The world’s footballing elite! FIFPRO names the planet’s 11 best players

FIFPRO, the international federation of professional footballers’ associations, has officially unveiled the men’s World 11 for 2026.

Details: Nearly 20,000 professional players from 73 countries took part in the wide-ranging vote, selecting a star-studded team in a 3-3-4 formation. Lionel Messi was the standout winner of his peers’ recognition, setting a new all-time record by earning his place in the team of the year for the 18th time in his career. Meanwhile, newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane was surprisingly left out of the 11-man lineup.

The official FIFPRO World 11 for 2026 is as follows:

Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal / Spain)

Defenders: Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona / Spain), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain / Morocco), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain / Portugal)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid / England), Rodri (Barcelona / Spain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain / Portugal)

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City / Norway), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid / France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami / Argentina), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

It is worth noting that the FIFPRO World 11 award is a unique mark of recognition in football: the final lineup is determined exclusively by a secret ballot of active players, with no involvement from journalists or experts.

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