December 10 – FIFA may still rate Lionel Messi as one of the best players in the world on current form but his peers clearly do not.
Neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo have made men’s world team of the year organised by global players’ union Fifpro
Last month Messi, at 37 and now playing in the MLS in the twilight of his career, was nominated by FIFA for their Best Player award even though he wasn’t even in the top 30 shortlist for the equally if not more prestigious Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Now he hasn’t made Fifpro’s final selection and nor has 39-year-old Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Both were on the original FIFpro shortlist but missed out when it came to the final world 11. It was the first time in almost 20 years that Messi was absent in what is the only global football award decided exclusively by the players.
Six from Champions League winners Real Madrid and four from Manchester City feature in the Fifpro team. Prolific City striker Erling Haaland is teamed up with Kylian Mbappé and his Madrid clubmate Vinicius Jr. in a star-studded attack.
Jude Bellingham topped the men’s overall voting, with the Real Madrid and England midfielder receiving 11,176 selections in the poll that involved professional players in 70 countries.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was the sole player outside of Real and City included in the men’s team of the year.
English players led the 2024 Women’s World 11 with five selected: Lucy Bronze, Mary Earps, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, and Keira Walsh. Two-time women’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati made the cut after helping Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League while Brazilian legend Marta, 38, returned for the first time since 2021.
Not a single player from the US women’s Olympic winning team made the final XI.
Fifpro MEN’S WORLD 11
Goalkeeper: Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid , England), Kevin De Bruyne (City, Belgium), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Rodri (City, Spain)
Forwards: Erling Haaland (City, Norway), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain/Real Madrid, France), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
WOMEN’S WORLD 11
Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (Manchester United/Paris St Germain, England)
Defenders: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona/Chelsea, England), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid, Spain), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England)
Midfielders: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, Spain), Keira Walsh (Barcelona, England)
Forwards: Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride, Zambia), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid, Colombia), Lauren James (Chelsea, England), Marta (Orlando Pride, Brazil)
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1736874567labto1736874567ofdlr1736874567owedi1736874567sni@w1736874567ahsra1736874567w.wer1736874567dna1736874567