World Best Misses World Eleven
Harry Kane missed out on the FIFPRO World 11 despite winning the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best men’s footballer earlier in the autumn, SPORT1 reported.
Global voting closed after drawing participation from 19,806 active professional footballers worldwide, according to figures released by the players’ union.
Tight Margins in Attack
Kane finished fifth among all nominated forwards after capturing 27,6 percent of the player vote. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland secured the final offensive spot in the team, edging out the Bayern Munich captain by a razor-thin margin of 0,8 percentage points.
Kylian Mbappé led all attackers in the voting with 46 percent of the ballots, followed by Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal at 37,4 percent. Inter Miami veteran Lionel Messi returned to the elite side for the first time since 2023, claiming 29,5 percent of the professional vote to round out the four-man attacking selection.
Unprecedented Exclusion for a Ballon d’Or Winner
No Ballon d'Or winner has been left off the list since the union introduced its annual World 11 accolade in 2005. Every previous male recipient of the prestigious Golden Ball had always found a place in the players’ selection during the same calendar year.
2026 Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane hasn’t been included in the FIFPro World 11 😳 Since the FIFPro World 11 began in 2005, this is the first time the Ballon d’Or winner of that year hasn’t been included in the team 😱 pic.twitter.com/DiK4edG64Q
While international media representatives from the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings determine the Ballon d’Or winner, active players alone cast ballots for the FIFPRO selection.
Bayern Stars Left Out Entirely
Bayern Munich also saw their other nominated stars miss the cut when the union published its final squad. Defenders Dayot Upamecano and winger Michael Olise failed to make the final World 11 after appearing on the initial 26-man shortlist.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya claimed the spot between the posts for the global side. The defensive unit features Barcelona youngster Pau Cubarsí alongside Paris Saint-Germain full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.
Midfield Selection and Next Steps
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Rodri, and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Vitinha form the three-man midfield in the selected lineup. The union also published its women’s team of the year, which features five English national team players following dominant continental campaigns.
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