Ademola Lookman and other Nigerian footballers were conspicuously absent as FIFPRO revealed the final 26-man shortlist for the 2024 Men’s World XI on Monday.
The list, which honours the world’s best players, is determined through votes cast by professional footballers.
Over 21,000 players from 70 countries participated in the voting process, assessing performances between August 21, 2023, and July 14, 2024.
Despite Lookman’s impressive campaign in Serie A, no Nigerian player secured a spot in 2024.
The shortlist features athletes from top footballing nations like Brazil, Argentina, and England, underscoring the intense competition for selection.
Notable among the goalkeepers are Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Ederson (Brazil), and Manuel Neuer (Germany). Defenders such as Virgil van Dijk, Ruben Dias, and Kyle Walker highlight the continued dominance of Premier League players in this category.
In midfield, standout names include Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, and Luka Modric. Rising stars like Jamal Musiala and Federico Valverde also earned recognition for their stellar performances.
The forward line boasts football icons Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé, alongside emerging talents such as Lamine Yamal and Cole Palmer.
FIFPRO emphasized that this award is unique as it is entirely player-driven. To be eligible, players must have featured in at least 30 official matches during the evaluation window.
“The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards who have received the most votes will be selected for the World XI. The final spot in the World XI will be assigned to the remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes,” FIFPRO clarified.
The highly anticipated World XI will be unveiled on December 9, 2024, through 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
