The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has announced its World XI for both men’s and women’s football, marking a significant moment in football history. Among the standout names, Spanish forward Lamine Yamal, from Barcelona, has made the men’s World XI as the youngest ever player selected. In women’s football, English defender Lucy Bronze makes history by being included for the eighth time in FIFPro’s World XI.
The World XI is decided through voting by professional footballers globally. For over 20 years, FIFPro has selected the best 11 players of the year, and this year, Gianluigi Donnarumma, the former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and current Manchester City goalkeeper, received the highest number of votes with a total of 13,609. Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old prodigy, came in second with 10,167 votes. Before this, Kylian Mbappé had been the youngest player selected, aged 19 in 2018, and he is once again named in the World XI for the sixth time.
Among the five PSG players selected for the men’s World XI this year, several are champions of the UEFA Champions League. These include Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, right-back Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, and Donnarumma. From Real Madrid, alongside Mbappé, Jude Bellingham is also featured. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and Barcelona’s Pedri are also part of the squad.
In the women’s World XI, England dominate with six players selected, including Bronze, who has now been chosen eight times. Other notable players in the women’s World XI include Leah Williamson, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, and Millie Bright. The selection was made following a vote involving 26,000 footballers from 68 countries.
Men’s World XI:
| Position | Player | Club/Team |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Gianluigi Donnarumma | PSG/Manchester City & Italy |
| Defender | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool & Netherlands |
| Defender | Achraf Hakimi | PSG & Morocco |
| Defender | Nuno Mendes | PSG & Portugal |
| Midfielder | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid & England |
| Midfielder | Cole Palmer | Chelsea & England |
| Midfielder | Pedri | Barcelona & Spain |
| Midfielder | Vitinha | PSG & Portugal |
| Forward | Ousmane Dembélé | PSG & France |
| Forward | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid & France |
| Forward | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona & Spain |
Women’s World XI:
| Position | Player | Club/Team |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Hannah Hampton | Chelsea & England |
| Defender | Ona Batlle | Barcelona & Spain |
| Defender | Millie Bright | Chelsea & England |
| Defender | Lucy Bronze | Chelsea & England |
| Defender | Leah Williamson | Arsenal & England |
| Midfielder | Aitana Bonmatí | Barcelona & Spain |
| Midfielder | Ghizlane Chibak | Badalona/Al Hilal & Morocco |
| Forward | Alexia Putella | Barcelona & Spain |
| Forward | Barbara Banda | Orlando Pride & Zambia |
| Midfielder | Chloe Kelly | Man City/Arsenal & England |
| Forward | Alessia Russo | Arsenal & England |
The selections were made after a vote involving 26,000 players from 68 countries. It’s a remarkable testament to the talent and global reach of modern football, with representatives from all major leagues across the world.