Europe-based players make up every single member of the 23 men’s FIFA FIFPRO players who have received the most votes so far for the World 11 in 2021. A women’s version of this game has 23 players, but only four of them are from outside of Europe.
Only five players in the men’s squad play for a non-European country, whereas 13 of the 23 women’s players are from a European country.
It’s the first time that FIFPRO has cut the list of the top-voted players from 55 to 23, which is the size of a real-life international team.
People who play football professionally all over the world were asked to vote for a World 11 by picking three players who they thought were the best in 2020/21. They had to pick three goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
In a surprise move, neither Mo Salah nor Sadio Mane makes the men’s team. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both in the men’s squad. Because, after all, it wouldn’t be a FIFA Awards party without these to show off their star power.
It will be announced on January 17, 2022, at the Best FIFA Football Awards. For both men and women, the final World 11s will be announced.
Men’s nominees
Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan/Paris St-Germain), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)
Defenders: David Alaba (Bayern Munich/Real Madrid), Jordi Alba (Barcelona) Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dani Alves (Sao Paulo/Barcelona), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Jorginho (Chelsea), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Manchester United), Erling Braut Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan/Chelsea), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain), Lionel Messi (Barcelona/Paris St-Germain), Neymar (Paris St-Germain)
Women’s nominees
Goalkeepers: Laura Benkarth (Bayern Munich), Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea), Christiane Endler (Paris St-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais)
Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Kadeisha Buchanan (Olympique Lyonnais), Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyonnais), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea), Irene Paredes (Barcelona), Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais)
Midfielders: Estefania Banini (Levante/Atletico Madrid), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus), Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), Delphine Cascarino (Olympique Lyonnais), Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Forwards: Pernille Harder (Chelsea), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Marta (Orlando Pride), Vivianne Miedema (Arsenal), Alex Morgan (Tottenham/Orlando Pride/San Diego Wave), Gabrielle Onguene (CSKA Moscow), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign)
