FIFPRO Reveals 26-Man Shortlist for 2026 Men’s World 11

The race for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 has entered its final stage after the 26-man shortlist was officially revealed, bringing together many of the biggest names in world football.

A total of 19,806 professional male footballers from 73 countries took part in the voting process, giving the shortlist a unique level of peer recognition. Unlike awards decided by journalists, coaches or specialist panels, the FIFPRO World 11 is selected by professional players themselves. The final team will be announced on November 9.

The 26 finalists were chosen based on performances between August 4, 2025 and July 19, 2026. To be eligible, players had to make at least 30 official appearances at domestic top-flight or senior international level during the assessment period. The final World 11 will contain one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and one additional outfield player with the next-highest vote total.

Goalkeepers

Three goalkeepers remain in contention: Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martínez and David Raya.

Courtois brings experience and an established record at the very top of the game. The Real Madrid goalkeeper has already been selected for the FIFPRO Men’s World 11 twice, making him one of only nine goalkeepers to have appeared in the team since the award began in 2005. His inclusion gives him another opportunity to add to that record.

Martínez is also among the finalists after a period in which his reputation as a major-game goalkeeper continued to grow. Raya completes the goalkeeping group, representing Arsenal and Spain. With only one goalkeeper able to make the final XI, the competition between the three is particularly tight.

Defenders

The defensive shortlist contains eight players: Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Virgil van Dijk, Gabriel Magalhães, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.

Van Dijk is the most experienced name in the group and has been a regular presence among elite defenders for years. The Liverpool captain has previously been selected in the World 11 and remains a strong candidate because of his leadership, defensive reading and ability to influence games from the back.

Hakimi and Mendes give Paris Saint-Germain two representatives in the defensive category, while Arsenal have three defenders on the overall shortlist through Gabriel, Saliba and Raya among the goalkeepers. Barcelona’s Cubarsí is the youngest defensive name on the list, highlighting the speed at which he has established himself at the highest level.

Cucurella and Upamecano complete the group, ensuring that the defensive battle will feature a mixture of established stars and players who have strengthened their reputations during the voting period.

Midfielders

The midfield section features seven candidates: Jude Bellingham, Bruno Fernandes, Enzo Fernández, Pedri, Declan Rice, Rodri and Vitinha.

Bellingham returns to the shortlist after being selected in the 2025 World 11. The Real Madrid midfielder has quickly become a familiar name in major individual awards, combining his ability to carry the ball with his work in the final third.

Bruno Fernandes brings another dimension to the competition. The Manchester United captain has consistently been among the club’s most influential attacking players, while Portugal’s presence is strengthened further by Vitinha.

Pedri is another previous World 11 selection, and his technical quality makes him one of the leading midfield candidates. Rice has also become an important figure for Arsenal and England, offering defensive protection, ball progression and an ability to contribute around the penalty area.

Rodri, meanwhile, is another player with previous World 11 recognition. His place on the shortlist underlines the level of competition in a midfield category that contains several players capable of controlling matches in different ways.

Enzo Fernández completes the seven-man midfield group, giving the category a broad mix of creative, defensive and box-to-box profiles.

Forwards

The forward category contains eight of the biggest attacking names in the sport: Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Michael Olise, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal.

Messi and Ronaldo remain on the same global shortlist, continuing one of football’s defining individual rivalries into another FIFPRO voting cycle. Messi holds the record for the most Men’s World 11 appearances, with 17 selections, while Ronaldo ranks second with 15. Their presence ensures that the forward category will attract enormous attention when the final votes are revealed.

Mbappé is also competing for another place in the team after establishing himself as one of the leading forwards of his generation. Haaland and Kane add two of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers to the race, while Kvaratskhelia brings creativity, direct running and one-on-one ability.

Olise has earned recognition after an impressive period at Bayern Munich and France, while Yamal represents the next generation of elite attacking talent. The Barcelona winger was part of the 2025 FIFPRO World 11 and is once again among the finalists.

A difficult selection awaits

The 26-player shortlist creates a difficult final decision because several positions contain more worthy candidates than there are available places. Three goalkeepers must compete for one spot, while eight defenders, seven midfielders and eight forwards are fighting for a limited number of positions.

The voting format also means that the eventual World 11 will not simply be a conventional best XI chosen by a single panel. Players around the world have judged their peers, making the result a reflection of how professionals viewed performances during the specified period.

FIFPRO says the 11 players who receive the most votes in their respective positions will make the final team, with the remaining outfield place going to the next-highest vote-getter. That rule could make the final selection especially interesting if several players are closely matched.

History adds another layer to the contest. Messi has dominated the award’s record books, while Ronaldo has remained a consistent presence since the early years of the World 11. Courtois, Van Dijk, Bellingham, Mbappé, Yamal, Pedri, Rodri, Mendes and Vitinha are among the other finalists with previous World 11 recognition, giving the 2026 shortlist a strong blend of experience and emerging talent.

What happens next

The final World 11 will be revealed by FIFPRO on Monday, November 9 at 17:00 CET through its digital platforms. Until then, every finalist will remain in contention for one of the most respected honours in professional football.

The significance of the award comes from who makes the decision. The players on the pitch are the ones judging the performances of their fellow professionals, which gives the recognition a different meaning from awards decided by media votes or technical panels.

For some nominees, selection would represent another chapter in an already decorated career. For others, particularly the younger finalists, it could mark their arrival among the most respected players in the world.

With 26 names now confirmed and only 11 places available, the attention will turn to the final voting outcome. Whether established legends maintain their place, younger stars break through again, or unexpected names emerge, the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 promises to provide another snapshot of who professional footballers believe stood above the rest during the voting period.