Real Madrid Dominates FIFPRO World 11 as Messi Misses Out After 17 Years
Six Real Madrid players, including Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe, made the FIFPRO World 11 list for 2024, a remarkable feat for the La Liga giants. The announcement, made by the global players’ union, was based on votes from over 28,000 players across 70 countries. Notably, Lionel Messi was absent from the team for the first time since 2006, despite his impressive MLS MVP title and helping Inter Miami achieve a record 74 single-season points. His longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo was also omitted, despite being among the nominees. The team primarily featured players from Real Madrid and Manchester City, highlighting their dominance in the past season, with City securing the Premier League title and Madrid excelling in La Liga and the Champions League.
Bellingham, who garnered the most votes with 11,176, had an exceptional season, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists for Real Madrid. His Madrid teammates Mbappe and Vinicius formed a formidable attack alongside City’s Erling Haaland, while other Madrid players like Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Carvajal also made the cut. Carvajal, who became the oldest Madrid player to score in a Champions League final, was instrumental in ensuring Madrid’s unbeaten run in La Liga. On the City side, Haaland, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ederson were selected, with Rodri particularly noteworthy for maintaining an unbeaten record in his 34 league appearances. The only non-Madrid or City player in the lineup was Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, with Mohamed Salah missing out despite contributing 38 goals in all competitions.
On the women’s side, the FIFPRO World 11 featured five players from England, including Lucy Bronze, who matched Wendie Renard’s record of seven inclusions. Mary Earps, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, and Lauren James were also recognized for their performances, alongside Spain’s Olga Carmona, Alexia Putellas, and Aitana Bonmati, who received the highest votes after her Ballon d’Or win. Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo and Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda and Marta rounded off the lineup. However, notable absentees included Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen, who had the highest goal involvements among Europe’s top leagues, and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw, who matched Hansen’s 21 goals last season. The selections underscored the incredible talent on display over the past year, with Real Madrid and Manchester City standing tall as the defining teams of the season.
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