Football aficionados around the globe are eagerly awaiting the FIFPro World XI awards scheduled for January 15, 2024, as the prestigious list of nominees for 2023 includes none other than the iconic duo, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
With over 28,000 professional football players participating in the voting process through the FIFPro organization, the World XI is the only international football award exclusively selected by the players themselves.
Stringent eligibility criteria ensure that only those who meet specific requirements are considered for this esteemed accolade, as reported by Sportskeeda.
The evaluation period for the nominees spans eight months, from August 20, 2023, to December 19, 2022, encapsulating a crucial timeframe of the football season. Peer players will be responsible for selecting the final starting eleven, comprising one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three strikers.
The player who secures the highest votes among the nine selected will occupy the remaining slot in the starting lineup.
As anticipation builds for the awards night in London, the shortlist for the FIFPro World XI includes luminaries such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and many others.
Each nominee on the shortlist has been chosen by their fellow professionals, underscoring the significance of peer acknowledgment in the football community.
In a parallel development, the race for FIFA's "The Best Men's Player of the Year" has narrowed down to Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland, with the final three-man shortlist generating immense excitement among fans.
The comprehensive shortlist for the FIFPro World XI features three distinguished goalkeepers—Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martinez, and Emerson—alongside six defenders, seven midfielders, and seven strikers. Renowned defenders such as Ruben Dias, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Antonio Rudiger, Virgil Van Dijk, and Eder Militao are among those vying for a coveted spot in the World XI lineup.
