Italy lifted the FIFA World Cup in Berlin, but Germany 2006 also gave us a cast of stars across the field. Using Sofascore data, we built a 4-5-1 that reflects performance across all seven matchdays. Three Azzurri make the cut, backed by Germany’s home heroes and a few elite names from England, France, Brazil and Argentina. It is a team shaped by consistency, numbers and moments that still live rent free in highlight reels.

Back five built on clean sheets

Gianluigi Buffon anchors the XI with a Sofascore Rating of 7.74, the standout goalkeeper of the tournament and winner of the Lev Yashin award. He was outstanding behind Italy’s famously tight block and produced the kind of calm handling that makes defenders feel taller. Marco Materazzi (7.70) partners Lúcio (7.50) at center-back after a tournament where the Italian was statistically the top defender. Materazzi also scored twice, including the equaliser in the final, which is a decent way to pad a defender’s résumé. Lúcio led Brazil’s back line with composure, ball-carrying and aerial dominance that kept opponents honest.

At full-back, Philipp Lahm (7.66) headlines the right side and reminded everyone he could also score, curling home the opener of the entire World Cup. On the left, Éric Abidal (7.37) was key to France’s control of space and tempo, rarely diving in and almost always in the right lane. Together with Buffon they form a back five that reads like a masterclass in positioning, timing and tournament-level concentration. If you are counting clean sheets, this group delivered plenty.

Midfield masters drive Germany 2006

The engine room is stacked and starts with Michael Ballack, whose 8.10 Sofascore Rating leads the tournament. He played five games for hosts Germany, averaged 101.6 touches, and combined volume with bite: 2.0 tackles, 6.8 recoveries and 9.0 total duels won per match. Ballack also created from deep with 9.2 accurate long balls per game at 71 percent and chipped passes landing 9.6 per game. Add 1 assist, 1 big chance created and 1.4 key passes per match, and you have Germany’s conductor on their bronze run. Andrea Pirlo (7.86) was Italy’s metronome, scoring vs Ghana, setting pieces on a string and taking Man of the Match in the final.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (7.84) delivered two rockets and forced another goal in the third‑place game, a reminder that his right boot had its own fan club. David Beckham (7.78) led England’s chance creation, provided two assists and curled in the free‑kick winner against Ecuador. Maxi Rodríguez (7.76) rounds out the band after that chest‑and‑volley vs Mexico and a habit of arriving in the box at the perfect time. It is a midfield you would not want to press, mostly because the ball would be behind you before the second whistle.

Klose leads the line

Up front it is Miroslav Klose with a 7.64 Sofascore Rating and the Golden Boot. His five goals came with the usual Klose signatures: smart movement, perfect timing and refusal to miss the second header. He scored twice against Costa Rica, twice against Ecuador and then levelled against Argentina in the quarterfinal. Beyond goals, he gave Germany a reliable outlet and first defender from the front. His hold‑up work and aerial presence made life easier for the late runners behind him. In this XI he would still finish chances for fun with Pirlo, Beckham and Maxi feeding him from all angles. And yes, he would still celebrate with that modest little jog and grin.

Ballack’s crown and why Zidane missed out

By the numbers, Ballack was the tournament’s top overall performer and, uniquely, the only player to finish with the best Sofascore Rating in two World Cups in a row. His Germany 2006 line is the picture of an all‑phase midfielder: heavy usage on the ball, strong duel win rates, 2.4 clearances per match, 0 errors leading to shots and consistent production of progressive passes. He also drew 4.0 fouls per game, which tells you opponents had exactly one plan. That balance explains his 8.10 and his spot at the center of this XI.

Zinedine Zidane, brilliant for long stretches, misses out on our best XI because consistency across the full tournament matters. He arrived at the final averaging 7.88, then the red card and a 6.3 game rating pulled his tournament average down to 7.62. Our selection uses the overall Sofascore Rating, which is the average of every match played. Group games weigh the same as knockout games and the final, so you must deliver every time. That is the fine margin at this level and why a player like Pirlo, steady from start to finish, is in. Sofascore’s platform rewards that reliability as much as the highlight plays.

Sofascore users can dive into every match page from Germany 2006, check the full heat maps, and compare player trends across the tournament. This best XI simply puts the data and the football memories on the same pitch.