- De Bruyne was vital to Manchester City winning the Treble in 2023
- The Belgian is looking to make a fourth consecutive appearance in the Men’s World 11
- This is the seventh time he’s been shortlisted for the team of the year
2023 is a year that Kevin De Bruyne will never forget: the midfielder finally got his hands on the UEFA Champions League trophy. Not only that, but Manchester City won a historic treble, with the Belgian acting as one of their leading figures.
The respect and admiration stirred by De Bruyne’s play is reflected in the voting for the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11: footballers from all over the world decided that he should be among the 23 players shortlisted to appear in the final team, which will bring together the best 11 in the period 19 December 2022 to 20 August 2023 inclusive.
There will be three midfielders chosen for the World 11, with the possibility of a fourth if the 11th most voted player also belongs to this category. It is worth remembering that the team is made up of the 10 that top the voting in a tactical formation comprising a goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three strikers. The 11th is the outfield player with the most votes of those who did not make it into the pre-established line-up.
Along with De Bruyne, the candidates for midfield are Jude Bellingham, Ilkay Gundogan, Luka Modric, Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Federico Valverde.
De Bruyne in 2023
City’s all-conquering 2022/23 season – Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League – included a stellar contribution from De Bruyne. For the third time in his career, De Bruyne was top assist provider in the Premier League with 16 goal-passes, seven of them in the period taken into consideration for the World 11.
De Bruyne had more goal-creating actions than any other player in the Premier League (36) and scored seven goals.
The Belgian also made his attacking ability felt in the FA Cup: beyond his productivity throughout the tournament, he gave the two assists in City’s 2-1 victory in the final over rivals Manchester United.
Winning the Champions League had become an obsession for City. And De Bruyne could not have found a better way of stamping his presence than by becoming the top assist provider in the competition with seven, two of them in the historic semi-final against Real Madrid.
Unfortunately for De Bruyne, he was only able to play 35 minutes of the Champions League final due to a hamstring injury, which also kept him out for the last four months of the year, apart from a few minutes in the Community Shield against Arsenal and one Premier League match.
At international level, De Bruyne was appointed the new captain of the Belgian national team by incoming Red Devils manager Domenico Tedesco.
Individual achievements
- PFA Team of the Year 2022/23
- Champions League Team of the Season 2022/23
- 2023 Premier League Playmaker of the Season
De Bruyne in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11
The consistency De Bruyne has achieved in the world’s football elite – and the enormous respect of his peers – are reflected in his consecutive appearances in the last three line-ups for the team of the year: 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Previously he had made the shortlist – which then numbered 55 players – in 2016, 2018 and 2019, though in the final voting he came behind legends such as Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
“I want to be the best. ”
— by Kevin De Bruyne
The football world talks about Kevin
"Playing with De Bruyne is always a pleasure. He can decide a match at any moment with a through-ball or a shot from outside the box. He’s already shown that at the highest level."
Leandro Trossard, Belgian international
"Kevin is a mirror. If he’s in good form, in a good mood, connected, the whole team is connected. Those are the reasons for making him captain."
Domenico Tedesco, manager of Belgium
"His capacity to run, his dynamism, his ability on the ball. Only [David] Beckham passes the ball better on the run, crossing-wise."
Rio Ferdinand, ex-England international
When will the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11 be known?
The FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11 for 2023 will be officially announced at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2023, for which the gala will be held in London on 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.
