List Your 11

[A Bit High]

Fifty-five players shortlisted for FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010

The 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 M*nchen), 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)

 

[AG]

Not a fan of these awards being done in January. Should be done in July/August to reward a season of football including the WC/Euro. Always too much emphasis on international form as well. Plus it always seems to be the same old names. Gerrard? Seriously. Even Fabregas. Barely played in the WC and has been fairly ordinary so far this season.

Kaka and Essien? Injured. Pirlo? Buffon? I'm surprised Ballack and Henry aren't on the list. Beckham as well. Why stop at that, may as well ring Thuram and call him out of retirement so FIFA can put him on the list.

Where are guys like Malouda? Neuer? Suarez?

I guess Cassilas, Maicon, Lucio, Puyol, Lahm, Xavi, Iniesta, Sneider, Ronaldo, Forlan and Messi will be picked.

 

[Coledinho]

LOL @ Petr Cech. Mark Paston was robbed. Had a way better year than that clown

Casillas
Maicon Puyol Vidic A.Cole
Alonso Schweinsteiger
Messi Sneijder Ronaldo
Drogba

 

[Jessica Watson]

Siddle
Siddle Siddle Siddle Siddle
Siddle Siddle
Siddle Siddle Siddle
Siddle

 

[SebastianVettel]

Alonso Schweinsteiger
Messi Sneijder Ronaldo
Drogba

I like your attacking setup, I'd probably go for Forlan over Drogba though on the last years form. He's been incredible.

 

[Dagger5]

Casillas
Ramos - Pique - Vidic - Cole
Ronaldo - Xavi - Sneijder - Messi
Villa - Drogba

 

[GrandBlue]

Casillas
Maicon - Lucio - Vidic - Cole
Schweinsteiger
Iniesta - Sneijder
Messi - Forlan - Ronaldo

 

[DB10]

Buffon gets nominated despite barely playing half the year?

it really should just be "FIFA Big Name Reputation XI".

 

[A Bit High]

Buffon gets nominated despite barely playing half the year?

it really should just be "FIFA Big Name Reputation XI".

Jan Johannes Vennegoor of Hesselink - none bigger

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Buffon gets nominated despite barely playing half the year?

it really should just be "FIFA Big Name Reputation XI".

Agree

Berbatov and Kaka should not be short listed

 

[indieswan96]

-----------------------Casillas-----------------------------


---Maicon---------Pique---------Vidic---------------Cole---


-------------Schewiensteiger-------Alonso-----------------


---Ronaldo----------Messi/Sneijder---------Robben/Messi--


------------------------Forlan----------------------------

Unlucky: Xavi, Iniesta, Eto'o, Drogba, Sneijder/Robben, Lucio, Villa, Ramos and Siddle

 

[Jessica Watson]

There's not enough Siddle.

 

[BlowJobe]

Please continue with the Siddle jokes JW. They are not annoying or unfunny in the slightest.

 

[Jessica Watson]

Please continue with the Siddle jokes JW. They are not annoying or unfunny in the slightest.

Peter Siddle said you'd say something like this.

 

[belfast_bomber]

Just goes to show players are no judges of talent. Other than Siddle of course.

Anyway Peter Siddle and I put our heads together and this is what we came up with

Casillas
Lahm Pique Vidic Cole
Pigclimber Sneijder Iniesta
Cristiano Drogba Messi

Sidsy said Bale should be at left wing, which I had no quibble with in principle but pointed out FIFA had him listed as a defender.

And we had a hearty chuckle at Kaka being listed as 'Ricardo Kaka' like it was his last name. He's a real card is Sidsy.

 

[Godzke]

It's usually 4-4-2 with players played out of position, so following the trend...

Iker
Lahm Pique Vidic Cole
Robben/Messi Xavi Schwein Sneijder
Messi/Forlan Ronaldo