Messi and Ronaldo continue to command global respect and admiration, even as they have moved away from European football. The two football legends, aged 37 and 39 respectively, stood out as the only players from non-European clubs included in the 26-man shortlist for the prestigious FIFPRO World XI. Footballers worldwide vote on this annual team of the year, making it a significant recognition of their enduring talent.
While Messi now plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and Ronaldo competes at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, their peers still hold both in high regard. The remaining 24 nominees on the list represent clubs in Europe, predominantly from England, Germany, Spain, or France. Notably, Kylian Mbappé is the sole representative from French football, having played for Paris Saint-Germain last season.
Interestingly, no players from Italian clubs, or South American or African teams, made the list.
FIFPRO World XI 2024 Shortlist Breakdown
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil) |
| Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, Argentina) | |
| Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany) | |
| Defenders | Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain) |
| Rúben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal) | |
| Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands) | |
| Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, Netherlands) | |
| Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid, Germany) | |
| William Saliba (Arsenal, France) | |
| Kyle Walker (Manchester City, England) | |
| Midfielders | Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England) |
| Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium) | |
| Phil Foden (Manchester City, England) | |
| Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany) | |
| Luka Modrić (Real Madrid, Croatia) | |
| Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany) | |
| Rodri (Manchester City, Spain) | |
| Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay) | |
| Forwards | Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway) |
| Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England) | |
| Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid, France) | |
| Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina) | |
| Cole Palmer (Manchester City/Chelsea, England) | |
| Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal) | |
| Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, Brazil) | |
| Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain) |
The shortlist, selected by 28,000 players from 70 countries, includes notable names like Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Manchester City’s Rodri, and Barcelona’s young talent Lamine Yamal.
Messi and Ronaldo now await the final selection process, with the announcement scheduled for December 9. The World XI will feature the goalkeeper with the highest votes, along with the top three defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The final spot will be awarded to the outfield player with the next highest vote tally.
The 2023 World XI will recognize the most outstanding footballers, celebrating their extraordinary performances in the previous year. And Messi and Ronaldo’s inclusion underlines their status as two of game’s greatest-players, even in later stages of their careers.
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