The Fifpro World XI shortlist has been published, with 26 finalists named for both the men's and women's selections. More than 26,000 professional footballers cast votes, and the 11 players who received the most votes in their position will make the final teams.
English names on the Fifpro World XI shortlist
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice are the English representatives on the men's shortlist. The women's list carries a heavier English presence, with seven players included: Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Ella Toone, Aggie Beever-Jones, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo.
Both shortlists run to 26 names, giving voters in each position group a wide field to choose from before the final XI is confirmed.
Messi and Ronaldo lead men's appearance records
Lionel Messi heads the men's all-time list with 18 appearances in the World XI, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo on 16. The source article asks whether both veterans, along with Bronze, would still make a reader's own starting side.
Bronze's eight selections in a short history
Lucy Bronze has been voted into the women's team eight times. The source describes that as a remarkable achievement given the women's award was only launched in 2016, leaving a far shorter window than the men's equivalent.
How the voting window was set
Men's nominees were judged on performances between August 4, 2025 and July 19, 2026. Readers can still build and submit their own preferred line-ups through the interactive selector published alongside the shortlists.
The original report is available at skysports.com.
