Messi not included in FIFA's Best XI after 17 years

FIFA will announce the best XI of the year, and Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will not be there? Is this happening again? Messi has made it a rule for the last 17 years. FIFA has had to announce the best XI of the year for the last 17 years without him. But this time the opposite picture was seen. FIFA has announced the best XI of the year; but Messi did not have a place there. Which is a surprise for Messi fans.

This is the first time since 2006 that the Argentine superstar is not in the best XI of the year chosen by footballers. Although Messi's name has been a constant in the XI for 17 consecutive years from 2007 to 2023, the record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner did not make it to FIFPro's World XI of the Year.

Messi's 'eternal rival' Cristiano Ronaldo is also not in the best XI. However, Messi and Ronaldo made headlines a week ago when they were selected in the shortlist of 26. Among the players who played in leagues outside Europe, only Messi and Ronaldo made the shortlist.

The best XI of the year by FIFPro, the global association of professional footballers, released today is dominated by players from Real Madrid and Manchester City. Champions League winners Real have six players and Manchester City, who have won the English Premier League for the fourth time in a row, have four. The other player in the XI is Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

Like the boys' XI, FIFPro also announced the women's XI of the year today. More than 28,000 professional footballers from 70 countries around the world, both boys and girls, voted in the election of the best XI of the year. Those who played at least 30 matches from August 21, 2023 to July 14, 2024 were considered for this election of the best XI.

2024 FIFPro World XI—Men

Goalkeeper

Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)

Defender

Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain)

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany)

Midfielder

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany)

Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)