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Nearly twenty years after their initial recognition by fellow professionals, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have once again earned nominations for the FIFPRO World XI, joining next-generation stars Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé among the candidates.
This distinguished accolade is determined by licensed professionals, with over 26,000 FIFPRO members — essentially a players' trade union — casting votes for the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward of the 2025–26 season. Unlike the Ballon d'Or, which relies on journalists' opinions, FIFPRO's World XI prides itself on being "the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers."
Supporters will need to wait until Monday, Nov. 9 for the final XI to be announced, but the top 26 male and female players by vote count have already been revealed to form the two shortlists under consideration.
FIFPRO Men's World XI 2026 Nominees
The Allianz Arena crown their king. pic.twitter.com/T2mTQFMrFL
A total of 19,806 players from 73 nations submitted their votes for the three best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The resulting list closely resembles the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist, which recently concluded with Harry Kane taking the top prize. Nevertheless, there are some notable differences.
The most striking is Ronaldo's inclusion. The veteran striker hasn't featured in Ballon d'Or contention since 2022 and is currently embroiled in a dispute over his goal record in the Saudi Pro League, yet still managed to earn a place in this player-voted ranking. In contrast, Fabián Ruiz — who claimed both the Champions League and World Cup titles and finished 10th in the Ballon d'Or — failed to receive a nomination here.
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
FIFPRO Women's World XI 2026 Nominees
Alexia Putellas was born to reign. pic.twitter.com/NlzNmcTJei
There are greater divergences between the women's Ballon d'Or shortlist and FIFPRO's nominees. Barcelona largely dominated both lists after claiming every available title while suffering just a single defeat, but there was also space for some iconic veterans in the twilight of their careers. Lucy Bronze, for example, earned her nomination despite featuring in barely half of Chelsea's league matches.