It’s the end of an era. FIFPro unveiled its typical team of the year on Monday and, for once, Lionel Messi is not part of it. Among the attackers, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. were preferred to the Argentinian international. A fairly logical choice given that the eight-time Ballon d’Or has been playing since the summer of 2023 at Inter Miami, in Major League Soccer, a much less competitive championship.
If he continues to shine across the Atlantic, to the point of having won the MLS regular season with a record number of points and being elected MVP, “la Pulga” is logically no longer, at 37 years old, at the level of the leaders of European football. His absence in this World 11, which is therefore not a surprise, nevertheless remains an event. It has actually been seventeen years since the 2022 world champion was selected.
Lionel Messi, a first since 2006
These last three seasons, to avoid having to make a choice, FIFPro had composed eleven in a wacky 3-3-4 system. But for 2024, the International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations has returned to a more classic 3-4-3 system. Exit, therefore, a Lionel Messi who made his first appearance in the World 11 in 2007, with players like Steven Gerrard or Didier Drogba at his side.
Lionel Messi in 2006, in the colors of FC Barcelona.
The previous year, the last without him, the typical team was composed of Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), John Terry (England), Lilian Thuram (France), Kaká (Brazil), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Zinedine Zidane (France), Ronaldinho (Brazil), Thierry Henry (France) and Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon). The native of Rosario was just beginning to blossom in the Barça jersey.
FIFPro Team of the Year 2024
Goalkeeper: Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil) – Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid, Germany) – Midfielders: Jude Bellingham ( Real Madrid, England), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Rodri (Manchester City, Spain) – Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Kylian Mbappé (PSG / Real Madrid, France), Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid, Brazil).
