Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Rodri are among the nominees for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World XI, while Aitana Bonmatí, Alexia Putellas and Ada Hegerberg headline the women’s shortlist. The global professional footballers’ union, FIFPRO, announced 26 nominees in each category on November 2 ahead of the final team selection.
The men’s shortlist also features Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Bruno Fernandes and Virgil van Dijk. In the women’s category, other nominees include Barbra Banda, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Ewa Pajor. According to FIFPRO, 19,806 male players and 6,511 female footballers participated in the voting.
The nominees are divided into four positions: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards. Unlike many individual football awards, the FIFPRO World XI is decided entirely by professional footballers, who vote for colleagues they believe delivered the best performances during the eligibility period. The final teams will be selected from the shortlisted players.
