Over 20,000 Professional Footballers Vote to Select 26 Finalists for the Sport’s Only Global Award Decided Exclusively by Peers
In the most authentic recognition in world football, the 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 has moved a major step closer with the announcement of the 26 finalists selected by the players themselves. More than 20,000 professional footballers cast votes to choose who they believe performed best between July 2024 and August 2025, creating the only global award decided exclusively by the athletes who play the game.
The selection process represents the ultimate peer review in sports. Through their player unions, professionals received private voting links to select three standout players in each position – goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards – with the freedom to choose any of their peers, even those not on the suggested list.
The result is a star-studded group of finalists for the FIFPRO Men’s World 11, representing who players themselves consider the elite of their profession:
Goalkeepers:
Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil)
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain / Manchester City, Italy)
Defenders:
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool / Real Madrid, England)
Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)
Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil)
Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
William Saliba (Arsenal, France)
Midfielders:
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City / Napoli, Belgium)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid / AC Milan, Croatia)
Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)
Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Forwards:
Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal)
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
The final FIFPRO Men’s World 11 will be determined by selecting the top-voted goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards, with the eleventh spot going to the next highest-ranked outfield player. This ensures the final team truly reflects the players’ collective choice.
The football world now awaits the November 3rd reveal, when the ultimate team of the year will be announced on FIFPRO’s digital platforms, showing which eleven players have earned the highest honor in the game – the respect and admiration of their fellow professionals.
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