This article was translated from Arabic. Read the Arabic original
Austria Now News – Vienna
The global professional footballers’ union FIFPRO has revealed the names of 26 players who made the shortlist for the 2026 Men’s World 11. Standing out among them is Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain, the only Arab player on the list.
Voted by the players themselves
According to the union, 19,806 professional players from 73 countries took part in the vote, making it the only global award decided exclusively by professional players. The assessment covers the period from 4 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, and players must have played at least 30 competitive matches. The final team will be announced on Monday, 9 November, at 17:00 CET, and will comprise a goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, plus the outfield player with the next-highest number of votes.
Nominees by position
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martínez and David Raya.
Defenders: Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Virgil van Dijk, Gabriel, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Bruno Fernandes, Enzo Fernández, Pedri, Declan Rice, Rodri and Vitinha.
Forwards: Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Michael Olise, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal.
Hakimi a regular presence
According to Al Jazeera Net, Hakimi was part of last year’s team, which also saw Lamine Yamal included at the age of 18 as the youngest player in the history of the FIFPRO Men’s World 11, surpassing the previous record set by Mbappé in 2018 at the age of 19.
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Sources
- FIFPRO – Who is in the running for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11? – 02.11.2026 – https://fifpro.org/en/articles/2026/11/who-is-in-the-running-for-the-2026-fifpro-mens-world-11
- Al Jazeera Net – A Moroccan among football’s giants… and surprises on the shortlist for the World 11 – 02.11.2026 – https://www.aljazeera.net/sport/
