Credit : Premier League's X
HOOFDDORP, November 2, 2026 – Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal are among the 26 finalists for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11, the global footballers’ union has announced.
The shortlist was decided by 19,806 professional men’s footballers from 73 countries, making the World 11 the only global football award voted for exclusively by players. The final team will be revealed on Monday, November 9, on FIFPRO’s digital platforms.
The Premier League highlighted its own contingent on its official X account, writing: “Nine Premier League stars have been nominated for the FIFPRO Men’s World 11.” Its graphic picked out Emiliano Martinez, David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Virgil van Dijk, Bruno Fernandes, Enzo Fernandez, Declan Rice and Erling Haaland.
Arsenal have the most players of any Premier League club, with Raya, Gabriel, Saliba and Rice all making the cut.
The finalists are the players who received the most votes from their peers for their performances between August 4, 2025, and July 19, 2026. To be eligible, players had to appear in at least 30 official matches during that period.
The goalkeepers on the list are Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Chelsea) and David Raya (Arsenal).
The eight defenders are Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Virgil van Dijk, Gabriel, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.
The seven midfielders are Jude Bellingham, Bruno Fernandes, Enzo Fernandez, Pedri, Declan Rice, Rodri and Vitinha.
The eight forwards are Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Michael Olise, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal.
Under FIFPRO’s rules, the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the most votes in their positions will be named in the World 11. The final place goes to the remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes.
Spain have the most finalists of any country with six: Raya, Cubarsi, Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri and Yamal. Paris Saint-Germain, who won the Champions League last season, are represented by Hakimi, Mendes, Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia.
Some notable names missed out, including Ousmane Dembele, who finished seventh in the latest Ballon d’Or voting, and his PSG team-mates Joao Neves, Willian Pacho and Marquinhos.
Compared with the 2025 World 11, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Cole Palmer and Dembele are the only members of last year’s team not in contention, meaning the other eight have a chance to keep their places.
Messi and Ronaldo, now playing for Inter Miami and Al-Nassr respectively, both scored multiple goals at the 2026 World Cup.
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