December 3 – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo may be in the twilight of their careers and no longer with top European teams but it seems their peers still have huge respect for them both.
The 37-year-old Messi and Ronaldo, 39 – neither of whom made the Ballon d’Or list – were both on a 26-man shortlist for the world team of the year organised by global players’ union Fifpro, and are the only players not with European clubs to be nominated.
The other 24 nominees all played in the past year with clubs in England, Germany, Spain and France, though Kylian Mbappé was the only French connection after spending last season at Paris Saint-Germain.
Strangely, no player from a single Italian club was selected nor from any club in South America or Africa.
Eight players from Real Madrid, including Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham were on the shortlist, plus seven from Manchester City including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.
Spain’s teenage star Lamine Yamal is the solitary member of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona squad to be named.
The Netherlands-based union said 28,000 players from 70 countries sent in their votes.
Fifpro said the final team will include the highest-polling goalkeeper, plus each of the top three vote winners among defenders, midfielders and forwards. The final place goes to the outfield player with the next highest votes total.
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 Rudiger (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).
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1733336178labto1733336178ofdlr1733336178owedi1733336178sni@w1733336178ahsra1733336178w.wer1733336178dna1733336178