Hugo Lloris / Igor Akinfeev RB: Philipp Lahm / Glen Johnson (PA 173, cheap from Chelsea) LB: Gareth Bale (retrain quickly) / Leighton Baines (PA 171, bargain) CB: Vincent Kompany + Micah Richards (PA 179, Man City – £5M) DM: Cesc Fàbregas (DLP) + Luka Modrić (BBM) RW: Lionel Messi LW: Franck Ribéry / Nicolae Mitea AM: Wayne Rooney / Sergio Agüero ST: Fernando Torres (Atlético, PA 190 – £25M release clause)

The go-to goalkeeper for nearly a decade of FM versions, Akinfeev remained loyal to CSKA in real life, becoming a true club icon.

: A physical powerhouse in FM06, he lived up to his "must-have" status by becoming United's all-time top scorer. Vincent Kompany (Anderlecht)