Messi and Ronaldo headline The Best FIFA Men's 11 nominations

By: Shawn
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the 77 finalists vying for the Best FIFA Men's 11 in 2024.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Getty Images (2)

Messi, the star of Inter Miami and Argentina, was left off the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or, but he made up for it by being nominated for both the Best FIFA Men's Player and the Best FIFA Men's 11. He is joined in the running for the team award by his longtime opponent Ronaldo, who scored 50 goals for Al-Nassr previous season.

The nominees are divided into position groups. Along with Messi and Ronaldo, the offensive alternatives include Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyokeres, and Spain's Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who spurred La Roja to victory at Euro 2024. However, Salah and Lewandowski have been left out.

In midfield, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga will garner a lot of votes after leading Los Blancos to La Liga and Champions League triumph. Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are outstanding defensive alternatives, while Emiliano Martinez is up against Andriy Lunin, Unai Simon, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and others for the goalkeeper position.

The Best Fifa Men's 11 shortlist in full - all 77 players

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ederson, Andriy Lunin, Mike Maignan, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Emiliano Martinez, David Raya, Unai Simon, Yann Sommer, Ronwen Williams

Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Alessandro Bastoni, Gleison Bremer, Liberato Cacace, Dani Carvajal, Dante, Alphonso Davies, Ruben Dias, Federico Dimarco, Jeremie Frimpong, Alejandro Grimaldo, Achraf Hakimi, Mats Hummels, Alistair Johnston, Aymeric Laporte, Gabriel Magalhaes, Nicolas Otamendi, Nino, Antonio Rudiger, William Saliba, Jonathan Tah, William Troost-Ekong

Midfielders: Luciano Acosta, Thiago Almada, Alex Baena, Jude Bellingham, Hakan Calhanoglu, Eduardo Camavinga, Phil Foden, Ganso, Toni Kroos, Takefusa Kubo, Fermin Lopez, Martin Odegaard, Dani Olmo, Cole Palmer, Christian Pulisic, Declan Rice, Rodri, James Rodriguez, Fabian Ruiz, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka

Forwards: Akram Afif, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, German Cano, Artem Dovbyk, Viktor Gyokeres, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Ademola Lookman, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Jamal Musiala, Soufiane Rahimi, Rodrygo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Salomon Rondon, Bukayo Saka, Luis Suarez, Vinicius Jr, Ollie Watkins, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal

Voting is now open on FIFA's website for the Men's 11, along with a host of other awards, with the ceremony set to take place in January.

Comments

Post a Comment

TRENDING!

‎'We Will Struggle': Ruben Amorim Issues Stark January Transfer Warning After Bruno Fernandes Injury Blow for Man Utd

Image
‎Ruben Amorim has warned that Manchester United are set to “struggle” after captain Bruno Fernandes was added to an expanding injury list, though the Portuguese coach has made it clear he will not push the club into urgent spending during the January transfer window. In a sobering message to supporters, Amorim insists the Red Devils intend to push forward with their existing squad rather than seek quick fixes. ‎ Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United face a tough period after Bruno Fernandes suffered an injury, but insists the club will not rush into January transfer spending despite growing absences. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Fernandes Added to Manchester United Injury List ‎ ‎Manchester United dropped more valuable Premier League points following a 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa. Morgan Rogers struck twice for the hosts, while defensive weaknesses once again proved costly for United, with Leny Yoro enduring a difficult outing in the West Midlands. ‎ ‎The disappointing re...
Read more

‎Is Vinicius Jr Valued Like Mbappe or Messi? Real Madrid Told to Sell Amid Contract Standoff

Image
‎Real Madrid have been advised to take decisive action and consider selling Vinicius Junior if the Brazilian forward insists on a contract comparable to those held by Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. It has been suggested that Vinicius does not merit such financial terms, with the Spanish giants reminded that no individual player outweighs the stature of the club. Interest from the Saudi Pro League has also intensified, adding further pressure to the situation. ‎ Real Madrid are urged to sell Vinicius Jr if he demands Mbappe- or Messi-level wages, with Saudi Pro League interest growing as talks stall. ‎Getty (3) ‎ ‎Vinicius is currently tied to a deal at the Santiago Bernabeu that runs until 2027. Despite narrowly missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or, no agreement has yet been reached over a contract extension. As a result, Real Madrid may be forced to listen to offers in upcoming transfer windows if progress remains stalled. ‎ ‎At 25 years old, the Brazilian attacker has bee...
Read more

‎Premier League’s 20 Worst-Rated Players So Far This Season Ranked by Performance Data

Image
‎The Premier League season is edging closer to its halfway mark, and as the campaign progresses, the league table is beginning to settle into a clearer shape. While several clubs and players have impressed with consistency and quality, others have struggled to meet expectations. Individual performances are now under closer scrutiny, and statistical analysis paints a revealing picture of those who have failed to deliver so far. ‎ ‎A comprehensive breakdown of the 20 worst-performing Premier League players so far this season, ranked using WhoScored ratings and match statistics. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Arsenal currently lead the title race, yet even the league leaders are not immune from underperforming individuals. Two players who were regular starters for the Gunners last season have dropped out of Mikel Arteta’s strongest XI, and their absence is backed up by data. Both feature among the 20 lowest-rated players in the Premier League at this stage of the season. ‎ ‎This ...
Read more

‎Arteta Signals Gabriel Jesus Start as Arsenal Boss Praises Brazilian's Grit After ACL Comeback

Image
‎Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has suggested that Gabriel Jesus may be in line for his first start in nearly a year as the Brazilian striker edges closer to full match sharpness. After a difficult 2025 marked by serious knee ligament damage, Jesus could feature prominently when the Gunners face Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. ‎ ‎Mikel Arteta hints Gabriel Jesus could start for Arsenal against Crystal Palace, praising his fighting spirit after a long ACL injury recovery. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Crystal Palace are set to visit the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with Arteta finalising his plans for the cup tie. Squad rotation is expected after Arsenal secured a narrow 1-0 Premier League win over Everton at the weekend. Attention will soon return to league duties, with Brighton scheduled to travel to north London on December 27. ‎ ‎Arsenal’s advantage at the summit of the Premier League table has been reduced to two points, forcing Arteta to carefully balan...
Read more

Chelsea and Arsenal Battle for Lille Prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi Amid PSG Interes

Image
‎Chelsea and Arsenal have accelerated their pursuit of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as both Premier League clubs aim to move ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in the race for the highly rated Ligue 1 talent. Lille remain determined to secure a contract extension for the teenager and safeguard a potential fee projected to exceed €50 million next summer. ‎ ‎Chelsea and Arsenal accelerate their chase for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as PSG monitor the situation and Lille push to secure a contract extension. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Chelsea and Arsenal have emerged as leading contenders for Bouaddi following a report from Fabrice Hawkins indicating that both clubs are advancing their plans for the midfielder. Arsenal are pushing more aggressively, and Chelsea have increased their monitoring as they assess long-term midfield reinforcements. Lille anticipate bids beyond €50 million, and earlier internal valuations suggested the total could rise closer to €100 million. PSG mai...
Read more

Antoine Semenyo Prefers Manchester City Move With £65m January Release Clause

Image
‎Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo has identified Manchester City as his preferred destination ahead of the January transfer window. The forward is motivated by the opportunity to compete for major honours and believes a move to Pep Guardiola’s side would align with those ambitions. ‎ ‎Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo prefers a January move to Manchester City, with a £65m release clause and strong Premier League form attracting interest. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎At present, no formal agreement has been reached, with the winter window still a week away from opening. Interest remains exploratory rather than advanced. ‎ ‎According to reports from The Athletic, Chelsea opted not to continue their interest in the 25-year-old after making an initial approach earlier this week. Manchester United also explored the possibility of a deal, but a January transfer was viewed as difficult to complete. United were only prepared to sign players fully committed to joining the club,...
Read more

‎Man Utd Plan to Sign Two New Midfielders as Four Premier League Targets Emerge in Summer Rebuild

Image
‎Manchester United are preparing for a significant midfield overhaul next summer as part of Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans, with the club aiming to recruit two new central players. The Red Devils have been closely tracking several Premier League midfielders, including Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Alex Scott, as they weigh up major changes in the middle of the pitch. Uncertainty surrounding the futures of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo has accelerated the need for reinforcements. ‎ Manchester United are planning a major summer midfield overhaul under Ruben Amorim, with four Premier League targets shortlisted amid uncertainty over key players. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Midfield Overhaul Tops United’s Agenda ‎ ‎Questions remain over several current midfield options at Old Trafford, making links to new signings unsurprising. Fernandes recently raised doubts about his future during an interview last month, revealing that the club attempted to s...
Read more

‎Who has scored the most goals in a single calendar year? The all-time top scorers revealed

Image
‎The record for most goals scored in a single calendar year is one of football’s most prestigious — and fiercely debated — milestones. While FIFA doesn’t officially recognize an all-time record, several legendary names have earned a place in the Guinness World Records and football history books. ‎ ‎ Lionel Messi’s record 91 goals in 2012 remain unmatched. ‎Getty Images ‎ ‎In 2012, Lionel Messi delivered an astonishing performance that saw him score 91 goals for club and country, breaking Gerd Muller’s 1972 record of 85. Of Messi’s 91 goals, 79 were for FC Barcelona and the remainder with the Argentine national team. ‎ ‎Although the Zambian Football Association claimed Godfrey Chitalu scored 113 goals in 1972, FIFA declined to officially acknowledge the record due to insufficient documentation. ‎ ‎Other icons follow closely behind. Pele recorded 75 goals in 1958, while Zico and Romario both achieved 72-goal calendar years. Cristiano Ronaldo appears multiple times in the top ...
Read more

‎Declan Rice Illness Adds to Arsenal's Mounting Injury Crisis Ahead of Champions League Trip to Brugge

Image
‎Arsenal have suffered another significant setback after Declan Rice was ruled out of the Champions League trip to Club Brugge due to a worrying illness. The midfielder, central to Mikel Arteta’s plans, did not travel to Belgium after falling unwell following the defeat to Aston Villa. ‎ ‎Arsenal rule out Declan Rice for the Brugge clash as illness and multiple injuries force major squad changes during a congested Champions League period. ‎Getty Images Sport  ‎ ‎Arsenal’s growing injury list has placed major strain on Arteta’s squad. Rice became unavailable shortly after the Villa match, and recovery efforts were not sufficient for him to join the travelling group. William Saliba remains sidelined with an ongoing issue that has kept him out for several weeks. Leandro Trossard, who scored against Villa after recently returning from injury, sustained a fresh knock and was withdrawn before full-time at Villa Park, with Arteta confirming he would not feature in Brugge. ‎ ‎F...
Read more