Ademola Lookman and other Nigerian players missed out on FIFPRO’s 2024 Men’s World XI final shortlist, which features 26 of the world’s finest footballers.
The announcement came on Monday, following votes from over 21,000 professional players across 70 countries.
Despite Lookman’s outstanding Serie A season sparking hopes of inclusion, the list is dominated by players from global footballing giants like Brazil, Argentina, and England, reflecting the fierce competition for the honor.
The FIFPRO World XI global football accolade is voted exclusively by professional players.
To qualify, players must have participated in at least 30 official matches during the evaluation period between August 21, 2023, and July 14, 2024.
Full List:
Goalkeepers: Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Defenders: Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal), Kyle Walker (Manchester City, England), William Saliba (Arsenal, France), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, Netherlands), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany).
Midfielders: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay), Rodri (Manchester City, Spain), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Phil Foden (Manchester City, England), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina), Cole Palmer (Man City/Chelsea, England), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain), Kylian Mbappé (PSG/Real Madrid, France), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England), Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil).
The final XI will be revealed on Monday, 9 December 2024.
