Lionel Messi and Lucy Bronze provide the headline milestones in the FIFPRO World 11 announced on 9 November. Messi returns for the first time since 2023, taking his total to 18 selections; Bronze reaches a women’s record of nine.
Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi also features in the men’s team. The winners represent recognition from fellow professionals rather than a public popularity poll.
What the voting measures
FIFPRO’s earlier explanation of the finalist process recorded 26,317 voters from 75 countries. Men were assessed over the period from 4 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, with at least 30 official appearances required. The women’s assessment ended on 16 August 2026 and required 20 appearances.
The selection system first fills a goalkeeper’s place and three places in each outfield position group. The remaining outfield player with the next-highest vote total takes the final place.
That structure matters when reading the announcement: this is a retrospective award over defined eligibility windows, rather than a forecast for the next round of club or international matches.
Source: www.fifpro.org
