Super Eagles stars William Troost-Ekong and Ademola Lookman, who were initially among the nominees for the 2024 FIFPRO Men’s World XI, have not made the final shortlist for the prestigious award.
The FIFPRO World XI is one of football’s most revered accolades, celebrating the best players in their respective positions over the past year. Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which is determined by journalists, the FIFPRO XI is decided exclusively by professional footballers, with over 28,000 players from 70 countries casting their votes.
Selection Process
Players vote for their top three goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards from a pool of 250 candidates. The final lineup consists of:
- One goalkeeper
- Three defenders
- Three midfielders
- Three forwards
- An additional outfield player with the next highest vote tally
The final 2024 World XI will be unveiled on Monday, December 9.
Big Names Make the Cut
As expected, many of football’s biggest names feature in the shortlist. Notably, Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr) secured nominations despite their omission from this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist. Other stars, including Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham, also made the cut.
Full FIFPRO Men’s World XI Shortlist 2024
Goalkeepers
- Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)