Seven Manchester City players have been nominated for the prestigious FIFA FIFPro Men’s World XI. These include goalkeeper Ederson, defenders Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker, midfielders Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden, as well as striker Erling Haaland.
England forward Cole Palmer has earned his first nomination. Interestingly, he is recognized as both a Manchester City and Chelsea player, following his transfer from the Etihad Stadium to Stamford Bridge in August 2023.
Aston Villa’s Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is also among the nominees. However, Liverpool’s Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah did not make the final list.
Notably, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, representing Al Nassr, are the only two players nominated who currently play outside Europe. This marks Messi’s 18th nomination, further solidifying his record as the most-nominated player in history. Ronaldo follows closely, with this being his 16th nomination.
According to the global players’ union, FIFPro, over 21,000 male players from 70 different countries participated in the voting process. The highly anticipated Men’s World XI will be revealed during the FIFA Best Awards on December 9.