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of 2008
Football pundit Guillem Balague has cast his expert eye across Europe to select his team of 2008 and Torres has made the cut to line up in an attacking 3-4-3 formation.
Liverpool team-mate Pepe Reina also makes the grade but the number of Premier League players in the side is outweighed alone by members of Barcelona's star-studded squad.
In fact, Primera Division players make up the majority of the side - a fair reflection of where Europe's powerbase lies or wishful thinking? You decide...
Here, without further ado, is Guillem's pick:
Pepe Reina, Liverpool: He has become the best goalkeeper in the world. The shame is that with Spain he cannot perform regularly as the weight, history and influence of Casillas gives him priority.
Chiellini, Juve: Even Ancelotti says publicly he is the best defender in Italy. That says it all. He could improve playing the ball, but defensively he is a rock
Pepe, Real Madrid: If he didn't have so many injuries, he would be considered the best defender in the world. Fast, strong, clever and can play the ball. All you need from a centre-back in a team that leaves them exposed
Marquez, Barcelona: He is not as quick as he used to be, but now he replaces that with intelligence and he is the first forward when he recovers the ball; there are always good intentions in his passes.
Ronaldo, Manchester United: If Cristiano was a bit more humble I would like him to win all the accolades because he is the kind of player that makes things happen. But I still put a question mark next to him because apart from his personality - or maybe because of it - he still doesn't make an impact in all the big games, like Messi does.
Xavi, Barcelona: A friend and a player I admire. I love chatting football to him, he is a clever man but this year he has added goals and leadership to his game, so that makes him one of the top midfielders in the world.
De Rossi, Roma: The all-rounder. The player any manager would like to have in his team. An obedient, hardworker who has lots of quality on the ball.
Iniesta, Barcelona: He is one of the top left sided midfielders in the world. Used in the centre, in the right of the midfield, or the right of the attack, he is also one of the best in the world. He has one of those priceless qualities - to be an eight out of ten in any position any given day.
Messi, Barcelona The only player of this generation that will belong to the Olympus of di Stefano, Pele, Cruyff, Maradona and Zidane. Wait and you will see.
Torres, Liverpool: This could have been Benzema, Kun Aguero, del Piero, even Eto'o. Torres went through the difficult event of changing team and competition with total success, plus there was that goal in the Vienna final. One day I will explain the crazy things I did at that particular moment!
Ribery, Bayern Munich: He is a step above anybody in the Bundesliga; only Luca Toni comes close. As direct as usual, fast, aggressive and cheeky. He could take Bayern to the next level if only they had better defenders.
Football pundit Guillem Balague has cast his expert eye across Europe to select his team of 2008 and Torres has made the cut to line up in an attacking 3-4-3 formation.
Liverpool team-mate Pepe Reina also makes the grade but the number of Premier League players in the side is outweighed alone by members of Barcelona's star-studded squad.
In fact, Primera Division players make up the majority of the side - a fair reflection of where Europe's powerbase lies or wishful thinking? You decide...
Here, without further ado, is Guillem's pick:
Pepe Reina, Liverpool: He has become the best goalkeeper in the world. The shame is that with Spain he cannot perform regularly as the weight, history and influence of Casillas gives him priority.
Chiellini, Juve: Even Ancelotti says publicly he is the best defender in Italy. That says it all. He could improve playing the ball, but defensively he is a rock
Pepe, Real Madrid: If he didn't have so many injuries, he would be considered the best defender in the world. Fast, strong, clever and can play the ball. All you need from a centre-back in a team that leaves them exposed
Marquez, Barcelona: He is not as quick as he used to be, but now he replaces that with intelligence and he is the first forward when he recovers the ball; there are always good intentions in his passes.
Ronaldo, Manchester United: If Cristiano was a bit more humble I would like him to win all the accolades because he is the kind of player that makes things happen. But I still put a question mark next to him because apart from his personality - or maybe because of it - he still doesn't make an impact in all the big games, like Messi does.
Xavi, Barcelona: A friend and a player I admire. I love chatting football to him, he is a clever man but this year he has added goals and leadership to his game, so that makes him one of the top midfielders in the world.
De Rossi, Roma: The all-rounder. The player any manager would like to have in his team. An obedient, hardworker who has lots of quality on the ball.
Iniesta, Barcelona: He is one of the top left sided midfielders in the world. Used in the centre, in the right of the midfield, or the right of the attack, he is also one of the best in the world. He has one of those priceless qualities - to be an eight out of ten in any position any given day.
Messi, Barcelona The only player of this generation that will belong to the Olympus of di Stefano, Pele, Cruyff, Maradona and Zidane. Wait and you will see.
Torres, Liverpool: This could have been Benzema, Kun Aguero, del Piero, even Eto'o. Torres went through the difficult event of changing team and competition with total success, plus there was that goal in the Vienna final. One day I will explain the crazy things I did at that particular moment!
Ribery, Bayern Munich: He is a step above anybody in the Bundesliga; only Luca Toni comes close. As direct as usual, fast, aggressive and cheeky. He could take Bayern to the next level if only they had better defenders.
