Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo remain popular and respected figures among their peers, even if they no longer play at European clubs. However, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah is still missing from the list of the best players in the world.
Messi, 37, and Ronaldo, 39, are the only players not active in the European club Football scene to be selected from a list of 26 players for the World XI organized by global players’ association FIFPRO.
The remaining 24 nominees played for clubs from England, Germany, Spain and France last season, with Kylian Mbappé the only French representative on the list after a successful season with Paris Saint-Germain.
No players from Italian clubs were selected, nor from other clubs in South America or Africa.
Eight Real Madrid players are on the list, including Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, as well as seven Manchester City players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
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Barcelona’s 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who shone in Spain’s European Championship win, is also in the running after receiving votes from union members around the world.
Messi, who currently plays in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, and Ronaldo, who plays in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, will find out on December 9th whether they have been included in the World XI.
According to FIFPRO, the final team will consist of the goalkeeper with the most votes as well as the top three defenders, midfielders and strikers. Last place goes to the field player with the most votes.
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The Netherlands-based union reported that 28,000 players from 70 countries cast their votes.
goalkeeper
- Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)
- Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
- Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)
defender
- 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)
midfielder
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- 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)
striker
- 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, Brasilien)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
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