Team Of The Season

This was no easy selection, with deliberation spanning several hours, dozens of diagrams, copious amounts of data, and no small measure of wailing and gnashing of teeth. In the end it came down to our opinions, and we hope you agree with us.

Selecting who to leave out is, of course, as tough as picking who to leave in. Yet we opted for a simple eleven-man line-up - no substitutes, no honourable mentions. A straight 4-4-2, eleven players, and (we hope) the best the world has to offer.

Due to the limitations of the football calendar there is a bias towards those leagues that start around August and play through winter. There is, too, a slant towards Europe in the teams chosen, once again partially at the behest of the calendar (but also the strength of the leagues.)

As always, let us know your thoughts on our choices at the foot of the article.

Best Formation: 4-4-2

Goalkeeper:

Victor Valdes - Barcelona (Castrol Ranking 237)

'Vic' won the much-coveted Zamora award for top Liga goalkeeper this season, but that alone did not see him line up as our goalkeeper. Instead it was the style in which he did it, conceding well under 0.66 goals per match for the best Spanish record since the mid-1990s. A series of handy performances in Europe hardly dented his case.

Defence:

Branislav Ivanovic - Chelsea (49)

The quiet man of Chelsea's back line was devilishly effective over the course of the Blues' double-winning campaign. He looked handy going forward, but even more solid at the back, where he is fast gaining recognition that until recently went to other members of the Chelsea defence.

Lucio - Inter (201)

The treble-winning Brazilian made a slow start to the campaign but has established himself as one of the world's best centre-backs on form. Although Inter didn't keep quite as many clean sheets as they might have done it was the big-game mentality about them that saw them to silverware, and few represented that more than Lucio.

Walter Samuel - Inter (173)

At the other end of the Inter scale is Walter Samuel, who stood out a bit less in Europe but arguably had an even better Serie A campaign than his defensive partner. This was a triumphant season for the 32-year-old, who can now look forward to the World Cup.

Javier Zanetti - Inter (396)

Javier Zanetti will not be joining Samuel in South Africa, but can look back on yet another excellent season at club level. The Argentine, in truth, could even have made this line-up in midfield; instead he lines up at left-back, one of many positions in which his experience has told this campaign.

Midfield:

Xavi Hernandez - Barcelona (22)

The imperious midfielder is so vital a part in Barcelona's 70% plus possession games that it is hard to imagine how the Blaugrana ever did without him. Xavi runs the centre of the pitch like his own private fiefdom and never wastes a ball.

Frank Lampard - Chelsea (11)

Everyone knows about Frank Lampard's goalscoring exploits this season, but it's his all-round play that merits his inclusion here. Quite away from his penalty and set-piece prowess is his ability to pick the right spot on the edge of the box and play the killer pass beyond. A player once renowned mainly for his long shots now has several fans even outside west London.

Arjen Robben - Bayern Munich (10)

Probably the most killer influence in the Champions League this season - bar one, anyway - Robben was also a core part of the Bayern team that overcame a poor start to romp to the Bundesliga title. It's fair to say that life in Bavaria agrees with the Dutchman, injury-free and free-scoring.

Lionel Messi - Barcelona (1)

No Champions League this year, but the current Ballon d'Or holder netted no fewer than 34 goals in 30 starts and five sub appearances in this season's Primera Division, or a goal every 83 minutes. Add to that eight in Europe and almost 15 direct assists in all competitions, not forgetting countless bits of build-up play, and it's clear that the young Argentine is still something very special.

Attack:

Wayne Rooney - Manchester United (3)

Wayne Rooney carries England's hopes on his shoulders this summer - shoulders no doubt tired after doing the same for Manchester United this season. It wasn't a great campaign for the Red Devils but in these post-Cristiano Ronaldo days fans and Fergie alike can rest assured that they still have a world-class performer up front.

Diego Milito - Inter (150)

Is he Europe's best player? On current form, yes. The 30-year-old prince is now being dubbed a king after scoring hugely important goals as Inter lifted their historic treble under Jose Mourinho. A side once derided for their lack of big-game bottle sought the kind of calm, experienced influence they need to take them over the line, and he's repaid their faith tenfold.