I played with Van Nistelrooy, Modric and Alonso but none get into ultimate team

These are just some of the stars that made Rafael van der Vaart's dream five-a-side team using his former teammates when he sat down with talkSPORT as a guest on the The Lineup.

The 41-year-old has played alongside some serious superstars at club and international level from Luka Modric and Gareth Bale at Tottenham to Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid and Ruud Van Nistelrooy at international level where he won 109 Netherlands caps.

It's why Van der Vaart had such a difficult time whittling his best teammates down to just five.

So, who made the World Cup runner-up's team?

Goalkeeper: Edwin van der Sar

Van der Vaart began by picking his compatriot between the sticks.

Read more football news

I couldn't stand arrogant Ibrahimovic and our fight forced him to leave club within days

I played with Bergkamp, Spurs man was different level but forgotten defender was the best

"The only goalkeeper that in training or in games, you look at the goal and go, 'Where should I shoot,'" Van der Vaart recalled.

"Because he was that huge. So good with his feet. By far the best goalie."

The pair played 46 games together, all of which came on the international stage with the Netherlands.

Van der Sar also proved to be a constant thorn in the side of Premier League strikers, especially during his 266-game stint at Manchester United.

Most read in Football

Man United release statement after scrapping LGBTQ+ jackets over player's refusal

Julen Lopetegui on the brink of West Ham sack with three possible replacements waiting

'Devastated' Shaw posts emotional statement as Man United react to latest injury setback

Bizarre admin gaffe sees Lucy Bronze barred from entering pitch as substitute

During his time there, Van der Sar helped the Red Devils win four Premier League titles, the Champions League, two League Cups and a Club World Cup.

Defender: Sergio Ramos

Ramos' 16-year stint at Real Madrid was laden with trophies and he was a big reason why.

His crunching tackles would leave rival forwards fearful of daring to take him on a second time, although Ramos did have a penchant for being overly aggressive and picking up bookings, meaning there is the danger that Van der Vaart would only be left with four players on the five-a-side pitch though.

Ramos also proved to be rather adept at the other end of the field as he scored 101 goals for Madrid in all competitions, a remarkable feat for a centre-back.

Van der Vaart played alongside Ramos 59 times during his time at Real Madrid, but it was more than enough time for him to realise the defender's quality.

"He was fantastic," Van der Vaart said.

"I mean, the defender who could play the best. He could also play 10, 6, right-back, left-back.

"So fit still, winning so many Champions Leagues."

The 38-year-old remains without a club since he left Sevilla at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Midfielder: Wesley Sneijder

At his peak, Wesley Sneijder was one of the best playmakers in Europe.

Deadly from set-pieces, Sneijder also had the ability to slice defences open like a knife through hot butter with a killer pass.

In fact, Van der Vaart held his Real Madrid and Netherlands teammate in such high esteem that he felt Sneijder was robbed of a Ballon d'Or in 2010.

It was the year Sneijder played a starring role in helping Inter the treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Champions League.

Sneijder also inspired the Netherlands to the final of the 2010 World Cup, as they pushed Spain to extra-time.

When asked if he believed Sneijder was deserving of football's most prestigious individual honour, Van der Vaart said: "Yeah, I think so."

"He was two-footed. He didn't know what foot he was. It doesn't matter for him."

Midfielder: Guti

Given Guti broke through during an era when Real Madrid boasted Galacticos, including Luis Figo, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, one could be forgiven if he slipped out of their consciousness.

But the enigmatic midfielder never left the thoughts of Van der Vaart.

Guti, who featured in 542 games across a 25-year career at Madrid from youth level to the first team, was always capable of the sublime.

One example of Guti's maverick nature that sticks out in Van der Vaart's mind was his legendary assist for Karim Benzema during Madrid's clash against Deportivo La Coruna in 2010.

With only the goalkeeper to beat, Guti could have easily fired home to put his side two goals up.

Instead, he back-heeled the ball straight into the path of Benzema, who slammed home.

"He was crazy," Van der Vaart said.

"Sometimes he'd turn up hungover to training. He was just enjoying life.

"I remember one press conference, he said, 'When I don't enjoy my life now, when should I do it, when I'm 70?'"

Van der Vaart added: "His quality, his vision. Sometimes he'd pass the ball to you and you'd think, 'How did you know I was there?' But he knew it."

Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo owning five Ballons d'Or, Van der Vaart conceded he was 'doubting' the selection of the Portuguese superstar.

"I wanted to say also Patrick Kluivert," he explained of the former Netherlands and Barcelona striker.

"But I go for Ronaldo."

Even though Van der Vaart spent only the 2009/10 season with Ronaldo, it was more than enough time for the latter to make a lasting impression.

Read More on talkSPORT

I couldn't stand arrogant Ibrahimovic and our fight forced him to leave club within days

Frank Warren thrilled as 'greatest boxing card ever' is confirmed featuring Daniel Dubois

And his record speaks for itself as one of the greatest players to ever play. Arriving from Man United in 2009, by the time he left in 2018 he had scored 451 goals in 438 games for the club and won four Champions League trophies and two league titles.

Watch the latest episode of The Lineup in full on talkSPORT's YouTube channel