'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We all know what the FIFPro World XI is. Each year, FIFA announces the best XI in the world following a round of voting. The 23-man shortlist for this year's World XI has been released.
Many renowned players have made it to the shortlist, including the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski. However, there are also some notable absentees such as Mohamed Salah, Joshua Kimmich and Harry Kane, who failed to make the cut.
In this article, find our take on the best XI from the final 23. We have adopted a 4-3-3 formation for this hypothetical FIFPro World XI.
Goalkeeper — Edouard Mendy (Chelsea/Senegal)
Edouard Mendy's season could be summed up as the best one in his career so far. The Senegal shot-stopper played a pivotal role in handing the Blues their second UEFA Champions League trophy.
He is also an integral part of the club's current form that has put them in the race for the Premier League. Chelsea look well on-course for another successful year and Mendy has been the backbone for the same.
He has conceded just 11 goals (second-lowest behind Ederson) in 16 games so far in the English top-flight.
Right Back — Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/England)
The 23-year-old has been phenomenal ever since he made his senior team debut for Liverpool. Without a doubt, Trent Alexander-Arnold's versatility is one of the core elements that has made the Reds a strong force within the Premier League.
Alexander-Arnold has one goal and ten assists so far in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp's side. He had one of his best nights in a Liverpool shirt during their win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. He assisted both the goals in that game and was excellent defensively as well.
Center-Back — Ruben Dias (Manchester City/Portugal)
Ruben Dias' impact at the club was simply incredible. Dias earned Manchester City's Player of the Season, Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year awards in his first season itself.
The centre-back is credited with bringing back some much-needed composure within the Citizens' back four. Dias has also been praised for his winning mentality, which saw him pick up two trophies in his maiden campaign for the English giants.
Center-Back — Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Leonardo Bonucci is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. Alongside Giorgio Chiellini, Bonucci has established one of the strongest defensive duos within the world of football.
He has had a strong season with the country and bagged the EURO 2020 trophy. Bonucci scored the equalizer for the Azzurri in the final, in addition to netting in some crucial penalty shootouts to help his nation win the title. The Juventus center back has had just one FIFA FIFPro appearance (2017) in his career.
Left-Back — Jordi Alba (Barcelona/Spain)
Jordi Alba's inclusion in the FIFA FIFPro World XI 23-man shortlist has to be due to his performance at the UEFA EURO 2020. The Barcelona man had a below-par outing with his club last year. However, Alba was influential in his side's EURO campaign where they bowed out in the semi-final to eventual winners Italy.
Due to immense completion from rival Marcelo and his club teammate Dani Alves, Alba has never made it into the final XI of FIFA FIFPro so far. However, with not much competition in this year's shortlist, one would expect the Spaniard to finally break that duck.
Defensive Midfield - Jorginho (Chelsea/Italy)
Jorginho's name has reached new heights over the last two seasons, culminating in a selection into the 2021 FIFPro World XI shortlist. After playing a crucial role in his club Chelsea's UEFA Champions League triumph, Jorginho did the same to help his country pick up silverware.
The midfielder completed the season with another feather in his cap in the form of UEFA Euro 2020. During his Euro 2020 outing, Jorginho's stellar performance earned him a lot of attention. He completed the tournament having covered more ground than any player (86.6 km in total).
He also made the most recoveries and completed the second-most passes of any player. Jorginho also won the most fouls (19) and made the most interceptions (25) by breaking Marcel Desailly's record (24) that was set in Euro 1996.
Jorginho finished third in the 2021 Ballon d'Or race.
Central Midfield - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/Portugal)
Bruno Fernandes is one of the most impactful signings for Manchester United in recent times. The Portuguese midfielder took no time to settle within the club and started delivering almost immediately.
Having been equally good in goal scoring and assisting, Fernandes has five goals and nine assists (across all competitions) so far this season. Six of those assists have come in the Champions League. Last season, he managed 28 goals and 17 assists across all competitions.
Fernandes ended the campaign as Manchester United's Player of the Year. The midfielder earned the award for consecutive years despite playing only for a few months in the 2019-20 season. Due to his outstanding achievements within a short span of time, Bruno has been voted into the final 23 of the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
Central Midfield - Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium)
Kevin De Bruyne is the dictionary definition of an elite playmaker. Considered arguably the best assist provider in the history of football, De Bruyne was inducted into the FIFA FIFPro World last year.
The Belgian has been a trump card for his club and national side coaches and has been very influential on numerous occasions. De Bruyne has many records under his belt when it comes to being a provider. Chief among them is his record of 20 league assists in the 2019-20 season, the joint-most in a single Premier League season alongside Thierry Henry.
The Belgian international has always been the front runner when it comes to being the best player within the Premier League. Despite suffering multiple injuries over the last two seasons, KDB has earned his spot in the final 23 of the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
Right-Wing - Lionel Messi (PSG/Argentina)
Lionel Messi is one of the only three non-European players in the final 23 list of FIFA FIFPro World XI. The former Barcelona forward bagged his record 7th Ballon d'Or just a few weeks ago and his inclusion in the final 23 comes as no surprise.
The 2020-21 season has been a topsy-turvy one for Lionel Messi. After playing a crucial part for Argentina in the Copa America this year, Messi helped his country secure a national trophy after 28-long-years.
Lionel Messi finished the tournament with the most number of goals (4) and assists (5). However, after reaching the pinnacle of his international career, he also had to endure one of the lowest points in his club career the same year. Messi had to bid farewell to his lifelong club in shocking fashion.
The news of their most decorated player's departure sent shockwaves among Barcelona fans around the globe. After bidding a teary-eyed goodbye to the Liga club, Messi joined Ligue 1 heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain.
He is slowly starting to display his innate brilliance in Ligue 1 and has been PSG's most influential player in the UEFA Champions League. Messi will undoubtedly make it to the 2021 FIFPro XI.
Striker - Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Poland)
Robert Lewandowski has been at the peak of his career for the past two to three seasons. The Polish striker has been scoring goals and smashing records for fun. Lewandowski's destructive goal scoring has also helped him secure numerous team trophies along the way.
However, luck hasn't favored the 33-year-old when it comes to individual accolades. The 2019-20 season saw Lewandowski secure the treble and single-handedly carry out the goalscoring task for the Bavarians.
He is one of only two players, alongside Johan Cruyff, to achieve the European treble, while being the top goalscorer in all three competitions. Lewandowski is also the first to do it as the sole top scorer. However, even after such a stellar performance, he was denied the Ballon d'Or as the award was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was denied the prestigious trophy this year as well, with voters deeming Lionel Messi to be much more deserving. However, no one can deny Robert Lewandowski securing a place in the final 23 of the FIFA FIFPro World XI.
Left-Wing - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Portugal)
Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside Lionel Messi, ruled the world of football for nearly a decade. The duo made all individual accolades a two-horse race and shared those between them.
Ronaldo's best days came during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. After leaving Real Madrid in 2018, the iconic forward couldn't come as close to individual accolades as he once did.
The Portuguese captain continued his exploits wherever he has gone and has undoubtedly established himself as the best player in his team. Ronaldo toppled Messi's headline move to PSG by returning to Manchester United during this year's transfer window.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been a part of FIFA FIFPro World XI for a record 14 times in a row since 2007. The Manchester United forward is highly likely to take the tally to 15 this term.
