England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has been surprisingly left out of the 2026 FIFPRO Men's World 11, despite reportedly winning the Ballon d'Or. Kane's absence has drawn attention, particularly given his impressive performances for club and country. He was among the players nominated but failed to secure enough recognition from his fellow professionals to earn a place in the final selection.
Former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has also missed out, despite being among the nominees. Meanwhile, Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has secured a place in the final XI, adding another major individual recognition to his remarkable football career. The 2026 FIFPRO Men's World 11 features some of the most outstanding performers in world football, with players from several leading European clubs represented alongside Messi.
The selected team features an unconventional 3-4-3 formation, with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya taking his place between the posts. Raya earns the goalkeeping position following an impressive campaign with Arsenal, playing an important role in the Gunners' Premier League title success and claiming the Golden Glove award for recording the highest number of clean sheets.
Barcelona youngster Pau Cubarsí headlines the defensive selection, having continued to establish himself among Europe's most promising young talents and receiving the prestigious Golden Boy award. He is joined by Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes and Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, who completes the defensive trio following another impressive spell at PSG.
Manchester City's Rodri earns a place in the midfield after another influential season, while Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha is recognized for his outstanding contributions to the French champions. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham completes the midfield selection after producing impressive performances at both club and international levels.
Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal continues his rise among football's elite after another exceptional campaign, earning recognition alongside Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé. Lionel Messi completes the attacking selection, remaining one of football's biggest global attractions and demonstrating his quality in Major League Soccer.
The selection highlights the competitive nature of the FIFPRO Men's World 11, which recognizes the players considered outstanding by their fellow professionals. According to Transfermarkt market valuations, the selected team has a combined estimated value of approximately €1.31 billion, underlining the extraordinary quality of the players included. Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo's omissions stand out, particularly given their remarkable campaigns and reported success in individual awards.
Key points
- Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo were surprisingly left out of the 2026 FIFPRO Men's World 11 despite being nominated.
