Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Yamal Nominated For 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World XI

FIFPRO has officially announced the 26-man shortlist for the 2026 Men’s World11, the only global award voted exclusively by professional footballers.

Rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the 26-man shortlist with the Argentine holding the all-time record of 17 World11 appearances.

Other top stars who got nominated by FIFPRO are Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Michael Olise, Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Rodri.

The shortlist also include Enzo Fernandez, Bruno Fernandes, Achraf Hakimi, Virgil van Dijk, Marc Cucurella, William Saliba, David Raya among others.

According to FIFPRO, 19,806 professional men’s footballers worldwide voted for this year’s edition, based on performances between August 4, 2025 and July 19, 2026. Players had to play at least 30 official games to be eligible.

Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo Beats Messi, Platini, Ronaldo De Lima To Win Maiden Ballon d’Or Of All Time Award

The final World11 will be announced on November 9 and will consist of one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, three forwards, plus one extra outfield player with the most votes.

Here is the full 2026 shortlist:

GOALKEEPERS

Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid
Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa
David Raya – Arsenal

DEFENDERS

Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona
Marc Cucurella – Chelsea
Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool
Gabriel Magalhães – Arsenal
Achraf Hakimi – PSG
Nuno Mendes – PSG
William Saliba – Arsenal
Dayot Upamecano – Bayern Munich

MIDFIELDERS

Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea
Pedri – Barcelona
Declan Rice – Arsenal
Rodri – Manchester City
Vitinha – PSG

FORWARDS

Erling Haaland – Manchester City
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – PSG
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami
Michael Olise – Bayern Munich
Cristiano Ronaldo – Al Nassr
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona

James Agberebi is a sports content creator and analyst with a passion for football and other sports. He writes sports news, match reports, and analysis to keep fans informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams. His experience covering Nigerian football gives him a good understanding of the game and the teams he writes about. Through his work with Complete Sports, James shares sports updates, match coverage, and analysis with readers in Nigeria and around the world.