Everyone dreams of an all-star team.

What would the best players in the world working alongside one another look like? Many clubs have already amassed their own versions of said all-star squads, but as we all know, quality changes from year to year. Players rise to the top in one season and fade quickly the next.

As a part of the 2014 celebration, it is nice to see what players truly peaked and how they would look alongside the other top stars in the calendar year.

Without further ado, here is a look at the starting XI of 2014. For the lineup, Latin Post has picked a 4-3-3 formation because it is arguably the most balanced lineup in the modern game:

Goalie - Manuel Neuer

There really is no question here. Save for his recent nutmeg goal against a few weeks ago, the superstar netminder has rarely made a mistake in 2014 and has found himself among the finalists for the Ballon d'Or. Is there honestly a better goalie in the world right now? He can make big saves. He can stop the ball. He is a sweeper. No goalie rose to the occasion more than Neuer did this year and that is why he is a pick for 2014's top goalie.

Center Back - Sergio Ramos

He had a poor World Cup. Let's move on from that. But what he did for Real Madrid in 2014 was nothing short of heroic. He scored major goals in the Champions League semifinal and final and then added more big goals in the Club World Cup. He has been inconsistent at times on the defensive end of things, but he was terrific for the most part and a major part of his club side's success. This has arguably been his finest year to date, and he has won the World Cup and Euro in other years past.

Center Back - Diego Godin

He scored a big goal off a header in the World Cup. He would have scored the winner in the Champions League if not for the other center back on this list's heroics. His defensive poise has been second to none and he actually looks like he could easily be the top defender in the world at the present moment. This is a guy averaging over six clearances a game and three interceptions while limiting his tackles and fouls considerably.

Left Back - David Alaba

He is only 22 years old and a considerable threat on the left flank for Bayern Munich. He is fast and terrific with the ball on his feet and he had arguably his finest year to date. The numbers are down to start 2013-14 (he had two goals and six assists in 2013-14 and his clearances per game are also), but his number of tackles and fouls committed are down while his interceptions per game are up. More importantly, especially in Pep Guardiola's system, his passing success rate is up and his key passes per game continue to be over one per game (he had never averaged over one per game prior to the 2013-14 season).

Right Back - Philip Lahm

Does anyone remember how poor Germany looked in the World Cup defensively with Lahm in the middle of the pitch. It was not a reflection of his own play as a holding midfielder, but a sign of how unstable the backend was without him. And sure enough, the moment he returned to his spot as a holder, the team not only improved but flourished. Does anyone remember how Marcelo got slaughtered on the left flank in the Brazil game? Lahm had a lot to do with that. He, in many ways, was the key to Germany's World Cup splendor.

But that withstanding, he was also brilliant for Bayern Munich all year long. At this point in the 2014-14 season, he is second on the team in key passes and has some of the best passing numbers on the club overall. His defensive stats are down, but that is a function of his positional rotation for Munich.

Defending Midfielder - Javier Mascherano

Here is a common misconception that needs some correcting: it was Mascherano's play, not Lionel Messi's, that helped Argentina to the final.

Messi had a strong tournament overall and the stats underline this, so it is essential to ignore the claims that he did nothing.

That said, the claim does hold a lot of truth in it as Mascherano played a key role in the team's rise through the tournament. In his normal position, he averaged a whopping 4.3 tackles per game, 1.4 fouls per game and 2.6 interceptions per game for Argentina. Factor in his over one interception per game and 1.1 key passes per game (he barely features 0.5 per game for Barcelona) and you have a magical run from a great player.

Central Midfielder - Toni Kroos

In some ways, Toni Kroos was the most valuable player of the entire 2014 year. Who averaged the most passes per game for Germany in the World Cup? Kroos. Who was the motor of Bayern Munich's passing game? Kroos. Who averages more passes than him at Real Madrid? No one.

Simply put, there is no one better at the tiki taka game in the world at this very moment than Kroos. His ability to pick apart opposition with precision is thrilling. He rarely makes a mistake and is lethal from scoring range as well.

Throw in the fact that his defensive game has improved under Carlo Ancelotti and you have a player that is becoming complete in all facets of the game.

He already has seven assists on the year for Real Madrid; he completed the feat in 15 games. His career high of nine assists for Bayern came in 2011-12. He should easily blow that number away. And he is doing it while averaging less passes than he did at Munich.

Central Midfielder - Angel Di Maria

When Angel Di Maria left Real Madrid, the team looked like it had lost its heart and soul. When Argentina lost Di Maria in the latter stages of the World Cup, the team lost the tournament.

This is no coincidence as Di Maria is undoubtedly one of the finest players in the entire world and has continued to prove that for Manchester United. The fact that the English side looks lost without its brilliant offensive risk-taker only highlights how great Di Maria truly is.

He was a big reason that Madrid won La Decima in May and has turned into Manchester's catalyst. His 2.6 key passes per game are a career high for him. He is connecting on more passes per game than ever before in his career. He is scoring and providing. He had a solid World Cup, even if the goals rarely ever came and when Argentina lost him to injury, the team's attack lacked the extra dynamic and bite that he added.

Left Wing - Cristiano Ronaldo

Sixty-one goals in 60 games along with 22 assists. And of those 61 goals, 32 have come in the last four month and in only 25 appearances. And 12 of the assists have come in that same span. There is no doubt that Ronaldo is scoring and providing at an unprecedented rate. He has slowed down in recent weeks, but that does not take away from the fact that he has been lethal all season long. Moreover, he has been scoring in big games and winning trophies.

Striker - Lionel Messi

Zero trophies is the statline everyone will point to regarding the Ballon d'Or. But they must also look at the two records Messi broke in just the last few weeks. He also scored 58 goals in 66 games this year while adding 21 assists. He also led Argentina to World Cup finals with four goals and one assist. Not a Messi-like year, but still a great performance from the phenom.

Right Wing - Arjen Robben

Robben was snubbed from the Golden Ball at the World Cup, an honor he should have won. He was the reason the Dutch overcame their mediocrity and rose to third in the tournament. He dominated the group stage, the round of 16 and should have scored in the quarterfinal against Costa Rica. He disappeared a bit in the semifinals, but reappeared to finish embarrassing Brazil in the third place game. And now he has 10 goals in 13 Bundesliga matches for Bayern Munich. His career high? Twelve goals in 14 games back in 2011-12. He still has a ton of season left to destroy that total. Which also drives home another important point -- this guy is getting better and better at age 30.

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