Lionel Messi has been named in the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11, extending his record as the most-selected player in the award’s history, while Cristiano Ronaldo was left out of the final team. The Argentine forward returns to the prestigious selection for the first time since 2023, bringing his total number of appearances in the award to 18. Messi first made the selection in 2007 and has continued to earn recognition from fellow professional footballers across successive generations.
Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal also made history by becoming the first player to earn two FIFPRO World 11 selections before turning 20. The Spain international, who was included in last year’s team, joins fellow Spanish players David Raya, Pau Cubarsi, and Rodri in the 2026 selection. This inclusion raises Spain’s record tally of Men’s World 11 appearances to 53.
The team was unveiled following votes from 19,806 professional male footballers across 73 countries. FIFPRO notes that this makes the award one of the few major football honors decided exclusively by players. Since 2005, the organization has invited professional footballers worldwide to vote for the players they believe have delivered the most impressive performances during the assessment period.
For the 2026 edition, players were assessed based on their performances between August 4, 2025, and July 19, 2026. To qualify for consideration, footballers were required to feature in at least 30 official matches during this period. Professional footballers cast their votes through a secure digital platform provided by FIFPRO and its affiliated player unions.
The voting process required each voter to select their three best performers in four categories: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward. The goalkeeper and the three players with the most votes in each of the defensive, midfield, and attacking categories secured their places in the team. The final position was awarded to the remaining outfield player with the highest number of votes.
The full 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 consists of the following players:
- Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal, Spain)
- Defenders: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
- Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England), Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona, Spain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
- Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
