EUROSPORT-Yahoo! users have chosen England legend Bobby Charlton as the greatest central midfielder in World Cup history.
The former Manchester United man was a key part of England’s World Cup winning team of 1966, and his record haul of 49 goals for the Three Lions is yet to be surpassed.
That year he also won the Ballon d’Or, the FIFA Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, and he retained his place in the best XI at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
Charlton, who became Sir Bobby in 1994, beat fellow World Cup winner Lothar Matthaeus into our Dream Team. The uncompromising Matthaeus led West Germany to victory at Italia 90, but could only manage 24 per cent of the vote.
Tied for second place with Matthaeus is Krassimir Balakov, who was instrumental in Bulgaria’s astonishing run to the semi-finals in 1994.
Surprisingly, Brazil legend Socrates only came in fourth in the poll, despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest players never to win the World Cup. Perhaps his latter-day appearance for Garforth Town counted against him.
Johan Neeskens, twice runner-up with the Netherlands in the 1970s, is fifth, while Belgium’s Jan Ceulemans, a veteran of three finals, was sixth.
Who is the greatest central midfielder in World Cup history?
Bobby Charlton (England) 32%
Lothar Matthaeus (Germany) 24%
Krassimir Balakov (Bulgaria) 24%
Socrates (Brazil) 16%
Johan Neeskens (Holland) 4%
Jan Ceulemans (Belgium) 1%
15724 votes (as of 3pm on Friday)
What is the Dream Team?
Each week leading up to the World Cup, we are giving Eurosport-Yahoo! users the chance to vote for the greatest players ever to grace the World Cup, plus the best manager and the finest stadium.
After nine rounds of voting, the Dream Team now looks like this:
Stadium: Wembley (1966)
Goalkeeper: Lev Yashin (USSR)
Right-back: Cafu (Brazil)
Centre-back: Bobby Moore (England)
Sweeper: Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany)
Left-back: Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
Right midfield: Garrincha (Brazil)
Left midfield: Johan Cruyff (Holland)
Central midfield: Bobby Charlton (England)