FIFA FIFPRO have announced their 23-man shortlist for World’s best XI, with Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah being a surprise absentee.
The list is compiled on the basis of the best performers in the 2020/21 season.
The final eleven – 1 GK, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 forwards – will be decided by the number of votes given by the professional footballers. The remaining slot is for the player with the highest number of votes.
FIFA will announce the World’s best eleven in the FIFA Best awards ceremony, which will take place in January.
The decision to snub Salah is quite a surprise given his stellar form at Liverpool this season.
The Egyptian international is arguably one of the best players in the world at present, having racked up 21 goals and 9 assists in all competitions this season.
Dani Alves is a surprise inclusion, given that he has been out of action for a while. The veteran Brazilian defender, who recently joined Barcelona, won an Olympic Gold medal at Tokyo earlier this year.
Chelsea dominate the list with the nomination of four players: Edouard Mendy, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante, Romelu Lukaku.
Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes are the other players who have made it to the list from the Premier League.
As expected, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi is included alongside his new PSG teammates Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba represent Barcelona while Karim Benzema and David Alba are the two players from Real Madrid who have made the cut.
Bundesliga strikers Roberto Lewandowski and Erling Haaland are also included, with the former being considered a favourite to win FIFA’s best player award.
FIFA FIFPRO World XI 23-man shortlist
Goalkeepers
Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan/Paris Saint-Germain), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
Defenders
David Alaba (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dani Alves (Sao Paulo/Barcelona), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Midfielders
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Jorginho (Chelsea), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Forwards
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Manchester United), Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan/Chelsea), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)
FIFA FIFPRO World XI 23-woman shortlist
Goalkeepers
Laura Benkarth (Bayern Munich), Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea), Christiane Endler (Paris St-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais)
Defenders
Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Kadeisha Buchanan (Olympique Lyonnais), Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea), Irene Paredes (Barcelona), Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais)
Midfielders
Estefania Banini (Levante/Atletico Madrid), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Delphine Cascarino (Olympique Lyonnais), Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Forwards
Pernille Harder (Chelsea), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Marta (Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal), Alex Morgan (Tottenham/Orlando Pride/San Diego Wave), Gabrielle Onguene (CSKA Moscow), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign)
