Messi, Ronaldo, Kane Headline 26-Man Shortlist For 2026 FIFPRO World XI

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane headline a 26-man shortlist for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World XI following a global voting exercise involving 19,806 professional footballers.

The shortlist also features some of the biggest names in world football, including France captain Kylian Mbappe, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, England midfielder Jude Bellingham and Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal.

Other notable nominees include Barcelona midfielders Rodri and Pedri, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

Arsenal defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have also earned nominations, alongside Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi and Paris Saint-Germain defenders Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.

The selection process makes the FIFPRO Men’s World XI distinct from other major individual football awards, as the team is determined exclusively by professional footballers rather than journalists, coaches or supporters.

A total of 19,806 players from across the world participated in the voting, selecting those they considered the best performers during the eligible assessment period.

The final World XI will recognise outstanding players across different positions, with the selection reflecting the views of their fellow professionals.

The inclusion of Messi and Ronaldo further highlights the enduring presence of the two football greats in global football recognition, while Kane, Mbappe, Haaland and Yamal represent some of the leading attacking talents of the current generation.

The 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World XI is one of the most closely watched player-voted honours in world football, offering professional footballers the opportunity to recognise the performances of their peers.