Messi misses out as Bellingham, Real dominate FIFPRO honours

Six players from Champions League winners Real Madrid and four from Manchester City feature in this year’s FIFPRO World 11 announced on Monday by the global players’ association, with Lionel Messi absent for the first time in almost 20 years.

The 37-year-old Messi, who plays for MLS side Inter Miami, and the 39-year-old Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, were the only players not with European clubs voted onto a 26-man shortlist by FIFPRO last week.

The 2024 FIFPRO World 11 is the first edition since 2006 to exclude Messi. The Argentinian, who holds the all-time record with 17 selections, was replaced in the front row by Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

Jude Bellingham topped the men’s overall voting, with the Real Madrid and England midfielder receiving 11,176 selections from his peers.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was the sole player outside of Real and City included in the men’s team of the year.

English players led the 2024 Women’s World 11 with five selected: Lucy Bronze, Mary Earps, Alex Greenwood, Lauren James, and Keira Walsh.

Bronze’s seventh selection tied her with Wendie Renard for the women’s appearance record. Zambian Barbra Banda became the first African player in the Women’s World 11.

Two-time women’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati is in midfield after helping Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League.

Brazilian veteran Marta, 38, returned for the first time since 2021, while 24-year-old Zambia striker Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli and Orlando Pride) became the first African woman to make the team of the year.

Agencies