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Thibaut Courtois is one of three goalkeepers named along with Brazilian Alisson Becker (Liverpool) and Argentinian Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa). As with defenders, eight midfielders are named. In addition to Kevin De Bruyne, we find the Englishman Jude Bellingham (Dortmund), the Brazilian Casemiro (ex-Real, Manchester United), the Argentinian Enzo Fernandez (ex-Benfica, Chelsea), the Croatian Luka Modric (Real Madrid ), the Spaniards Gavi and Pedri (Barcelona) as well as the Uruguayan Federico Valverde (Real).
In attack, Frenchman Karim Benzema, Norwegian Erling Haaland, Polish Robert Lewandowski, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, Argentinian Lionel Messi, Brazilian Neymar and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo are named.
The FIFA Team of the Year will be unveiled on February 27 at a ceremony in Paris. Kevin De Bruyne has already appeared there in 2020 and 2021, succeeding Eden Hazard chosen in 2018 and 2019.
