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Lionel Messi, a finalist in the 2026 World Cup, has been named in the FIFPRO World XI, while Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane has been surprisingly left out of the team.
More than 18,000 professional footballers vote each year to select the FIFPRO World XI. This year was no exception, with the final 11 chosen from an initial list of 26 nominees.
Kane was among the 26 finalists but failed to make the final selection. The Bayern Munich striker had won the Ballon d’Or after narrowly beating Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in one of the closest contests in the award’s history.
Mbappe, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Inter Miami’s Messi secured places in the attacking lineup. Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Olise were among those left out.
Kane received 27.6 per cent of the votes among forwards, narrowly trailing Haaland, who secured 28.4 per cent.
It is the first time since the award was introduced in 2005 that a Ballon d’Or winner has failed to make the FIFPRO World XI.
The FIFPRO World XI:
- Goalkeeper: David Raya
- Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Pau Cubarsi and Nuno Mendes
- Midfielders: Vitinha, Rodri and Jude Bellingham
- Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe
