FIFPRO World 11 Shortlist: Four Barcelona Players, Messi and Ronaldo Again, and the Whole Ballon d'Or Podium

FIFPRO, the world players' union, has named the 26 finalists for its 2026 Men's World 11. It is the only global award decided entirely by professional footballers: 19,806 men's players from 73 countries voted for the team of the year.

Barcelona have four players on the list. Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Pau Cubarsí are joined by Rodri, who is listed under Manchester City and Barcelona because the voting period covers both clubs.

The 26 finalists

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa and Chelsea, Argentina), David Raya (Arsenal, Spain).

Defenders: Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona, Spain), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea and Real Madrid, Spain), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands), Gabriel (Arsenal, Brazil), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal), William Saliba (Arsenal, France), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich, France).

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, Portugal), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea and Manchester City, Argentina), Pedri (Barcelona, Spain), Declan Rice (Arsenal, England), Rodri (Manchester City and Barcelona, Spain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal).

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, Georgia), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain).

How it works

The vote covers performances from 4 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, which takes in last season and the World Cup. A player needed at least 30 official matches in that period to be eligible.

The team is the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the most votes, plus the outfield player with the next highest total, so one position will have four. The World 11 will be revealed on Monday 9 November.

Who stands out

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have four finalists each. Real Madrid also have four if Cucurella is counted, alongside Courtois, Bellingham and Mbappé. Spain is the best represented country, with six players, ahead of France and Portugal on four each.

The Ballon d'Or podium is all here. Harry Kane, who won it in London last week, is on the forward list with Mbappé, who was second, and Yamal, who was third.

So are the two players who have owned this award. According to FIFPRO, Messi has been picked 17 times, more than anyone, and Ronaldo 15 times. Messi is 39 and Ronaldo 41, and both are still being voted for by their peers.

Pedri and Yamal were both in last year's World 11, the first time either made the team.

The women's list

FIFPRO also named 26 finalists for the Women's World 11, and Barcelona dominate it with ten players, among them Alexia Putellas, who won the women's Ballon d'Or last week, Aitana Bonmatí, Ewa Pajor and Claudia Pina. Spain has ten players on that list and England seven.