The FIFPRO World 11 for 2024 was named at the start of December, and but for Liverpool colossus Virgil van Dijk, it was a combined Manchester City and Real Madrid XI. Given Real won the Champions League during the period for which voting was based, and Man City are generally considered to be the best team in the world (or certainly were until their recent wobble!) that is no huge surprise.
The FIFPRO World 11 can effectively be seen as a global “Players’ Player” award, but selecting a whole team, rather than just a single standout star. It is voted for by professional footballers around the world, with players from up to 70 different football associations casting their ballots. It is a relatively new award, dating back to 2005. Note that in this article, we are referring to the men’s team, rather than the newer women’s FIFPRO 11, which was first named in 2016.
Who Was Chosen for FIFPRO World 11?
It has its critics and is nowhere near as prestigious as the individual accolade of the Ballon d’Or. Even so, being named in the XI, or even the provisional 26-player squad, which is announced a week earlier, is a huge honour for a player. The 2024 team features a front three of Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr and Erling Haaland, which gives you an idea of the level it takes to make the grade.
Those three were the highest-ranked attacking players in the top six of this year’s Ballon d’Or, and indeed all of the top six of that prize made the FIFPRO 11. The 2024 group featured several new faces, appearing in the team for the first time in their careers. Among the newbies were goalie Ederson, his teammate and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, plus Madrid’s defensive duo of Dani Carvajal (fourth in the Ballon d’Or) and former Chelsea player Antonio Rudiger.
Others were not new to being honoured in this way, with both Kevin De Bruyne and Mbappé appearing for the fifth time. That puts that pair of deadly forwards in the top 10 in terms of the number of times they have made the FIFPRO World 11. But, which players make the top five?
1) Lionel Messi, Included in 17 FIFPRO World 11 Teams
You would not need to have attended Football Nerd University to have a good chance of being able to identify the top two footballers that have been included the most in FIFPRO World 11. At number one is Lionel Messi, whom many consider to be the greatest footballer of all time and certainly of the modern era. Amazingly, 2024 was the first time the Argentine magician did not make the team since way back in 2006.
The former Barcelona star was honoured for the first time back in 2007 and has been in every 11 since. That represents incredible and sustained brilliance and his 17 appearances in this elite dream team is more than any other player has managed.
To give you some idea of Messi’s longevity at this level, back when he was first included, his attacking partners were Didier Drogba and Ronaldinho. Carles Puyol was in defence, with Gianluigi Buffon in goal and whilst they have all hung up their boots, Messi continues to claim silverware.
The Rosario native helped his current side, Inter Miami, claim the Supporters’ Shield in the 2024 MLS season. Moreover, whilst he missed out on the XI in 2024, he did make the squad, being named among the initial 26 on the 2nd of December.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo, Included in 15 FIFPRO World 11 Teams
If Messi is the top dog, then it can only be Cristiano Ronaldo in second, with the Portuguese powerhouse included in the select team on 15 occasions. Like his great rival, the man from Madeira was first named in the FIFPRO side in 2007 and for many years – 15 in fact – was a dream-team regular. However, whilst Messi made every XI up to and including the 2023 edition, CR7’s last nomination came in 2021.
Clearly, for so many years, 15, the two “played” alongside each other in this FIFPRO 11, a side that so many fans would have loved to see and a combination that would surely have proved unstoppable when both were at the peak of their powers. Sadly those days are well behind us now, though Ronaldo, like Messi, continues to play.
The former Man United and Real Madrid star moved to Saudi Arabian football at the end of 2022, making his first appearance for Al-Nassr in January 2023. It is a much lower standard of football than he is used to, and even not as competitive as MLS, where Messi plays. However, it should be remembered that Ronaldo is two years older than his rival.
Ronaldo continues to bang in the goals and is still, just about, playing for Portugal. He boasts over 200 caps and more than 130 goals for his nation, and is approaching 100 goals for his new club. Deserved or not, he too, like Messi, made the 26-man squad for FIFPRO 2024.
3) Sergio Ramos, Included in 11 FIFPRO World 11 Teams
Behind the big two, we think you would probably require a first-class degree from Football Nerd University to be able to name Sergio Ramos at number three on this list. The Real Madrid centre back was first included in 2008, and then made the cut for 10 years in a row from 2011 onwards. His last inclusion came in 2020.
4) Andres Iniesta, Included in 9 FIFPRO World 11 Teams
As we will see, the top five is entirely made up of players who are most closely associated with Barcelona or Real Madrid. Metronomic midfield maestro Andres Iniesta was a key part of the great Barca side that had Messi as its primary star, but Iniesta was not all that far behind the Argentine in terms of influence.
Iniesta, nominated three more times than teammate Xavi, was first picked in 2009. He made the team for the next nine years in a row, his last selection coming in 2017.
5) Dani Alves, Included in 8 FIFPRO World 11 Teams
Brazilian fullback Dani Alves had two spells at Barca, as well as playing for Juventus and PSG. Capped 126 times by his nation, his eight picks in the World 11 came in between 2009 and 2018.