Virgil van Dijk on World 11: "I don’t take peer recognition for granted"

• Over 20,000 professional men’s footballers from 68 countries voted for their World 11
• Since its inception in 2005, FIFPRO’s World 11 has been the only global football award decided entirely by professional footballers
• The 2025 edition marks the Liverpool defender’s fifth time being selected in the players’ global team of the year

Virgil van Dijk says there is no better recognition in football than that of his peers after being voted into the FIFPRO World 11 by professional footballers from around the world.

Earlier this month, the Liverpool defender was selected in the World 11 after over 20,000 professional men’s footballers from 68 countries voted for their 2025 team of the year.

Van Dijk’s presence in the 2025 edition marked his fifth all-time World 11 appearance. The Dutchman was named in the team’s defence alongside Paris Saint-Germain duo Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.

"It's an amazing feeling to be part of the FIFPRO World 11 again," said van Dijk. "Recognition from your peers is the best recognition you can get because you play against each other; they go through a lot of things that we are going through as well in the current game."

Van Dijk was presented his FIFPRO World 11 trophy by FIFPRO's Union and Player Relations Officer Paul McFarlane and PFA’s Director of Player Services Simon Barker.

Since 2005, FIFPRO has invited professional footballers around the world to select the World 11. What sets it apart from the many awards within football is that the winners are determined not by journalists, coaches or fans, but by football’s protagonists: the players.

"I think it’s the best recognition," said van Dijk. "Together with the PFA team of the year, I think those two, when you get voted by your fellow peers, it means a lot and it's something I don't take for granted.”

When asked which of his younger Liverpool team-mates could make the World 11 in future, van Dijk named two: "Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch. I think they could get into it."

How did the voting work?

The FIFPRO Men’s World 11 is determined by votes from professional footballers across the globe, using a secure digital platform distributed by FIFPRO and its affiliated player unions.

Voting covered performances between 15 July 2024 and 3 August 2025, with players required to have made at least 30 official appearances during that period.

Each participant selected three standout players in each of four positional categories: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward.

The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the most votes earned selection, while the 11th spot was awarded to the next highest-ranked outfield player overall.