What is the Fifpro World XI?
- Published
The Fifpro World XI is the only global football award voted for exclusively by professional footballers.
More than 26,000 players from 68 counties have selected their men's and women's teams this year.
The finalists are the 26 football players who received the most votes in their position based on their performances last season.
The 11 players with the most votes in their positions will be selected in the final line-up.
The award began in 2005 and a women's equivalent was launched in 2016.
Lionel Messi has the most men's appearances with 18 selections and Cristiano Ronaldo is second with 16.
In the women's game, Lucy Bronze has the honour for most appearances in the World XI with eight selections.
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Who are the nominees?
Chelsea's Lucy Bronze and Lauren James were named in the Fifpro World XI in 2024
The 26 selections for both the men's and women's teams have been named.
Men's team
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City and Italy), Alisson Becker (Liverpool and Brazil) and Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid and England), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain), Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain and Morocco), Marquinhos (Paris St-Germain and Brazil), Nuno Mendes (Paris St-Germain and Portugal), William Saliba (Arsenal and France) and Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and Netherlands)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England), Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli and Belgium), Luka Modric (AC MIlan and Croatia), Joao Neves (Paris St-Germain and Portugal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea and England), Pedri (Barcelona and Spain), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid and Uruguay) and Vitinha (Paris St-Germain and Portugal)
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain and France), Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid and France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami and Argentina), Raphinha (Barcelona and Brazil), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr and Portugal), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)
Men's players selections are based on their performances from 15 July 2024 to 3 August 2025. Nominees must have appeared in at least 30 official matches to be eligible.
Women's team
Goalkeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham and Germany), Mary Earps (Paris St-Germain and England) and Hannah Hampton (Chelsea and England)
Defenders: Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash and Nigeria), Ona Batlle (Barcelona and Spain), Millie Bright (Chelsea and England), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea and England), Olga Carmona (Paris Saint-Germain and Spain), Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea and Australia), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City and England) and Leah Williamson (Arsenal and England)
Midfielders: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona and Spain), Ghizlane Chebbak (Al Hilal and Morocco), Debinha (Kansas City Current and Brazil), Patricia Guijarro (Barcelona and Spain), Vicky Lopez (Barcelona and Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona and Spain), Ella Toone (Manchester United and England) and Keira Walsh (Chelsea and England)
Forwards: Michelle Agyemang (Brighton & Hove Albion and England), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride and Zambia), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid and Colombia), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid and Spain), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal and England), Marta (Orlando Pride and Brazil), Alessia Russo (Arsenal and England)
Women's players are selected from their performances between 11 August 2024 to 3 August 2025 and played at least 20 official matches.
When does it take place?
The 11 winners in each team will be announced on Monday, 3 November.
This will be revealed on Fifpro's social media platforms.
The women's XI will be unveiled at 12:00 GMT and men's at 14:00 GMT.
What is the format and who decides the winner?
The World XI is voted for by professional footballers around the world.
Fifpro and affiliated player unions distribute unique links that give players access to a digital voting platform.
Footballers then pick out the three players they think were the most outstanding in each of the following positions: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards.
The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the most votes in their position are selected into the World 11. The final spot is awarded to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes.
Who were last year's winners?
Women's World XI
Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (Manchester United/Paris Saint-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)
Men's World XI
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 (Manchester City, Belgium), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid, France), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
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