Team Earth's line-up if Sepp Blatter's dream of an 'inter-planet' competition came true
Sepp Blatter once joked he wanted an inter-planet competition, but it got us thinking who would represent Team Earth for local derby with Mars - or a crunch clash with Jupiter
The legacy of Sepp Blatter's reign at the helm of FIFA has seen the World Cup brought to areas of the planet for the first time.
South Africa held the festival of football for the first time in Africa, while Earth's largest country welcomed the World Cup in 2018. And in 2022, Qatar will open its doors to the world as the first Muslim country to hold the tournament.
And asked where the World Cup could go next, in 2014, Blatter joked: "We shall wonder if one day our game is played on another planet? Why not? Then we will have not only a World Cup we will have inter-planetary competitions. Why not?”
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While that remark was in tongue and cheek, Blatter continued: "Fifa is shaping society. My vision for Fifa in this changing world is that we must become one of today’s pioneers of hope.
“We must carry that flame of honesty, responsibility and always of respect. If not, we will betray the spirit of this game we love. Football is about freedom, equality and respect. People have the right to want a better world for their children to grow up in!"
But it got us at Daily Star Sport thinking, who would represent Team Earth in an interstellar 'Solar System Cup'.
What country would you like to see host the World Cup? Let us know in the comments section
Let's start with the boss, we need a man to represent this plant - the easy options would be Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp or Zinedine Zidane, but we've got someone in mind.
Jose Mourinho has won trophies in numerous countries - and at almost every club he's been at... what's stopping him from doing the same in space? Also, Jose taunting aliens from the dugout... yes, please!
Between the sticks, we've gone for Alisson, Liverpool's shot-stopper has proved he's one of the best keepers on the planet in recent seasons, and he's well-earned his spot in this side.
We've opted for a back three of Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, and Lisandro Martinez. Ramos might not be at the peak of his powers these days, but he would happily clatter an extra-terrestrial and shush the crowd against or noisy neighbours - Mars.
Van Dijk would be the level-headed leader of the side - keeping his two centre-back partners in check. And he would need two with Martinez on the other side.
The diminutive Argentine wouldn't think twice about heading a meteorite - so he's in.
Across the four in midfield, we've gone for Mohamed Salah, Federico Valverde, Kevin de Bruyne, and Vinicius Junior. It's a very attacking line-up, but facing minnows like Pluto and Mercury you'd expect us to dominate games - so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Salah and Vinicius Jr would have to put in a shift defensively for those bigger games, but players of their quality would have to take it in their stride.
De Bruyne and Valverde are arguably the planet's best two midfielders at the moment, and the idea of them going to Venus and playing their own game is tantalising.
And onto the front three - the envy of the solar system - Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe.
Messi has been called an alien so much over the course of his career that other sides might be demanding his passports as he mesmerises on the Milky Way. And partner him with Haaland and Mbappe, it's a recipe for goals.
Full line-up:
Jose Mourinho (MANAGER).
(3-4-3) Alisson; Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, Lisandro Martinez; Joao Cancelo, Federico Valverde , Kevin de Bruyne, Vinicius Junior; Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe
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