Messi is absent from the FIFPRO World 11 for the first time in 18 years

In December 2024, the global players' association announced the 2024 FIFPRO World 11, revealing a significant shift in award nominations. Notably, Lionel Messi, a player renowned for his consistent visibility in top football accolades, was excluded from this prestigious lineup for the first time in nearly two decades. The absence of Messi marks a turning point in his illustrious career, which has seen him selected 17 times previously for the World 11. Instead, the voting saw the emergence of new talents, specifically highlighting Jude Bellingham, who garnered 11,176 selections from his peers, demonstrating a shift towards younger players in the sport’s elite discussions. The men's World 11 featured six players from Real Madrid and four from Manchester City, illustrating the dominance of these teams in recent years. Noteworthily, only Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool disrupted this Real-Madrid-and-City-centric lineup. In the Women’s World 11, English players dominated with five selections, showcasing the growing presence of English talent in women's football. Zambian player Barbra Banda made history by becoming the first African representative in the Women's World 11, underscoring the increasing diversity within international women’s football. This evolution in player selections reflects changing dynamics in both men's and women's football, driven by younger talents and varied geographical representation. The exclusion of established stars such as Messi from these lists invites discussion about performance consistency and the emergence of new footballing icons in the global arena.