The full list of the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World XI was released on Monday, with some notable names missing from the selection.
The team was selected through a secure voting process involving 19,806 professional men’s footballers worldwide.
From league champions and World Cup winners to Ballon d’Or laureates and continental trophy holders, the FIFPRO World 11 stands out among major individual football awards because it is voted for exclusively by professional footballers, who select their peers based on their performances.
This year’s men’s World XI featured some of the biggest names in world football, including eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and World Cup winner Kylian Mbappé.
However, one notable absentee was Harry Kane, the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, breaking the 21-year sequence.
Since the inception of FIFPRO 11 in 2005, this year’s edition marks the first time a reigning Ballon d’Or winner will not feature in the Team of the Year, according to a Monday tweet by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Kane ranked 5th among the attackers, with 27.6% of the votes.
It’s worth noting that France Football cancelled the 2020 Ballon d’Or due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted the football calendar across several leagues. Consequently, matches were played behind closed doors.
Although no Ballon d’Or was awarded in 2020, the 2019 winner, Lionel Messi, was still the reigning Ballon d’Or holder. He was selected in the 2020 FIFPRO Men’s World 11.
According to an infographic detailing how each player received his votes, Mbappé emerged first with 46%, followed by Lamine Yamal at 37.4%.
Coming third is Messi with 29.5%, while Erling Haaland finished fourth with 28.4%.
The percentages represent the proportion of the 19,806 professional footballers who included each player in their selections.
The Bayern Munich striker became the first Englishman to claim football’s most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.
He was crowned at the 70th edition of the ceremony at the London Palladium, capping a remarkable 2025–26 campaign for club and country.
Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern during the season, helping the German club win the domestic league and cup double. His overall tally, including international matches, reached 73 goals, as at the time he won the award.
The 33-year-old also scored six goals at the World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals.
Despite his remarkable individual achievements during the season, Kane’s omission from the FIFPRO Men’s World XI marks a rare distinction in the history of the award, highlighting the gap between individual accolades and recognition from fellow professional footballers.
Other notable names missing from the final list include:
Goalkeepers:
Thibaut Courtois
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Emiliano Martinez
Defenders:
Marc Cucurella
Virgil van Dijk
Gabriel
Willaim Saliba
Dayot Upamecano
Midfielders:
Bruno Fernandes
Enzo Fernandez
Pedri
Declan Rice
Attackers:
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Michael Olise
Cristiano Ronaldo
