Former Bosnia and Herzegovina national team player Miralem Pjanić (36) had a chance to put together his ideal team consisting of footballers he shared the locker room with throughout his rich career. The selection for the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport features some of the biggest names in world football, and his decision to give Karim Benzema the nod ahead of Edin Džeko in the attack drew the most attention.
Throughout his career, Pjanić played for European giants such as Roma, Juventus, and Barcelona, and was part of numerous stars in the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.
Therefore, the task that Gazzetta dello Sport gave him was not easy. He was offered four candidates for each position and had to choose only one.
Džeko or Benzema? Pjanić Faced a Tough Choice
Choosing the central striker was particularly interesting.
Among the candidates were Edin Džeko, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuaín and Ousmane Dembélé.
In the end, Pjanić gave the advantage to Benzema, whom he considers the most complete striker he ever played with.
He admitted that the decision was not simple, especially because of the quality of other candidates.
As a result, his long-term national team teammate Edin Džeko was left out of the starting XI, even though they were important members of the Bosnian “Zmajevi” (Dragons) generation.
Messi and Ronaldo Together in a Dream Team
Pjanić’s choice demonstrates the sheer caliber of football legends he had the opportunity to play with throughout his career.
His ideal lineup featured both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two players who defined one of the greatest eras in world football.
Gianluigi Buffon was his choice for a goalkeeper, while the backline consisted of Dani Alves, Gerard Piqué, Giorgio Chiellini, and Jordi Alba.
In midfield, Pjanić selected Daniel de Rossi, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi, Francesco Totti, and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Karim Benzema leading the line.
Miralem Pjanić’s ideal team:
Buffon-Dani Alves, Piqué, Chiellini, Alba – De Rossi, Busquets, Messi, Totti, Ronaldo – Benzema.
The Coach Who Left the Biggest Mark
Aside from footballers, Pjanić also picked the best coach he worked with.
The competition was between Massimiliano Allegri, Rudi Garcia, Maurizio Sarri, and Luis Enrique.
The Bosnian midfielder particularly singled out Allegri, emphasizing that the Italian expert had the biggest impact on his career.
Pjanić also spoke about Luis Enrique, noting that right from the start of their collaboration, he noticed how the Spanish manager’s approach differed from anyone else’s.
A Career Filled with Big Names and Trophies
Pjanić took his first professional steps at Metz. After Metz, he played for Lyon, Roma, Juventus, Barcelona, Beşiktaş, Sharjah, and CSKA Moscow.
He left his most memorable mark in Italian football, especially when he played for Roma and Juventus, where he established himself as one of his teams’ premier playmakers for years.
His vision, pinpoint passing, and set-piece prowess earned him a status as one of the best Bosnian footballers of his generation.
Although he shared a pitch with a lot of stars throughout his career, putting together a dream team showed once again how difficult it is to single out just eleven names.
And for Bosnia and Herzegovina fans, the fact that Pjanić’s ideal lineup excluded Edin Džeko proved particularly interesting, N1 writes.
