This esteemed award, determined solely by professional players, saw participation from over 21,000 male footballers across 70 nations, who cast their votes for the standout athletes from 21 August 2023 to 14 July 2024.
Despite Lookman’s impressive season in Serie A raising expectations for his selection, no Nigerian players made the final list this year. The shortlist features athletes from dominant footballing nations such as Brazil, Argentina, and England, underscoring the intense competition for these prestigious positions.
The finalists represent elite talent across all roles, with goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Ederson (Brazil), and Manuel Neuer (Germany) included. Defenders like Virgil van Dijk, Ruben Dias, and Kyle Walker highlight the strength of Premier League players. In the midfield category, Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, and Luka Modric are prominent, alongside emerging talents such as Jamal Musiala and Federico Valverde.
The forward lineup boasts global legends like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé, as well as rising stars like Lamine Yamal and Cole Palmer. FIFPRO clarified that the World XI is the only global football award determined exclusively by professional players, with eligibility requiring participation in at least 30 official matches during the assessment period.
“The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the highest votes will form the World XI. The final position will go to the outfield player with the next highest vote count,” FIFPRO stated. The announcement of the World XI is scheduled for Monday, 9 December 2024, on FIFPRO's digital platforms.
Full List:
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).