Ronaldo and Messi lead 2026 FIFPRO World XI shortlist

The full list of men’s and women’s FIFPRO World XI nominees has been released. The list was revealed via a tweet by FIFPRO on Monday

Featuring a star-studded list of footballers, the men’s category had past Ballon d’Or winners — Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo Hernández (Rodri) — and recently awarded Englishman Harry Kane. The women’s category also listed 26 players, including two three-time Ballon d’Or winners: Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí, alongside another 2018 winner, Ada Hegerberg.

The FIFPRO World XI is unique among major individual football awards because it is voted for exclusively by professional players, who select the team based on the performances of their peers. Making the list in both categories are 26 players whose combination will culminate in a World XI, from goalkeepers to defenders, midfielders and attackers.

According to the award body, the men’s shortlist was decided by 19,806 professional men’s footballers worldwide, while the women’s was voted by 6,511 professional women’s footballers worldwide.

Below is a full list of the 2026 FIFPRO World XI nominees:

2026 FIFPRO Men’s nominees:

GOALKEEPERS

• Thibaut Courtois
• Emiliano Martinez
• Daviid Raya

DEFENDERS

• Pau Cubarsi
• Marc Cucurella
• Virgil van Dijk
• Gabriel
• Achraf Hakimi
• Nuno Mendes
• William Saliba
• Dayot Upamecano

MIDFIELDERS

• Jude Bellingham
• Bruno Fernandes
• Enzo Fernandez
• Pedri
• Declan Rice
• Rodrigo Hernández
• Vitinha

ATTACKERS

• Erling Haaland
• Harry Kane
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Kylian Mbappé
• Lionel Messi
• Michael Olise
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Lamine Yamal

2026 FIFPRO Women’s nominees:

GOALKEEPERS

• Ann-Katrin Berger
• Catalina Coll
• Hannah Hampton

DEFENDERS

• Ona Batlle
• Lucy Bronze
• Ellie Carpenter
• Emily Fox
• Alex Greenwood
• Mapi Leon
• Katie McCabe
• Irene Paredes

MIDFIELDERS

• Aitana Bonmatí
• Ghizlane Chebbak
• Patri Guijarro
• Anaele Le Moguedec
• Vicky Lopez
• Alexia Putellas
• Ella Toone

ATTACKERS

• Barbra Banda
• Aggie Beever-Jones
• Athenea
• Ada Hegerberg
• Chloe Kelly
• Ewa Pajor
• Claudia Pina
• Alessia Russo