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Noni Madueke includes four Chelsea legends in all-time favourite XI, names one of them as captain

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Chelsea star Noni Madueke has just put together a team that would probably beat any side in history.

Moises Caicedo recently did the same thing, naming his all-time favourite XI. Caicedo’s team of superstars included the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and N’Golo Kante, which is hardly a surprise.

Messi and Ronaldo are arguably the two greatest forwards of all time, while Kante is one of the best midfielders ever.

The Frenchman was included in Madueke‘s XI, but he was not the only Chelsea legend selected by the winger.

Chelsea's Ngolo Kante during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Southampton
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images

Thiago Silva, Ashley Cole, N’Golo Kante and Frank Lampard all make Noni Madueke’s XI

Chelsea have had some exceptional footballers down the years, but not all of them could make the cut when Madueke assembled his team.

There was no room for the likes of John Terry, Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard. However, Madueke did include Kante, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Thiago Silva.

Noni Madueke’s all-time favourite XIPosition
Manuel NeuerGoalkeeper
Sergio RamosRight-back
Thiago SilvaCentre-back
Virgil van DijkCentre-back
Ashely ColeLeft-back
N’Golo KanteDefensive midfielder
Frank LampardCentral midfielder
Lionel MessiAttacking midfielder
Kylian MbappeRight wing
NeymarLeft wing
Cristiano RonaldoStriker
Via Chelsea’s official website

Madueke got the chance to play alongside Kante and Silva at Chelsea, while he also worked under Lampard during the 46-year-old’s short stint as interim manager in the second half of the 2022/23 season.

Out of that quartet, the England international is the only one still left at Chelsea, though there is a possibility of him leaving the club this summer.

Napoli have explored a move for Madueke, who has also been linked to clubs in England. Enzo Maresca does not have too many options in the wide positions right now, though, so Chelsea should not rush into doing anything just yet.

Chelsea's English midfielder #11 Noni Madueke reacts during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Everton
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Noni Madueke names Thiago Silva as captain

Madueke was also asked to assign the captain’s armband to one of the players in his all-time favourite XI, and the 23-year-old decided to go with Silva.

He explained to Chelsea’s official website: “My captain would be Thiago Silva. He is a great leader, super passionate about the game. Not everyone has this, but he has a way of motivating you.

“Of course, he leads by example, but even though he didn’t speak much English he had an aura about him which motivated you to give your absolute best.”

Chelsea have a very young and inexperienced squad so could do with someone who possesses Silva’s leadership qualities and maturity. Had he been in his early 30s, the club probably would have kept hold of him last summer.