World 11: Which player received most votes and who narrowly missed out?

• The FIFPRO Men’s World 11 and FIFPRO Women’s World 11 have been revealed after over 28,000 professional footballers from 70 countries voted for their team of the year
  
  
• Established by FIFPRO in 2005, the World 11 is the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers
  
  
• Find out which player received the most votes from their fellow professionals 

A record-breaking number of professional footballers voted for their 2024 men’s and women’s team of the year, with 28,322 votes coming from 70 countries.

Since 2005, FIFPRO has invited the world’s professional footballers to choose their World 11. It is the only global player award decided exclusively by footballers.

FIFPRO rounds up the most frequently asked questions around the World 11, including which player received the most votes from their fellow professionals, who narrowly missed the cut, and which players and clubs boast the most World 11 appearances.

Who received the most World 11 votes?

21,266 men’s football players voted for their team of the year. Jude Bellingham received the most Men’s World 11 votes from his fellow professionals; the Real Madrid and England midfielder was selected 11,176 times. Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati received 2,974 votes, making her the most voted women’s player, after 7,056 women's footballers made selections.

Who narrowly missed out on the World 11?

Despite being the seventh most voted for player, Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez did not make the World 11 as fellow stopper Ederson polled higher among fellow professionals and took the single goalkeeping spot. Ruben Dias was the player who narrowly missed on an outfield position; the Manchester City and Portugal defender finished 2,113 votes behind Real Madrid and Germany defender Antonio Rudiger.

Ona Batlle missed the cut of the Women’s World 11 by just 18 votes. The Barcelona and Spain defender was selected 1,030 times, meaning she was behind the final Women’s World outfield player Lauren James (1,047).

When was the last time Lionel Messi did not make the World 11?

Lionel Messi, who last year set a record of 17 successive appearances, did not make the World 11 for the first time since 2006. The Argentina ace was voted into the World 11 for the first time in 2007, an edition in which he appeared in the team of the year alongside the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Steven Gerrard, Ronaldinho and Didier Drogba.

Who made the World 11 for the first time?

There are six debutants in this year’s World 11: Real Madrid duo Dani Carvajal and Antonio Rudiger, along with Manchester City pair Ederson and Rodri, have been voted into the Men’s World 11 for the first time; Barbra Banda and Linda Caicedo make their respective debuts in the Women’s World 11.  

Which club has the most World 11 appearances?

Six Real Madrid players were voted into the team of the year by fellow professional footballers from around the globe, making them the most represented club in the Men’s World 11. Real Madrid last year usurped Barcelona as the club who have contributed the most Men’s World 11 players in history. Los Blancos have taken that number to 60 with Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, (now retired), Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr being voted into the 2024 team of the year.

Barcelona had four players in the Women’s World 11 – Aitana Bonmati, Lucy Bronze (now at Chelsea), Alexia Putellas and Keira Walsh – making them this year’s most represented women’s clubs.

What was the World 11 voting period?

The FIFPRO Men’s World 11 winners are the players who received the most votes from their peers for their performances from 21 August 2023 to 14 July 2024 inclusive. Players must have appeared in at least 30 official matches during that period.

The FIFPRO Women’s World 11 winners are the players who received the most votes from their peers for their performances from 21 August 2023 to 10 August 2024 inclusive. Players must have appeared in at least 20 official matches during that period.