Cristiano Ronaldo has been named among the stars featured on FIFA’s shortlist to make their FIFPro team of the year.
The former Manchester United forward could be considered as a surprise name among the 26-man squad having endured a troubled career since the summer, when his relationship with Manchester United started to sour towards a bitter exit.
Despite being the club’s top scorer last season with 24 goals, the forward started the season out of favour at Old Trafford under Erik ten Hag after demanding to leave Old Trafford following their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
However, poor form led to him losing his place in the starting XI at United, before an explosive interview with Piers Morgan on the eve of the World Cup, where he severely criticised the club leading to a mutual termination of his contract.
With a lack of interest from other European clubs, Ronaldo has since moved on to Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named on FIFA’s shortlist after impressing at Man United last season
Lionel Messi (left) and Erling Haaland will also hope to feature in a final XI due to be named
In addition the veteran 38-year-old also lost his starting place in Portugal’s starting XI during the World Cup in Qatar where his country made a shock exit in the quarter-final at the hands of Morocco.
Also named on the list is Jude Bellingham who by contrast is enjoying a steady rise for club and country.
The 19-year-old has emerged as a key player for Borussia Dortmund, while also breaking into Gareth Southgate’s England team.
The Liverpool and Manchester City transfer target also enjoyed a positive World Cup with the Three Lions despite their quarter-final exit in Qatar to France, and is the only English player named in the squad.
There are a host of star players named in the shortlist, with Lionel Messi a clear favourite to make the final XI following his World Cup exploits with Argentina where as well as winning the competition he was named player of the tournament.
Erling Haaland has also been named on the shortlist having starred for both Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in the past 12 months.
There are more Premier League representatives in midfield with Kevin de Bruyne from Manchester City as well as the World Cup’s Young Player of the Tournament and new Chelsea arrival Enzo Fernandez who moved to Stamford Bridge for a British transfer record of £107million from Benfica in January.
Manchester United and former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro is also named.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is the only English player named on the list
FIFA FIFPRO MEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST
Goalkeepers
Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil)
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
Defenders
Joao Cancelo (Manchester City/Bayern Munich, Portugal)
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich, Canada)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig, Croatia)
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)
Theo Hernandez (AC Milan, France)
Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea/Real Madrid, Germany)
Thiago Silva (Chelsea, Brazil)
Midfielders
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund, England)
Casemiro (Real Madrid/Manchester United, Brazil)
Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
Enzo Fernandez (River Plate/Benfica/Chelsea, Argentina)
Gavi (Barcelona, Spain)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Spain)
Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)
Forwards
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France)
Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund/Manchester City, Norway)
Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich/Barcelona, Poland)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain, Argentina)
Neymar Jr (Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/Al Nassr, Portugal)
Chelsea have another player for defenders in veteran defender Thiago Silva, while Virgil van Dijk for Liverpool is named, as is Joao Cancelo who Manchester City allowed to leave for Bayern Munich after a falling out with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
World Cup winner and Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez will battle Liverpool’s Alisson and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois for the No 1 spot.
The award is decided exclusively by votes from players and considers the performances of players between August 8 2021 and December 18 2022.
To decide the final XI, the goalkeeper with the most votes is selected, this is then followed by the top three players from defence, midfield and attack. The final position is then decided by the player with the most votes across all the outfield positions.
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The final XI will be revealed at FIFA’s The Best awards on February 27.
