Despite no longer playing for European clubs, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain highly regarded among their peers. The two football legends were the only nominees not affiliated with European teams on a 26-man shortlist for the World Team of the Year, announced by the global players’ union FIFPRO on Monday.
Messi, 37, currently plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, while Ronaldo, 39, is with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The remaining 24 nominees are all players from clubs in England, Germany, Spain, and France, with Kylian Mbappé as the sole representative from France, having played at Paris Saint-Germain last season.
Notably, no players from Italian clubs, South America, or Africa were included in the shortlist. The list features eight players from Real Madrid, including Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham, along with seven from Manchester City, such as Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Erling Haaland. Additionally, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, recognized for his standout performance in Spain’s European Championship victory, also made the cut.
On December 9, Messi and Ronaldo will learn if they are selected for the World XI lineup. According to FIFPRO, the final team will consist of the highest-polling goalkeeper and the top three vote-getters from each position—defenders, midfielders, and forwards—with the last spot going to the outfield player with the next highest votes.
The Netherlands-based union reported that 28,000 players from 70 countries participated in the voting.
Goalkeepers:
- Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)
- Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
- Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Defenders:
- Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain)
- Rúben 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 Modrić (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 Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid, France)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
- Cole Palmer (Manchester City/Chelsea, England)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal)
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
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