UEFA Team of the Year 2016

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus & Italy)
•    At 38, Buffon is the oldest ever player to make the cut.
•    Returns to the Team of the Year after a nine-year absence!
•    Thirteen-year span between first and most recent selections is a record (Cristiano Ronaldo is on 12).
•    In the all-star XI for a fourth time, surpassing Manuel Neuer (3). Iker Casillas, with six, holds the record for goalkeeper selections.

Defender: Jérôme Boateng (Bayern München & Germany)
•    Selected for the first time after a third successive nomination.
•    Previous Bayern defenders to have made the cut: Bixente Lizarazu, Patrik Andersson, David Alaba and Lahm.

Defender: Gerard Piqué (Barcelona & Spain)
•    In the team for the fifth time, matching the tally of Phillip Lahm. Only Puyol and Ramos have more selections among defenders.

Defender: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid & Spain)
•    Received more votes than any other player.
•    In the team for the sixth time, equalling Carles Puyol's record for a defender.
•    Fifth successive selection – no other defender has ever managed more than three in a row.

Defender: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus & Italy)
•    Selected for the first time having missed out in 2010 and 2015.
•    Only the third Juventus defender to make all-star team after Gianluca Zambrotta and Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 (both ended that year in Spain).

Midfielder: Luka Modrić (Real Madrid & Croatia)
•    First Croatian to make the Team of the Year.
•    Previously nominated in 2008, 2011 and 2014.

Midfielder: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid & Germany)
•    Returns to the team having had his first selection in 2014, the year he won the FIFA World Cup and joined Madrid from Bayern.
•    Fifth year running at least one German makes the all-star side.

Midfielder: Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona & Spain)
•    Selected for the sixth time, a record for his position. He surpasses Ronaldo – who made the first five of his appearances as a midfielder – and former club and international team-mate Xavi Hernández.
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina)
•    Makes the cut for the eighth time – only Ronaldo has more inclusions.

Forward: Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid & France)
•    First inclusion in the final XI having also been nominated in 2015.
•    Third player – after Zlatan Ibrahimović and Neymar – to play up front alongside Ronaldo and Messi in our team.

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid & Portugal)
•    Selected for a record 11th time, three more than any other player has managed.
•    Tenth year running, five in midfield (2004 and 2007-2010), five in attack.