AS expected, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and 53 other players are on the shortlist for the 2016 FIFA FIFPro World11.
FIFPro, the worldwide players’ union, and FIFA on Thursday announced the final 55-player shortlist.
The FIFA FIFPro World11 is decided by the players, for the players. It involves votes from more than 25,000 professional footballers from over 75 different countries. They each select one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
Some other prominent names on the shortlist are Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gareth Bale, Mats Hummel, Javier Mascherano and Sergio Ramos.
It also includes Xabi Alonso, Eden Hazard, Robert Lewandowski and Andres Iniesta.
There are five goalkeepers on the list and they are Gianluigi Buffon, Manuel Neuer, David de Gea, Keylor Navas and Claudio Bravo.
The final FIFA FIFPro World11 will be announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony at the Zurich TPC studios on 9 January 2017.
During the ceremony, The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016, The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2016, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2016, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach 2016, The FIFA Puskás Award 2016, The FIFA Fan Award and The FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented.
