006 and 2009, are now certain of their place in the pantheon of the all-time great teams.

ESPNsoccernet selects a list of some of the greatest sides of their eras.

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FIRST XI ARCHIVE

First XI: One-man goal gluts
First XI: Long suspensions
First XI: Missile crisis
First XI: Wild things
First XI: Cup final thrashings
First XI: Early European exits
First XI: A failure to read the rules
First XI: Super-subs
First XI: Goal celebrations
First XI: Off the ball
First XI: Brawl games
First XI: Bizarre goals
First XI: Injury-time goals
First XI: Au revoir, Arsene
First XI: Titles at the first attempt
First XI: Deals that could have been
First XI: The banned united
First XI: Promoted to the top job
First XI: Title clashes
First XI: A goal and a half
First XI: Real Madrid's top scorers
First XI: Goals that never were
First XI: Backheeled goals
First XI: FA Cup giant-killings
First XI: What a waste of money
First XI: Returning heroes
First XI: Manchester derbies
First XI: Spurs-Chelsea rivalry
First XI: Classic Clasicos
First XI: Cornering the market
First XI: A job for life
First XI: Chelsea-Arsenal rivalry
First XI: A burning hatred
First XI: North London derbies
First XI: Wars of the Roses
First XI: The Gulf course
First XI: Kitted out
First XI: Man Utd on the rampage
First XI: Managing expectations
First XI: Tyne-Wear derbies
First XI: Curtain raisers
First XI: Memorable mascots
First XI: Own goals
First XI: Letting their country down
First XI: A family affair
First XI: Fall from grace
First XI: Fat footballers
First XI: Young managers
First XI: One-club players
First XI: Most influential Blues bosses
First XI: The men who changed football
First XI: European Cup classics
First XI: Great escapes
First XI: Iconic images
First XI: Bad losers
First XI: End-of-season collapses
First XI: Flaming the fans
First XI: Friendly fire
First XI: Blue is the colour
First XI: Goal-scoring goalkeepers
First XI: The impossible job
First XI: The madness of Jens
First XI: Insult to injury
First XI: A rivalry in deepest red
First XI: Football and film
First XI: Head over heels
First XI: Debuts to forget
First XI: The leaving of Liverpool
First XI: Most dramatic comebacks
First XI: Greatest teams ever
First XI: King Kenny's key moments
First XI: Quick off the mark
First XI: When nature strikes
First XI: Trouble with Tevez
First XI: Trigger happy
First XI: Football and music
First XI: Football and politics
First XI: Golden oldies
First XI: Hardmen
First XI: Bad decisions
First XI: Thrashings
First XI: Stars who left Fergie's United
 First XI: Merseyside derby moments
 First XI: Euro qualification shocks
 First XI: Shock managerial appointments
 First XI: League Cup breakthroughs
 First XI: Best of enemies
 First XI: Stings in the tale
 First XI: Mid-season signings

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