FIFPro, the global union for professional football players, has unveiled the 2024 FIFPrp Men’s World XI and Real Madrid have the highest number of representatives in the lineup.
The FIFPro World XI has been in practice since 2009, with the organisation inviting all professional footballers, men and women, to compose the best men’s and women’s teams of the year.
An initial 26-player nominee list was unveiled last week following which the World XI is announced, comprising a goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards.
The final slot is granted to the outfield player with the next most number of votes irrespective of the position.
And, as many as five current Real Madrid stars have made the cut for the 2024 FIFPro World XI, along with the recently-retired club legend Toni Kroos.
The five superstars who have made the cut to the FIFPro Men’s World XI are defenders Dani Carvajal and Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe in attack.
Luka Modric and Federico Valverde, who were on the final shorlist, have failed to make it to the team.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s Ederson Moraes, Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, and Erling Haaland, also feature in the team, along with Liverpool mainstay Virgil van Dijk.
The large number of Real Madrid players featuring does not come as a surprise following the successful year that Los Blancos have had.
Kicking things off with the Spanish Super Cup triumph early in 2024, Real Madrid bagged the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League trophies in the summer before kicking things off with the UEFA Super Cup success in the new season.