Lionel Messi had been involved in every single FIFPRO World XI since 2007
But the icon made way as Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland starred in attack
According to FIFPRO, the 2024 World XI was picked by 21,266 players worldwide
By BEN WILLCOCKS
Published: 11:02 EST, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 11:02 EST, 9 December 2024
Ballon d'Or winner Rodri was one of four Manchester City players named in FIFPRO's 2024 World XI on Monday, as Lionel Messi's historic 17-year run in the team came to an end.
Messi, whose first appearance in FIFPRO's World XI was in 2007, has been a regular fixture in the front line every year since but was not selected ahead of Man City's Erling Haaland or Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr this time around.
Fellow all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed a 16-year streak in the team, which is selected and voted for by footballers themselves and was first launched in 2005, before failing to make the cut in 2023.
Rodri's Ballon d'Or triumph over Vinicius Jr caused widespread controversy last month after Real Madrid opted to boycott the ceremony — but the reigning Champions League winners' president Florentino Perez will undoubtedly be delighted to see six Los Blancos representatives in the 2024 World XI.
Jude Bellingham, who was the only England star to be named in the lineup, joined Bernabeu team-mates Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and retired Germany international Toni Kroos in being credited with the honour.
Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson were selected alongside Haaland and Rodri from Manchester City, who won an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title under Pep Guardiola last campaign.
Lionel Messi did not make FIFPRO's World XI for the first time in 17 successive years
Ballon d'Or winner Rodri was one of four Manchester City players to be named in this year's XI
Real Madrid also boasted six representatives with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and retired Germany international Toni Kroos making the cut
Phil Foden, who was crowned PFA Player of the Year at the end of last season, will perhaps consider himself unfortunate not to be selected, as will Liverpool's Mohamed Salah after another remarkable year at Anfield.
Salah's Reds team-mate Virgil van Dijk did make the XI for a fourth time in what is his first appearance since 2022, partnering Rudiger and Carvajal in a back three.
De Bruyne, 33, and Mbappe, 25, boast the most appearances of any player in the 2024 team, with each being given the honour on five occasions.
The Belgian playmaker has been named in every lineup since 2020, now earning as many appearances as Chelsea legend John Terry and Spain's World Cup winning captain Iker Casillas.
According to FIFPRO's post announcing the team on Monday, their World XI was chosen by 21,266 players worldwide.