Virgil van Dijk presented with FIFPRO World 11 trophy

Virgil van Dijk received his 2024 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 trophy on Tuesday. The Liverpool and Netherlands defender was voted into the 2024 team of the year by his fellow professionals last month.

Over 28,000 professional footballers from 70 countries voted for last year’s World 11. It is the only global football award decided exclusively by the players.

Six Real Madrid players – including the now retired Toni Kroos – and four Manchester City players made the men's team of the year. Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, making his fourth appearance, was the only player not from Real or City to be voted into the 2024 Men's World 11.

Van Dijk was presented his new-look World 11 trophy by FIFPRO's Director of Union and Player Relations Benjamin van den Broek, FIFPRO’s Director of Communications Alejandro Varksy and PFA CEO and FIFPRO global board member Maheta Molango.

Speaking to FIFPRO after his World 11 win last month, Van Dijk said: "I'm proud to be in the FIFPRO World 11. It means a lot because it’s voted for by your peers and it’s always a great feeling to get recognition in that way.

"It means a little bit more [being recognised by fellow professionals]. You play against these guys and they can definitely feel what kind of qualities you have and how difficult you can make it for them. It’s always a great feeling to be voted in the FIFPRO World 11."

A trophy that truly celebrates the collective

Van Dijk was presented with the new-look World 11 trophy that truly captures the collective spirit of the World 11.

Each individual trophy is an elegant representation of the number ‘1’, symbolising that each player is, in the eyes of their peers, the best in their position on the pitch. When all 11 trophies come together, they form a larger prize representing the entire World 11—celebrating the power of the team.

Designed by the award-winning studio xCruza at their Argentinian base, the trophies when gathered form an Abrazo de Gol (Goal Hug) embodying the essence of football: a single gesture where the team's spirit merges.