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Five World Cup stars who could make their debut in the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11
The 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 will be revealed on Monday 9 November. Ahead of the announcement, we look at five players whose performances and influence could earn them a first appearance in the only global team of the year voted for exclusively by professional footballers.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup strengthened the credentials of several contenders: Pau Cubarsi and Marc Cucurella lifted the trophy with Spain, Enzo Fernandez reached the final with Argentina, Harry Kane helped England finish third, and Michael Olise was France’s leading assist provider.
The voting period for the Men’s World 11 ran from 4 August 2025 to 19 July 2026 inclusive. Players must have made at least 30 official appearances during that period to be eligible.
Here are five potential debutants who shone in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Pau Cubarsi
Position: Defender
Age: 19
Club: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Previous World 11 nominations: 1 (2025)
The Barcelona centre-back arrived at the World Cup as one of the tournament’s rising stars and left as a world champion and winner of the FIFA Best Young Player award. His defending, distribution and composure – qualities already evident at club level – stood out on the world stage.
Cubarsi also established himself as a key figure in Barcelona’s defence during the 2025/26 season. He made 48 competitive appearances, including 45 starts, and scored his first LaLiga goal with a header against Girona on matchday 24.
He helped Barcelona win LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup, as well as reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. In Europe, he made 10 appearances, provided one assist and recorded 19 clearances.
Harry Kane
Position: Forward
Age: 33
Club: Bayern Munich
Country: England
Previous World 11 nominations: 5 (2018, 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025)
Kane enjoyed a remarkable season with Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals and providing seven assists in 51 appearances across all competitions. Including his appearances for England, he finished the voting period with 73 goals and eight assists in 65 matches.
He was the Bundesliga’s leading scorer for a third consecutive season, scoring 36 goals in 31 appearances. In the Champions League, he contributed 14 goals and two assists in 13 matches.
At the World Cup, Kane played a decisive role as England finished third – their best result since lifting the trophy in 1966. He scored six goals and provided one assist in seven appearances, playing 653 minutes and averaging a goal every 93 minutes.
His six goals placed him among the tournament’s leading scorers and took his career World Cup tally to 14, level with Germany’s Gerd Müller in fifth place on the all-time list.
Enzo Fernandez
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25
Club: Chelsea/Manchester City
Country: Argentina
Previous World 11 nominations: 1 (2022)
Fernandez was a key figure in the Argentina side that finished as World Cup runners-up. He made seven appearances and scored two crucial goals, helping La Albiceleste progress past Egypt and England. His 483 passes also placed him among the tournament’s leading passers.
Although he was sent off in the final against Spain, the River Plate academy graduate delivered an impressive tournament overall.
At Chelsea, Fernandez made more appearances than any other player during the 2025/26 campaign: 54 matches, including 49 starts, totalling 4,835 minutes. He also contributed 15 goals and seven assists, finishing as the club’s second-highest scorer.
His influence was particularly evident in the Premier League, where he played more minutes than any other Chelsea player. In the Champions League, he scored three goals and provided two assists, rounding off a season of impressive attacking contributions from midfield.
Angel Di Maria, selected in 2014, remains the only Argentine other than Lionel Messi to have featured in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11.
Marc Cucurella
Position: Defender
Age: 28
Club: Chelsea/Real Madrid
Country: Spain
Previous World 11 nominations: 0
Cucurella was one of the World Cup’s standout left-backs, combining tenacious defending with a significant attacking threat for Spain.
Against Austria in the round of 32, he provided two assists, becoming the first Spanish player to do so in a World Cup match since Korea/Japan 2002.
His World Cup performances provide the strongest case for a place in the World 11 following a difficult season for Chelsea, whose highlights included reaching the FA Cup final.
Cucurella nevertheless remained one of the club’s most consistent defenders, making 34 Premier League appearances and playing 2,710 minutes.
He is looking to follow in the footsteps of Jordi Alba, who remains the only Spanish left-back to have been selected for the Men’s World 11.
Michael Olise
Position: Forward
Age: 24
Club: Bayern Munich
Country: France
Previous World 11 nominations: 0
Olise was named Bundesliga Player of the Season for 2025/26 following an outstanding campaign with Bayern Munich. He scored 15 goals and provided 19 assists in the league, becoming the first player since 2019/20 to register at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a single Bundesliga season.
Across all competitions, he contributed 25 goals and 28 assists in 57 appearances for Bayern. He was also instrumental in their run to the Champions League semi-finals, scoring five goals and providing seven assists.
Olise carried that creativity into the World Cup, leading France with seven assists in seven appearances. That surpassed Pele’s tally of six in 1970, setting a record for assists at a single World Cup since records began in 1966.
How does the FIFPRO World 11 vote work?
FIFPRO and its affiliated player unions distribute unique links that give professional footballers around the world access to a digital voting platform. Last year, more than 26,000 professional footballers from 70 countries voted for their World 11.
Players select the three footballers who, in their opinion, have performed most outstandingly in each of the following positions: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.
The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who receive the most votes in their respective positions are selected for the World 11. The final place is awarded to the remaining outfield player with the highest number of votes.
The Rules of Allocation can be accessed HERE.