FIFPro announce nominees for 2018 World XI | OneFootball

FIFA and FIFPro have revealed the 55 players who have been shortlisted for the 2018 World XI.

Professional footballers throughout the world were invited to pick a team of one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers based on their performances in the 2017/18 season.

The final World XI will be unveiled at an awards ceremony in London on 24 September but until then, here are the nominees …

Goalkeepers

Gianluigi Buffon – Italy, Juventus/Paris Saint-Germain Thibaut Courtois – Belgium, Chelsea/Real Madrid CF David De Gea – Spain, Manchester United FC Keylor Navas – Costa Rica, Real Madrid CF Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Germany, FC Barcelona

Defenders

Jordi Alba – Spain, FC Barcelona Dani Alves – Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain Daniel Carvajal – Spain, Real Madrid CF Giorgio Chiellini – Italy, Juventus FC Virgil van Dijk – The Netherlands, Southampton/Liverpool Diego Godin – Uruguay, Atletico Madrid Mats Hummels – Germany, FC Bayern Munchen Joshua Kimmich – Germany, FC Bayern Munchen Dejan Lovren – Croatia, Liverpool FC Marcelo – Brazil, Real Madrid CF Yerry Mina – Colombia, FC Barcelona/Everton FC Benjamin Pavard – France, VfB Stuttgart Gerard Pique – Spain, FC Barcelona Sergio Ramos – Spain, Real Madrid CF Thiago Silva – Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain Kieran Trippier – England, Tottenham Hotspur Samuel Umtiti – France, FC Barcelona Raphaël Varane – France, Real Madrid CF Sime Vrsaljko – Croatia, Atletico Madrid/Inter Kyle Walker – England, Manchester City FC

Midfielders

Sergio Busquets – Spain, FC Barcelona Casemiro – Brazil, Real Madrid CF Philippe Coutinho – Brazil, Liverpool/FC Barcelona Kevin De Bruyne – Belgium, Manchester City FC Eden Hazard – Belgium, Chelsea FC Andres Iniesta – Spain, FC Barcelona/Vissel Kobe Isco – Spain, Real Madrid CF N’Golo Kante – France, Chelsea FC Toni Kroos – Germany, Real Madrid CF Nemanja Matic – Serbia, Manchester United FC Luka Modric – Croatia, Real Madrid CF Paul Pogba – France, Manchester United FC Ivan Rakitic – Croatia, FC Barcelona David Silva – Spain, Manchester City FC Arturo Vidal – Chile, FC Bayern Munchen/FC Barcelona

Forwards

Karim Benzema – France, Real Madrid CF Edinson Cavani – Uruguay, Paris Saint-Germain Paulo Dybala – Juventus FC, Argentina Antoine Griezmann – France, Atletico Madrid Harry Kane – England, Tottenham Hotspur Robert Lewandowski – Poland, FC Bayern Munchen Romelu Lukaku – Belgium, Manchester United FC Mario Mandzukic – Croatia, Juventus FC Sadio Mane – Senegal, Liverpool FC Kylian Mbappe – France, Paris Saint-Germain Lionel Messi – Argentina, FC Barcelona Neymar Junior – Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal, Real Madrid CF/Juventus FC Mohamed Salah – Egypt, Liverpool FC Luis Suarez – Uruguay, FC Barcelona

Interesting facts

Gianluigi Buffon was named goalkeeper in last year’s World XI and has been on the list of nominees every season since 2004/05.

Manuel Neuer was not nominated this year despite having previously made the World XI in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Dani Alves and Sergio Ramos have been shortlisted for the 12th consecutive time – drawing them level with Germany and Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm.

Andres Iniesta is also on the list for the 12th consecutive time, having previously made the World XI on nine separate occasions.

Mario Mandzukic is back on the list for the first time since his only previous appearance, in 2013.

Like Buffon, Cristiano Ronaldo has been on the shortlist in every single year since 2004/05.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not receive enough votes to make the shortlist for the first time in 12 years.