- Kylian Mbappe enjoyed another brilliant spell with Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team
- If chosen by his fellow professionals, it will be Mbappe's fourth time in the World 11
- It is the seventh time the French forward has been on the list of finalists
If there is one adverse sporting situation that can measure a footballer's character, it is losing a World Cup final on penalties after scoring a hat-trick in 120 minutes. After Qatar 2022, Kylian Mbappe saw 2023 as a huge challenge to his mentality. And he overcame it with flying colours.
It is surely one of the reasons why Mbappe's fellow professionals voted for him in numbers to be one of the 23 finalists for the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men's World 11, which will celebrate the best 11 players for the period 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023 inclusive.
The French star is in contention to be one of three strikers in the World 11, although there could be a fourth striker, as the award rules dictate. The forward candidates along with Mbappe are Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinicius Jr.
Mbappe's 2023
After a valiant World Cup, which ended with the pain of defeat in the decisive match, Mbappe returned to PSG hungry for revenge. So much so that a few days after the World Cup final, he scored the decisive goal in the Parisians' victory over Racing Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
He ended the season as top scorer in the French league and, of course, as a league champion. During the period awarded in the 2023 edition of the Men's World 11, Mbappe scored 17 goals and provided four assists.
In the same months, he also had a prominent presence with the French national team in the qualifiers for the UEFA EURO: he played four matches, won four victories and scored four goals, as well as assisting one goal.
Individual achievements
- Ligue 1 Player of the Year 2022/23
- Top scorer in Ligue 1 2022/23
- UNFP Player of the Year 2023
- UNFP Team of the Year 2022/23
Mbappe in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11
Mbappe's first association with the World 11 was in 2017 when he was selected in the 55-player shortlist by fellow professionals after becoming Ligue 1 champion with Monaco and scoring 26 goals at just 18 years of age.
But it wasn't until the 2018 edition, after being crowned a World Champion at Russia 2018, that his peers voted him into the global team of the year.
Mbappe repeated his presence in 2019 – a champion with PSG, best player in Ligue 1 and top scorer – but in 2020 and 2021 he failed to make the 11. In 2020 he made the 55-person shortlist and in 2021 the 23-person shortlist.
In 2022 he made it into the World 11 for the third time in his career thanks to his fabulous World Cup in Qatar and his decisive performances at PSG.
“I’m a competitor. When I step onto the field, it’s to win. It doesn’t matter who I play with, what jersey I wear, where I play, or what year it is. I never settle; I only want to win.”
— by Kylian Mbappe
The football world talks about Mbappe
"He is anything but selfish. He's a team player with the ability to make a difference on his own. But that doesn't mean he neglects others. He's ambitious, he wants everything very quickly, he's already done a lot, but he still wants to do more."
Didier Deschamps, France head coach
"When you're a coach and there's a player like him, of course you want to coach him. He's a player who wears the France shirt well. In any case, I admire what he does. He's magnificent, he's strong.
Zinedine Zidane, former France international
"Mbappe can be Messi's successor."
David Trezeguet, former France international
When will the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men's World 11 be known?
The 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11 will be officially announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023, for which the gala will be held in London, England on Monday 15 January 2024.
It will be made up of the 11 players — out of the 23 on the shortlist — who receive the most votes in their position.
