Super Eagles stars William Troost-Ekong and Ademola Lookman have been left out of the final shortlist for the prestigious 2024 FIFPRO Men’s World XI. The pair had initially been nominated among the world’s top footballers, but their exclusion from the ultimate selection has sparked conversations in the Nigerian football community.
The FIFPRO Men’s World XI, one of football’s most respected accolades, recognizes the standout performers of the year through votes cast by professional players. Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which relies on a panel of journalists, FIFPRO engages over 28,000 footballers worldwide to choose the best starting XI.
Voting and Selection Process
Players vote for their top three goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards from an initial list of 250 candidates. The final team consists of the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the most votes. An additional outfield player with the next highest vote completes the lineup.
Despite missing out, Lookman and Troost-Ekong’s inclusion in the initial nominations highlights their growing influence on the global stage.
Star-Studded Final Shortlist
The final shortlist features many of the sport’s biggest names, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom missed out on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist but retained their places among the FIFPRO forward nominees.
Manchester City’s Rodri and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior also feature amid lingering tension following Rodri’s Ballon d’Or victory over the Brazilian.
The final team will be unveiled on December 9, celebrating the players voted as the best in the world by their peers.
FIFPRO Men’s World 11 Shortlist 2024
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 Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal)
- Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
The anticipation for the final team announcement continues to grow as fans and players alike wait to see which stars will be honored in the 2024 FIFPRO Men’s World XI.