2026 FIFPRO World 11 winners revealed

• More than 26,000 professional footballers from 75 countries voted for the 2026 FIFPRO World 11 – the only global player award decided exclusively by professional footballers

• Lionel Messi returns to extend his record to 18 World 11 appearances

• Lucy Bronze sets a new women’s record with her ninth World 11 appearance

The 2026 FIFPRO Men’s and Women’s World 11 have been unveiled following votes from 26,317 professional footballers from 75 countries.

Lionel Messi returns to the World 11 for the first time since 2023, extending his record to 18 appearances.

Lamine Yamal, who also featured in last year’s team, becomes the first player to earn two World 11 selections before turning 20. He joins fellow 2026 World Cup winners David Raya, Pau Cubarsi and Rodri in taking Spain’s record tally of Men’s World 11 appearances to 53.

Bronze makes history

Lucy Bronze makes history with her ninth Women’s World 11 selection, setting a new record for appearances in the team.

Zambia’s Barbra Banda is the only player in this year’s Women’s World 11 from outside England or Spain. Her third selection extends her record as the African woman with the most World 11 appearances.

Meanwhile, Irene Paredes returns to the World 11 nine years after her first selection in 2017.

The only global football award chosen by the players

Since 2005, FIFPRO has invited professional footballers around the world to select the World 11. It remains the only global football award decided exclusively by professional players, recognising the performers who have impressed their peers most.

FIFPRO congratulates the following winners:

2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11

Goalkeeper

Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England)

Defenders

Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England)
Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England)
Mapi Leon (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain)
Irene Paredes (Barcelona, Spain)

Midfielders

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)

2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11

Goalkeeper

David Raya (Arsenal, Spain)

Defenders

Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain)
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)
Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)
Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona, Spain)
Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

Forwards

Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

How did the voting work?

Professional footballers from 75 countries cast their votes through a secure digital platform shared by FIFPRO and its affiliated player unions.

For the Men’s World 11, players were judged on performances between 4 August 2025 and 19 July 2026, inclusive. To be eligible, they must have appeared in at least 30 official matches during that period.

For the Women’s World 11, players were judged on performances between 4 August 2025 and 16 August 2026, inclusive, with a minimum of 20 official appearances required.

Each voter selected the three footballers they believed performed best in each position: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.

The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the most votes in their respective positions earned a place in the World 11. The final spot went to the remaining outfield player with the highest number of votes.