Historic FIFPRO World 11 Snub
Harry Kane became the first reigning Ballon d’Or winner in history to miss out on the FIFPRO Men’s World 11, elcorreo.com reported.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals across club and international play for England during the voting window, yet 19,806 professional footballers from 73 countries left him off the squad.
Voting for the team ran from August 4, 2025, to July 19, 2026. To qualify, players needed at least 30 official appearances in that span. While Kane finished among the 26 finalists after capturing the Ballon d’Or ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal in a poll decided by specialized journalists, his peers on the pitch voted differently.
“By the players, for the players,” FIFPRO stated in its official announcement on X.
The 2026 FIFPRO Men’s #World11 ✨ Decided exclusively by 19,806 professional men’s footballers worldwide. By the players, for the players 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MnHEMHxtf1
David Raya Receives Highest Player Backing in Squad Selection
The global ballot yielded a squad featuring David Raya in goal. The Arsenal goalkeeper received the highest backing across any position, with 51.9 percent of players naming him to the side, according to elcorreo.com.
Achraf Hakimi, Pau Cubarsí, and Nuno Mendes formed the defensive line. The midfield trio consists of Rodri, Vitinha, and Jude Bellingham. Up front, Lionel Messi returned to the squad for the first time since 2023, extending his record to 18 appearances alongside Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Yamal, as reported by unanimodeportes.com.
Each voter selected three goalkeepers, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. The leading vote-getter in goal and the top three in every other line secured direct places, while the final spot went to the outfield player with the most remaining votes—in this case, a fourth forward.
Spain Players and Major Clubs Dominate the Roster
Spain’s World Cup triumph shaped the roster, landing four players from Luis de la Fuente’s national team across four different lines: Raya, Cubarsí, Rodri, and Yamal. Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain led all clubs with three selections each.
Cubarsí, Yamal, and Rodri—who played for Manchester City during the evaluated campaign—represented Barcelona. PSG matched that total through Hakimi, Mendes, and Vitinha, while Real Madrid contributed Bellingham and Mbappé. Haaland of Manchester City and Inter Miami’s Messi completed the lineup.
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