Fifipro, the International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations, has in recent years organized a vote among players from around the world in order to constitute the eleven of the year, revealed as part of the Fifa The Best Football Awards. This year, Fifpro has distanced itself from Fifa and thus unveils its World 11 on Monday December 9 (while Fifa’s The Best Eleven will be known in mid-January). Will Kylian Mbappé, who was not Ballon d’Or and who will not be The Best, appear in the two 2024 teams? Not sure at all.
Mbappé is part of the shortlist of 24 players revealed by Fifpro on Monday, one week before the official verdict. In reality, the votes are already closed and Fifpro thus gives the three goalkeepers, the seven defenders, the eight midfielders and the eight attackers who received the most votes during the ballot. If Hakan Çalhanoglu, Dani Olmo, Florian Wirtz, Ademola Lookman or Lautaro Martinez are not present, it is because they were less popular than the 24 players on the short list.
Mbappé behind Haaland or Kane?
Among the attackers, Kylian Mbappé has little chance of being one of the three or four selected for the World 11. Lamine Yamal and Vinicius should be there, then Erling Haaland and Harry Kane could appear in the eleven of the year. Mbappé, although he scored 52 goals in all competitions (like Kane), neither played the final of the Champions League with PSG nor that of Euro 2024 with the France team. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo should also go by the wayside.
Note that the Fifpro World 11 will be made up of a goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, three attackers and another outfield player who received the most votes. Players from all over the world voted and we should find Ederson or Emiliano Martinez in goal, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, Virgil van Dijk or Ruben Dias in defense, Jude Bellingham, Rodri, Federico Valverde or Toni Kroos in the middle and therefore three star attackers.
Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain), Ruben 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 Modric (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), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)