FIFA Unveils Star-Studded Nominees for 2023 Men’s Best XI Players
Football’s global governing body, FIFA, in collaboration with the international players’ union, FIFPRO, has revealed the nominees for the prestigious 2023 Men’s Best XI Players. The list, released on FIFPRO’s official X account on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, encompasses 23 outstanding players, with the surprising inclusion of legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The nominations are a reflection of players’ remarkable performances both at the club and international levels throughout the previous year (2023). A noteworthy dominance is seen with nine Manchester City players making the cut, including Ederson, Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Erling Haaland.
About FIFPRO
FIFPRO, the global union for professional football players, conducts the annual World 11 Awards, where over 25,000 players worldwide cast their votes to select the best players in various positions.
Selection Process
The final team comprises one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the most votes in each position. The 11th spot is then assigned to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes, completing the distinguished lineup.
Notable Nominees
Goalkeepers
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Ederson (Manchester City)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Defenders
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
John Stones (Manchester City)
Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund/Real Madrid)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City/Barcelona)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Rodri (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)
Forwards
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/Al-Ittihad)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur/Bayern Munich)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/Inter Miami)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Final XI Announcement Date
The highly anticipated announcement of the final XI is scheduled for Monday, January 15, 2023. Football enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await the revelation of the ultimate lineup of football excellence.
