Almost 20,000 professional players took part in the vote for the 2026 Team of the Year organised by the players’ union Fifpro. There was no place for the Bundesliga, not even for Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane. Instead, a long-standing favourite has made a comeback. The women’s selection has also been finalised.
On Monday evening, Fifpro announced its “World 11”, but there is no place for the World Footballer of the Year in the “Team of the Year”: despite winning the Ballon d’Or, Harry Kane is surprisingly absent from the players’ union’s selection, which, according to the umbrella organisation, was voted for by 19,806 professional players. The attacking line-up consists of Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.
Kane finished fifth in the vote with 27.6 per cent of the votes, just 0.8 percentage points behind Haaland in fourth place. Mbappé received the most votes with 46 per cent, whilst Lamine Yamal received 37.4 per cent. Messi, who made the squad for the first time since 2023 and for the 18th time overall, was chosen by 29.5 per cent of the players.
Unsurprisingly, three players from Champions League winners Paris St Germain – Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha – are represented, whilst World Cup winners Spain are represented by four players: David Raya, Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Lamine Yamal. There is no trace of the Bundesliga or the DFB squad in the 2026 “World 11”.
The Bundesliga and players from the DFB women’s team are also absent from the women’s selection
The FIFPRO women’s selection also features no players from the Bundesliga or the DFB women’s team. Here, too, the Champions League plays a decisive role, as no fewer than five players from the Women’s Champions League winners – FC Barcelona – are represented, although Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas now plays for the London City Lionesses.
From England, the reigning European champions, Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood feature in the top eleven, as do five players from world champions Spain. One exception is Barbra Banda from Zambia, who plays as a striker for Orlando Pride.
The FIFPro Women’s Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)
Defence: Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England), Maria Leon (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Irene Paredes (Barcelona, Spain)
Midfield: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Ella Toone (Manchester United, England)
Forwards: Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia), Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain), Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England)
The FIFPRO Men’s Team of the Year
Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal, Spain)
Defence: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Midfield: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England), Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona, Spain), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)