Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie has earned a place among the 26 nominees for the 2025 FIFPRO World XI, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
The FIFPRO World XI is the only global football award determined solely by votes from professional footballers worldwide.
Alozie, who plays for Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), is one of three African players on the shortlist. She played a key role in the Super Falcons’ record 10th WAFCON title win in Morocco earlier this year.
Other African nominees include Morocco’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak and Zambia’s skipper Barbra Banda. This year, more than 26,000 players from 68 countries participated in selecting the men’s and women’s teams.
The 26 finalists represent the players who received the highest number of votes in their respective positions based on performances from the previous season. The final World XI will feature the top 11 players in each category. According to FIFPRO, nominees must have played at least 20 official matches at the club, national, or international level between August 11, 2024, and August 3, 2025.
The winners will be announced on Monday, November 3.
In the men’s category, Lionel Messi holds the record for the most appearances with 17 selections, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo with 15. In the women’s game, Wendie Renard and Lucy Bronze share the record for the most World XI selections, with seven each.
The FIFPRO World XI award was introduced in 2005, with the women’s category added in 2016.