Liverpool Legend Names World XI, Snubs Ronaldo

A Liverpool legend was asked to pick his current World XI recently, and chose an African superstar over Cristiano Ronaldo, while Bayern Munich sensation Alphonso Davies also made his illustrious selection.

Click through the gallery above to see John Barnes' World XI, according to talkSPORT.

John Barnes spent 10 years as a player for Liverpool, and was part of the last Reds squad to win the English top-flight title, which was then known as the Football League First Division.

The Jamaica-born winger picked his World XI for talkSPORT recently, and included four Liverpool players in his selection.

The first name on Barnes' team sheet, though, was Lionel Messi, and he also explained why he did not include the Argentine's longstanding rival Ronaldo.

"My favourite player of all time has to be in there, Messi. He speaks for himself," the former England star said.

"What he's done for the last few years, and in terms of this season and last season at Barcelona, has been incredible. Winning the league and running away with it.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is still an effective player, but he is not the power that he once was."

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The former winger also included 19-year-old Bayern sensation Davies, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana. When Davies was five years old, he moved to Canada and represents the country at international level.

"I was really impressed with Davies against Tottenham (Hotspur in the UEFA Champions League earlier this season). To come from Canada and to go and play for a team like Bayern in the Champions League is very impressive," Barnes added.

"He's comfortable, strong, good going forward and solid defensively."

Sadio Mane, meanwhile, is the only African in Barnes' World XI, with the 56-year-old picking the 2019 African Player of the Year over Ronaldo for the left-wing spot.

"As much as (Roberto) Firmino, Mane has been my favourite Liverpool player and has been so impressive in the last year," he explained.

"It's not just how many goals he scored, or the chances created, but how hard he works for the team as well. For me, he's been better than Salah this season."

Read: The Six Stars Messi Said His Son 'Really Likes'

You can find Barnes' complete World XI in the gallery above!