Ademola Lookman and other Nigerian stars were absent as FIFPRO unveiled the 2024 Men’s World XI shortlist on Monday. The list features 26 of the world’s top-performing players.
The prestigious award, voted on by professional footballers, involved over 21,000 players from 70 countries selecting the standout performers from 21 August 2023 to 14 July 2024.
Despite Lookman’s impressive Serie A season, no Nigerian players were included this year. The list is dominated by players from countries like Brazil, Argentina, and England, reflecting the intense competition for the limited spots.
The finalists include world-class talent across all positions:
- Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Ederson, and Manuel Neuer.
- Defenders: Virgil van Dijk, Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker, among others.
- Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modric, and rising stars like Jamal Musiala.
- Forwards: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, along with emerging talents like Lamine Yamal.
FIFPRO emphasised that this award is the only global honour decided exclusively by players. To qualify, nominees must have played at least 30 official matches during the evaluation period.
The World XI will feature the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the highest votes, plus an additional outfield player with the next highest votes. The winners will be announced on 9 December 2024 via FIFPRO’s digital platforms.
Full List of Nominees:
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)
FIFPRO will reveal the final XI soon, highlighting the players who truly stood out on the global stage.
