55-man shortlist announced for 2015 FIFPro World XI
FIFPro have announced a 55-man shortlist for the 2015 World XI on their official website with the majority of the players represnting Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The list of players are selected by their fellow players across the world with close to 25,000 players from 70 different nationalities voting in the ballot this year.
The shortlist features five goalkeepers, 20 defenders, 15 midfielders and 15 forwards. As always, the final XI will be announced during the FIFA Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich next year. The ceremony is to be held on 11 January 2016.
The FIFPro 2015 XI saw Bayern Munich and Real Madrid dominate the votes with Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) and Sergio Ramos, Toni Kross (previously Bayern Munich) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) making the list. Other players included David Luiz and Thiago Silva (PSG), Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid and Manchester United).
This year’s nominees include players from the various title-winning teams of last season. Among the 55 players, only 10 play in the Premier League. Two players currently playing outside Europe also make the list – Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo – both of whom helped Juventus win a double and reach the Champions League final.
55-player shortlist for FIFPro XI
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid/FC Porto), David De Gea (Spain, Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica, Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Defenders: David Alaba (Austria, Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona), Daniel Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), Jerome Boateng (Germany, Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus), David Luiz (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godín (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain), John Terry (England, Chelsea), Raphael Varane (France, Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Thiago Alcantara (Spain, Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain, Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus/New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France, Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia, Barcelona), James Rodriguez (Colombia, Real Madrid), David Silva (Spain, Manchester City), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain), Arturo Vidal (Chile, Juventus/Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Brazil, Shakthar Donetsk/Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Alexis Sanchez (Chile, Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Juventus/Boca Juniors)