Professional footballers worldwide will determine the sport’s top players, as the International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations (FIFPro) announced 26 nominees for its Men’s World XI, featuring a strong representation from European giants like Paris Saint-Germain and several Portuguese stars.
Four Portuguese players were among the elite group unveiled on Monday. They include Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) trio Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and João Neves, alongside veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), a French Ligue 1 powerhouse, is notably well-represented with seven players among the nominees. These include defenders Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, and Marquinhos; midfielders Vitinha and João Neves; forward Ousmane Dembele; and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is listed with both PSG and Manchester City.
The 11 winners of the prestigious annual award will be revealed on November 3. The selection process involves active professional footballers casting their votes globally.
Voters must consider player performances between July 15, 2024, and August 3, 2025. The final team will comprise one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. The final spot goes to the outfield player with the highest number of remaining votes.
Other prominent nominees span across various top clubs. Goalkeeper selections include Alisson Becker of Liverpool and Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid.
Defensive nominees feature Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), and William Saliba (Arsenal).
Midfielders Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City/Napoli), Luka Modric (Real Madrid/AC Milan), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Pedri (Barcelona), and Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) are also in contention.
The forward list includes global superstars such as Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), and rising talent Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).