The annual shortlist for the FIFPRO Men's World 11 has been released, with players from all over the world choosing their colleagues as nominees for the XI.
This year, the list includes icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi after they rolled back the years at the FIFA World Cup in the summer, and their ability to maintain elite standards over decades remains one of the most remarkable feats in professional sports.
The iconic duo, representing Al-Nassr and Inter Miami respectively, continue to defy expectations, earning recognition alongside modern powerhouses like Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal.
The 26-man shortlist for the only global football award decided exclusively by professional players was released, and all of the usual suspects were included.
Peer Recognition: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi continue to hold sway among their peers
While many individual accolades are decided by journalists, coaches, or fan votes, the FIFPRO Men's World 11 holds a distinct place in football history because it is voted on exclusively by the athletes who share the pitch.
This year, 19,806 players from 73 countries around the world participated in selecting the nominees for the ultimate team of the year.
Seeing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi named among the 26 finalists speaks volumes about the unyielding respect they command from their peers.
Despite plying their trades outside Europe's top five leagues, their sustained goalscoring output, leadership, and competitive drive ensure they remain peerless icons of the game.
At the World Cup in the summer, Messi scored eight goals in as many appearances as Argentina finished as runners-up, and he set several records during the tournament.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, scored three goals in five appearances, as he became Portugal's record scorer in the competition and the oldest player to score multiple times in a World Cup game.
The 2026 shortlist connects legends with rising superstars
The unveiling of the 26-man shortlist also highlights an extraordinary transitional era in world football, the kind of which has rarely been seen in the history of the sport.
Alongside the evergreen presence of Ronaldo and Messi, the shortlist features the game's brightest modern stars, including Real Madrid's Mbappe, Bayern Munich's prolific marksman and 2026 Ballon d'Or winner Kane, and Barcelona teenage sensation Yamal.
The list features players in their teens, twenties, thirties, and forties, a unique crossover which bridges generations, proving that while new talents continuously emerge to claim the spotlight, the older generation continue to hold sway.
Without a shred of doubt, the enduring legacy of football's two greatest modern titans remains firmly etched at the summit of the sport.
The 2026 shortlist in full
- Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid)
- Emiliano Martinez (Argentina/Chelsea)
- David Raya (Spain/Arsenal)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG)
- Pau Cubarsi (Spain/Barcelona)
- Marc Cucurella (Spain/Real Madrid)
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands/Liverpool)
- Dayot Upamecano (France/Bayern Munich)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal/PSG)
- Gabriel Magalhaes (Brazil/Arsenal)
- William Saliba (France/Arsenal)
- Bruno Fernandes (Portugal/Manchester United)
- Enzo Fernandez (Argentina/Manchester City)
- Jude Bellingham (England/Real Madrid)
- Vitinha (Portugal/PSG)
- Pedri (Spain/Barcelona)
- Declan Rice (England/Arsenal)
- Rodri (Spain/Barcelona)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia/PSG)
- Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City)
- Kylian Mbappe (France/Real Madrid)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina/Inter Miami)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Al-Nassr)
- Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain/Barcelona)
- Michael Olise (France/Bayern Munich)
