UEFA’s teams of the year feature is irresistible reading for lovers of footballing gossip, particularly in Spain and Argentina.

Javier Zanetti, Leo Messi and Kun Aguero have all published their best XIs of 2008 on uefa.com and there are a couple of conspicious absentees…

Aguero could find no place for his countryman Messi, despite his brilliant form over the year, while Messi himself left out… Cristiano Ronaldo.

Here’s Aguero’s team: Cech; Sagna, Ferdinand, Carvalho, Evra; Ronaldo, Xavi, Fabregas, Ribery; Del Piero, Ibrahimovic.

There’s a little comment on each and here’s what he says about Ibrahimovic: “He has the ability to destabilise opponents. Next to Ronaldo he is the best player in the world at the moment. He is the complete striker.”

Ouch! Isn’t he forgetting someone?

Here’s Messi’s team of the year: Cech; Maicon, Ferdinand, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Zanetti, Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta; Aguero, Rooney

Here’s what Messi says about Aguero: “I love him and not just because he’s Argentinian! He plays like the gods, has extraordinary quality and a great instinct for scoring goals.”

UEFA promise more teams from Marcos Senna and Pepe but the one I’d really like to see would be Ronaldo’s… Think he’d find space for Messi?

The pair will meet on Monday when the FIFA player of the year award is handed out. Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo (who presumably won’t be driving) is one of five nominees along with Messi.

PHOTO: Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Lionel Messi pose after a press conference before the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich Dec. 17, 2007. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann