The worldwide players’ union FIFPro and FIFA have selected their list of 55 players short-listed for the FIFA FIPro World XI 2010 (see full list below and my pick), which will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich on Jan. 10.
Over 50,000 professional soccer players from the union voted in a secret ballot to nominate their peers for inclusion in their World XI – choosing the best four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and a goalkeeper of 2010.
World Cup winner Spain lead the way with the most players on the short list with ten, followed by nine from Brazil, eight from Argentina, six from England, four from Germany, three each from the Netherlands and Italy, two from Portugal and one each from Uruguay, Wales, France, Bulgaria, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
Spain’s Primera División has the most nominees with 18, followed by England’s Premier League with 17 and Italy’s Serie A with 15. Four nominees came from Germany’s Bundesliga and one from France’s Ligue 1.
Here’s my team for 2010: Goalie: Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.); Defenders: Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea FC), Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern München), Carles Puyol (Spain, FC Barcelona); Midfielders: Andrès Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, F.C. Internazionale); Thomas Müller (Germany, FC Bayern München); Forwards: Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona).
OK, sorry there are no Brazilians. I had to put Cole in, and Bale has been excellent recently. I’ve always been a big fan of Lahm. Forlan was great in the World Cup, while you can’t leave our Ronaldo and Messi, the two best players in the world. I’m a big Real Madrid fan so I give Casillas the goalie spot. Iniesta was brilliant in the World Cup, as was Puyol. Sneijder was the key to Inter’s success and Muller had a fine World Cup, although I was torn between putting Cesc Fàbregas in his spot or Mesut Özil.
The 55 player shortlist in full is: (home country, club)
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus FC), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea FC), Júlio César (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United FC)
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Olympique Lyonnais), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea FC), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United FC), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United FC), Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern München), Lúcio (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Maicon (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Gerard Piqué (Spain, FC Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Walter Samuel (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), John Terry (England, Chelsea FC), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United FC), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale)
Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Mickaël Essien (Ghana, Chelsea FC), Cesc Fàbregas (Spain, Arsenal FC), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool FC), Andrès Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona), Ricardo Kaká (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea FC), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany, FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Germany, Real Madrid C.F.), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern München), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, F.C. Internazionale), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona).
Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United FC), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea FC), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, F.C. Internazionale), Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, Real Madrid C.F.), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München), Ronaldinho (Brazil, AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC), Carlos Tévez (Argentina, Manchester City FC), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool FC), David Villa (Spain, FC Barcelona).
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