The complete list of the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World XI was unveiled on Monday, with several prominent footballers failing to make the final selection.
A total of 19,806 professional male footballers from around the world participated in the secure voting process used to determine the team.
Unlike many major individual football honours, the FIFPRO World 11 is decided exclusively by professional players, who vote for fellow footballers based on their performances. Previous winners and nominees have included league champions, World Cup winners, Ballon d’Or recipients and continental trophy holders.
This year’s selection features several prominent players, including eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and World Cup champion Kylian Mbappé.
However, Harry Kane, who won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, was among the notable omissions, bringing a 21-year run to an end.
According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano in a post on Monday, this is the first time since the FIFPRO World 11 was introduced in 2005 that a reigning Ballon d’Or winner has failed to secure a place in the team.
Kane finished fifth in the attackers’ category, receiving 27.6 per cent of the votes.
France Football did not present the Ballon d’Or in 2020 because the Coronavirus pandemic disrupted the football calendar across several leagues, with matches also played behind closed doors.
Despite the cancellation, Lionel Messi, who won the 2019 award, remained the reigning Ballon d’Or holder and was included in the 2020 FIFPRO Men’s World 11.
An infographic showing the voting percentages revealed that Mbappé topped the attackers’ category with 46 per cent, followed by Lamine Yamal with 37.4 per cent.
Messi came third with 29.5 per cent, while Erling Haaland finished fourth with 28.4 per cent.
The figures represent the percentage of the 19,806 professional footballers who selected each player in their votes.
Kane made history as the first Englishman to win football’s most prestigious individual award since Michael Owen in 2001.
He received the honour at the 70th edition of the ceremony, held at the London Palladium, following an outstanding 2025–26 season for Bayern Munich and England.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for the German club during the campaign, helping them secure a domestic league and cup double. His overall tally, including international matches, stood at 73 goals when he received the award.
The 33-year-old also scored six goals at the World Cup, where England progressed to the semi-finals.
Despite his individual achievements, Kane’s absence from the FIFPRO Men’s World XI represents a rare occurrence in the award’s history and highlights the difference between winning an individual honour and receiving votes from fellow professionals.
Other notable players who missed out on the final selection include:
Goalkeepers
- Thibaut Courtois
- Emiliano Martínez
Defenders
- Marc Cucurella
- Virgil van Dijk
- Gabriel
- William Saliba
- Dayot Upamecano
Midfielders
- Bruno Fernandes
- Enzo Fernández
- Pedri
- Declan Rice
Attackers
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Michael Olise
- Cristiano Ronaldo