The 26-player shortlist for the 2024 men's FIFPRO World XI was announced on Monday afternoon, just a week before the final lineup is revealed.
This prestigious award sets out to make the greatest starting XI possible from the best players on the planet over the past year. Unlike the Ballon d'Or, which is decided by the judgement of 100 journalists, the FIFPRO World XI is decided exclusively by professional players.
FIFPRO, the worldwide players' union, draws upon more than 28,000 professional footballers from every corner of the globe across 70 countries. Each players is tasked with selecting the three best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards from an original pool of 250 candidates.
The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the highest tally of votes form the basis of a team. The remaining outfield player with the most votes is slotted in to complete the illustrious 11.
Most of the familiar faces made the cut. There was even room for the ageing duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who were both included in the list of nominated forwards despite missing out on this year's Ballon d'Or shortlist.
While victory for Manchester City's Rodri over Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior at that ceremony sparked a feud which is still rumbling one month later, both players will surely be included in the World XI.
The final lineup will be unveiled on Monday, 9 December.
FIFPRO Men's World 11 shortlist 2024
Goalkeepers
- Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)
- Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
- Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Defenders
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain)
- Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
- Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, Netherlands)
- Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany)
- William Saliba (Arsenal, France)
- Kyle Walker (Manchester City, England)
Midfielders
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
- Phil Foden (Manchester City, England)
- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany)
- Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany)
- Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
- Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)
Forwards
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
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