‘Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae and Lee Kang-in excluded’ + Asia wiped out: FIFPRO Best XI shortlist revealed... ‘Includes Ronaldo and Messi’

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The 26 finalists for the 2026 International Federation of Football Players Associations (FIFPRO) World XI, selected through direct voting by professional footballers worldwide, have been unveiled. Not only were key members of the South Korean national team, including Son Heung-min (LAFC), Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), left off the list, but not a single player of Asian nationality made the cut.

On the 2nd (Korean time), FIFPRO announced on its official website the list of 26 finalists for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World XI, narrowed down from votes cast by 26,317 professional footballers across 75 countries.

The FIFPRO World XI is the only global football award determined solely by the votes of professional footballers worldwide. This year’s men’s shortlist consists of the 26th players who received the most votes from their peers based on their performances between August 4, 2025 and July 19, 2026. Eligibility for candidacy was granted to players who appeared in at least 30 official matches during that period.

No Asian players’ names could be found on this list. South Korean football’s flagship stars, including Son Heung-min, who plays in Europe’s top leagues, as well as Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae, all failed to make the final group of 26 candidates. Even when broadening the scope to the entire Asian continent, no candidates were produced, resulting in a complete wipeout.

By position, three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and eight forwards made the final candidate list.

In the goalkeeper category, Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Chelsea) and David Raya (Arsenal) were selected among the three candidates.

In the defender category, Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes (both Paris Saint-Germain), William Saliba (Arsenal) and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) were among the eight candidates.

In the midfielder category, Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea/Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona) and Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain) were among the seven included.

In the forward category, Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), along with Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), are competing among the eight candidates.

The final World XI will feature, by default, one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who received the most votes. The 11th spot goes to the next highest-voted field player among those not already selected.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original