FIFA Announces 55-Man Shortlist For 2010 World XI

Fifty-five players shortlisted for FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010
(FIFA.com) Thursday 25 November 2010
Getty ImagesThe worldwide players’ union FIFPro and FIFA today announced
the 55 players shortlisted for the FIFA/FIPro World XI 2010 (see full list
below), which is to be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on
10 January 2011.

The 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players’ unions across
the world that form FIFPro received voting forms in a secret ballot to
nominate their peers for inclusion in their World XI – choosing the best
four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and goalkeeper of 2010.

World champions Spain lead the way with the most players in the shortlist
with ten, followed by nine from Brazil, eight from Argentina, six from
England, four from Germany, three each from the Netherlands and Italy, two
from Portugal and one each from Uruguay, Wales, France, Bulgaria, Serbia,
the Czech Republic, Sweden, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

Spain’s Primera Division attracted the most nominees with 18, followed by
England’s Premier League with 17 and Italy’s Serie A with 15. Four
nominees came from Germany’s Bundesliga and one from France’s Ligue 1.

The final FIFA/FIFPro World XI will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or
gala in the Zurich Kongresshaus on 10 January 2011. During this televised
gala, the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of 2010 and
the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2010 award will also be revealed.
Meanwhile, the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award and
the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award will be
presented for the first time, while the FIFA Puskas Award for the best goal
of the year will be announced for the second year running. The FIFA
Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented
during the gala.

The 55-player shortlist in full:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus FC), Iker Casillas (Spain,
Real Madrid C.F.), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea FC), Julio Cesar
(Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester
United FC)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales,
Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Olympique Lyonnais), Ashley Cole
(England, Chelsea FC), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United FC), Rio
Ferdinand (England, Manchester United FC), Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern
Munchen), Lucio (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Maicon (Brazil, F.C.
Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Alessandro Nesta
(Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Gerard Pique (Spain,
FC Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real
Madrid C.F.), Walter Samuel (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), John Terry
(England, Chelsea FC), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), Nemanja Vidic
(Serbia, Manchester United FC), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, F.C.
Internazionale)

Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Michael
Essien (Ghana, Chelsea FC), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal FC), Steven
Gerrard (England, Liverpool FC), Andres Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona),
Ricardo Kaka (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea
FC), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, FC
Bayern Munchen), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid C.F.), Andrea Pirlo
(Italy, AC Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen),
Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, F.C. Internazionale), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real
Madrid C.F.), Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United FC), Didier Drogba
(Ivory Coast, Chelsea FC), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, F.C. Internazionale),
Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, Real
Madrid C.F.), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi
(Argentina, FC Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale),
Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München), Ronaldinho (Brazil, AC
Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Wayne Rooney
(England, Manchester United FC), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Manchester City
FC), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool FC), David Villa (Spain, FC Barcelona)