FIFA FIFPRO 11: Messi, Ronaldo included as Salah misses out on 23 man short list
FIFPRO and FIFA have announced the 23 players who received the most votes for the 2021 FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11, the only global player award organised by the players and for the players.
Professional footballers worldwide were asked by FIFA and FIFPRO to pick three players who, in their opinion, were the most outstanding players during the 2020/2021 season in the following positions: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards.
For the first time in 17 years, FIFPRO is updating the announcement about the most-voted players, reducing the shortlist from 55 to 23.
This has been done to resemble a real-life “squad” which, usually for international competitions, is the number of players involved.
The three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and six forwards with the most votes earned a place in the 23-men World 11 “squad”.
To complete this elite selection, the two remaining outfield players with the most votes were added.
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The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who received the most votes in their position will be selected for the World 11.
The remaining spot in the World 11 will be assigned to the remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes.
FIFA and FIFPRO will announce the 2021 Men’s World 11 on Monday 17 January 2022 during the ceremony of The Best FIFA Football Awards.
The 23 players in the World 11 squad are: In alphabetical order:
GOALKEEPERS
Alisson Becker (Brazil/Liverpool FC)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/AC Milan/Paris Saint-Germain)
Édouard Mendy (Senegal/Chelsea FC)
DEFENDERS
David Alaba (Austria/FC Bayern München/Real Madrid CF)
Jordi Alba (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool)
Dani Alves (Brazil/São Paulo FC/FC Barcelona)
Leonardo Bonucci (Italy/Juventus FC)
Rúben Dias (Portugal/Manchester City FC)
MIDFIELDERS
Sergio Busquets (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City)
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal/Manchester United FC)
Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands/FC Barcelona)
Jorginho (Italy/Chelsea FC)
N’Golo Kante (France/Chelsea FC)
FORWARDS
Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid CF)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Juventus FC/Manchester United FC)
Erling Haaland (Norway/ BV Borussia 09 Dortmund)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern München)
Romelu Lukaku (Belgium/FC Internazionale Milano/Chelsea FC)
Kylian Mbappé (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)
Neymar (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)