• FIFPRO announces its shortlist for 2024

FIFA has unveiled the final shortlist of 26 players nominated for inclusion in the 2024 FIFPRO Men’s World XI, celebrating their outstanding performances for their respective clubs.

This exclusive award is determined by the players themselves, making it the only global honor based solely on votes from professional footballers. Manchester City leads with eight representatives in the shortlist, a testament to their exceptional performances across all competitions last season.

The FIFPRO Men’s World XI aims to assemble the best starting XI from the top football talent worldwide over the past year. The nominees come from a pool of over 28,000 professional footballers spanning 70 countries. Each player selects the top three goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards from an initial list of 250 candidates.

The final team consists of the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the highest number of votes. The remaining outfield player with the most votes completes the prestigious XI.

Who are the players on FIFPRO’s final shortlist for 2024?

Goalkeepers:

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Jamal Musiala expressed admiration for Old Trafford, the iconic stadium where his Bayern Munich team faced Manchester United in the Champions League.

The young German international, considered a future Ballon d’Or contender, spoke highly of the stadium’s rich history and the impressive atmosphere it holds. Musiala acknowledged that playing at Old Trafford is a dream for many aspiring footballers and anticipated an amazing atmosphere for the match.

Bayern’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, echoed similar sentiments about Old Trafford, emphasizing the “special moments” and the electrifying ambiance the 113-year-old venue can generate. Tuchel, who has managed visiting teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at Old Trafford, described it as a challenging but exciting experience.

He acknowledged the difficulty of playing against a strong Manchester United team and recognized the club’s unique DNA, which makes them formidable, especially in crucial moments.

Tuchel also acknowledged the significance of the match for Manchester United, highlighting the team’s desperate need for a victory to secure their place in the Champions League knockout rounds. Despite the challenge, he emphasized the danger that Manchester United poses, attributing it to the club’s distinctive aura and mentality.

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In 2023, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham claimed the prestigious Golden Boy award, recognizing him as the best footballer under the age of 21.

Established by the Italian outlet Tuttosport in 2003, the award is decided by journalists’ votes. Previous recipients include football luminaries like Wayne Rooney (2004), Lionel Messi (2005), and Paul Pogba (2013), with Barcelona’s Gavi securing the honor last year.

Bellingham’s achievement comes on the heels of his Kopa Trophy win at the Ballon d’Or awards in October, where he was acknowledged as the best under-21 player globally. Notably, the 20-year-old midfielder finished 18th in the senior men’s Ballon d’Or based on his performances with his former club, Borussia Dortmund.

Since joining Real Madrid from Dortmund during the summer transfer window, Bellingham has garnered praise for his outstanding performances, registering 13 goals and three assists in 14 appearances across all competitions this season.

In a historic feat, he became the second player in Real Madrid history to score in his first three Champions League games.

Despite stiff competition from nominees such as Rasmus Hojlund, Jamal Musiala, and Benjamin Sesko, the England international secured the award. Additionally, Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo was honored with the Golden Girl award, recognizing her as the standout player in the 2022 Copa America.

Among the Premier League nominees were Manchester United’s Hojlund, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, and Brighton’s Evan Ferguson.

The nominees in full

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
• Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
• Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)
• Antonio Silva (Benfica)
• Alejandro Balde (Barcelona)
• Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig)
• Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta)
• Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United)
• Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
• Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven)
• Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)
• Arthur Vermeeren (Antwerp)
• Evan Ferguson (Brighton)
• Lucas Gourna-Douath (FC Salzburg)
• Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Ousmane Diomande (Sporting Lisbon)
• Arnau Martinez (Girona)
• Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)
• Andy Diouf (Lens)
• Arda Guler (Real Madrid),
• Bilal El Khannouss (Genk),
• Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb)
• Joao Neves (Benifca)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

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Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid and England star, has been awarded the 2023 Kopa Trophy, beating out several talented young players to claim the prestigious honor.

Bellingham’s impressive performances, including scoring his first goal for England at the 2022 World Cup and his stellar season with Borussia Dortmund before joining Real Madrid, contributed to his victory.

Jude Bellingham won the 2023 Kopa Trophy, congrats 👏#ballondor pic.twitter.com/Od05dyIecy

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 30, 2023

The 20-year-old midfielder has continued to shine at Real Madrid, scoring 13 goals in his first 13 games for the club, including a crucial double in a recent El Clasico victory over Barcelona. Bellingham outperformed other nominees, including his club teammate Eduardo Camavinga, Barcelona’s Pedri and Gavi, and Germany’s Jamal Musiala, who secured the second position.

Bellingham is also a strong contender for the 2023 Golden Boy Award, which will be announced in the near future. His remarkable achievements have made him the first English player to win the Kopa Trophy, signifying his status as one of the brightest young talents in the football world.

JUDE BELLINGHAM IS THE 2023 KOPA TROPHY! #TrophéeKopa #ballondor pic.twitter.com/JuEvgY1WAO

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 30, 2023

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• Jude Bellingham picks his favourite El Clasico memory
• Davido celebrates Osimhen, Oshoala as they bag Ballon d’Or nominations
• Ballon d’Or 2023: All the men’s nominees

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The shortlist for the world’s most prestigious individual football award has been unveiled in anticipation of the ceremony scheduled for October 30 in Paris. Leading the pack are Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, two of the standout contenders for this coveted accolade.

Messi’s inclusion is especially significant as he was absent from the shortlist last year. If he secures the men’s Ballon d’Or this year, it would mark his eighth win of the award, with Cristiano Ronaldo closely following with five victories. Additionally, Messi earned the Best FIFA Men’s Player award for the second time in February.

The announcement of the winner is scheduled to take place during a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30.

Messi’s leadership was instrumental in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup in December, a major achievement that had eluded him throughout his remarkable 21-year career until then.

Messi had a mixed year for his club. He struggled at Paris Saint-Germain, but he did help the team win its 11th Ligue 1 title as they were eliminated from the Champions League at the round of 16 stage for the second consecutive season.

He chose to join Inter Miami on a free transfer this summer instead of staying in Paris, and he immediately made a difference by helping them win the Leagues Cup and advance to the U.S. Open Cup final.

Erling Haaland, who was also nominated, could be Messi’s toughest rival for the honour. The Norwegian forward helped Manchester City win the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League by tallying 52 goals in 53 games across all competitions.

In his first season in England, the 23-year-old shattered the Premier League’s single-season goal-scoring record with 36 goals.

The striker also took up a number of individual honours for his outstanding exploits, including PFA Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, and Men’s Player of the Year from the Football Writers’ Association.

As expected, the list of nominees for this year’s award is heavily populated by players from Manchester City and Argentina.

Seven individuals who played pivotal roles in Manchester City’s triumphant treble-winning season, including Erling Haaland, have secured spots on the shortlist. Additionally, four Argentine players, including Lionel Messi, who contributed to their nation’s historic third World Cup victory, have also earned well-deserved nominations.

Full list of men’s Ballon d’Or nominees:
André Onana – Manchester United/Cameroon
Josko Gvardiol – Manchester City/Croatia
Karim Benzema – Al Ittihad
Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich/Germany
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool/Egypt
Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid/England
Bukayo Saka – Arsenal/England
Randal Kolo Muani – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City/Belgium
Bernardo Silva – Manchester City/Portugal
Emiliano Martínez – Aston Villa/Argentina
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Napoli/Georgia
Rúben Dias – Manchester City/Portugal
Nicolo Barella – Inter Milan/Italy
Erling Haaland – Manchester City/Norway
Yassine Bounou – Al Hilal/Morocco
Martin Ødegaard – Arsenal/Norway
Julián Álvarez – Manchester City/Argentina
Ilkay Gündogan – Barcelona/Germany
Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid/Brazil
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami/Argentina
Rodri – Manchester City/Spain
Lautaro Martínez – Inter Milan/Argentina
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid/France
Robert Lewandowski – Barcelona/Poland
Kylian Mbappé – Paris Saint-Germain/France
Kim Min-jae – Napoli/South Korea
Victor Osimhen – Napoli/Nigeria
Luka Modric – Real Madrid/Croatia
Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England

The nominees for the 2023 Men’s Ballon d’Or are here! 🤩🏆

Plenty of Premier League representation! 👊 pic.twitter.com/VplS8vkZGD

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 6, 2023

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The 2023 Kopa Trophy nominees for the Ballon d’Or’s top young player award have been unveiled. Among the contenders are the reigning champion, Gavi, and the Real Madrid sensation, Jude Bellingham. The Kopa Trophy is an accolade presented annually as part of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, recognizing the most outstanding player under 21 years of age.

Gavi represents one of the three Barcelona players in the running for the award, alongside full-back Alejandro Balde and the 2021 victor, Pedri. Their exceptional contributions played a pivotal role in guiding Barcelona to their first La Liga championship in four years.

Most likely, someone from the other side of the Clasico split will get the award. After a spectacular season at Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham was signed by Real Madrid for a record £85 million plus add-ons throughout the summer. The England international has made an immediate impact, scoring five goals in his first four La Liga games.

The midfielder is now largely regarded as one of the top players in the world, not only among the best young players but among all footballers.

Bellingham is joined by fellow Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga in being nominated for the award, with the rest of the nominees coming from across four different European leagues.

Manchester United’s recent acquisition, Rasmus Hojlund, who was signed for an initial £64 million from Atalanta, is the sole representative from the Premier League on the list of nominees.

Meanwhile, Elye Wahi from Lens represents Ligue 1, the skilful defender Antonio Silva represents Benfica and the Primeira Liga, and the Bundesliga is represented by Xavi Simons, currently on loan at RB Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain, and Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich, rounding out the list of nominees.

Kopa Tophy 2023 nominees

• Jude Bellingham – Borussia Dortmund/Real Madrid
• Alejandro Balde – Barcelona
• Eduardo Camavinga – Real Madrid
• Gavi – Barcelona
• Rasmus Hojlund – Atalanta/Manchester United
• Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich
• Pedri – Barcelona
• Xavi Simons – PSV Eindhoven/RB Leipzig
• Antonio Silva – Benfica
• Elye Wahi – Montpellier/Lens

When is the Kopa Trophy 2023 winner announced?

The Kopa Trophy will be presented to the top young player in Europe on October 30 during an event at Paris, France’s Theatre du Chatelet.

Here are all of the 2023 Kopa Trophy nominees
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jude Bellingham @realmadrid
🇪🇸 Gavi @FCBarcelona
🇩🇪 Jamal Musiala @FCBayern
🇫🇷 Eduardo Camavinga @realmadrid
🇪🇸 Pedri @FCBarcelona
🇳🇱 Xavi Simons @RBLeipzig
🇪🇸 Alejandro Balde @FCBarcelona
🇵🇹 Antonio Silva @SLBenfica
🇩🇰… pic.twitter.com/0MDlU5M6hp

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 6, 2023

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Thomas Tuchel, the manager of Bayern Munich, criticized Jamal Musiala for taking a “crazy gamble” in their DFB-Pokal match that cost Freiburg the winning penalty.

Dayout Upamecano’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Nicolas Hofler’s goal, but Bayern Munich has been eliminated from the cup competition thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Lucas Holer.

After replacing Julian Nagelsmann as the head coach of the Bavarians, Tuchel suffered his first defeat.

In the 93rd minute, with the score still level at 1-1, Musiala handled the ball within his area, and Holer converted the resulting penalty kick with ease. After the game, Tuchel vented his anger over the 20-year-old’s careless error.

“Nowadays you can’t jump in like that in the sixteen. You just can’t do that. You’re taking a crazy risk,” the Bayern coach said to Sky Sports.

Tuchel was livid not only with Musiala but also with his other defenders as they failed to clear their lines at such a crucial juncture. “We lost two headers before that in the box, in the last minute. You have to put your body in there, be more stable, be tougher. Two header duels, a first ball, second ball, third ball – that’s too much in the box in the last Minute. It’s easy,” he added.

Bayern will turn their focus back to the Bundesliga after a discouraging setback in the DFB-Pokal on Saturday when they take on Freiburg once more. They will then travel to England to play Manchester City in the opening leg of their Champions League quarterfinal matchup after that game.

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Following extensive research, here are the top 10 national team players with the highest market value for the 2022 World Cup.

In light of this, we looked up Transfermarkt’s enormous database of estimated player valuations to obtain an idea of which teams are indeed the most expensive at the 2022 World Cup.

The CIES Football Observatory estimates that England’s team is the most valuable at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, estimated at an astounding €1.499 billion, well ahead of the favourites Brazil (€1.455 billion) and the defending champions France (€1.377 billion).

Ahead of kick-off, The Mp3bullet runs down the list of the top 10 most valuable players, by nation:

1. England/Dortmund – Jude Bellingham (Estimated value: €202 million)

Bellingham, a player on the radar of the biggest teams in Europe, has England fans all over the world anticipating great things from him. This season, the 19-year-old has made 22 appearances for Dortmund, scoring nine goals and providing three assists.

2. Brazil/Real Madrid – Vinicius Junior (Estimated value: €201m)

The young Brazilian has had a fantastic start to the season with 15 goal contributions in 21 league games. He assisted Madrid in winning the Champions League and La Liga last year.

RELATED:

• James Maddison reveals the player he studied to help win a place in England’s World Cup squad
• Neymar names his two favourite England players before the World Cup
• Neymar lists 4 other 2022 World Cup favourites alongside Brazil

3. France/PSG – Kylian Mbappe (Estimated value: €185m)

The biggest star in France, who was phenomenal as Les Bleus won the World Cup in Russia, will be aiming to avoid the rumoured winners’ curse in Qatar. This season, he has 24 goal contributions in 20 club games is just ridiculous.

4. Spain/Barcelona – Pedri Gonzalez (Estimated value: €158m)

For many years, one of Barcelona’s most promising young talents has played a major role in Luis Enrique’s side, as Spain attempts to qualify from one of the toughest groups alongside Germany, Japan, and Costa Rica. The player has been one of the most prominent footballers in the world but also one of the best midfielders today.

5. Germany/Bayern – Jamal Musiala (Estimated value: €151m)

Nine titles, including the Champions League, have already been won by Musiala at Bayern Munich at the age of 19. Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves called him “one of a kind” and predicted that he will excel for Germany.

6. Uruguay/Real Madrid – Federico Valverde (Estimated value: €123m)

The 24-year-old defender has already played 44 times for Uruguay in international competition, scoring four goals. He is worth €123 million, or 21% of the squad’s total value for the World Cup. In the first 14 games of the 2022–2023 season, he has six goals. He now ranks as the sixth-highest scorer in La Liga thus far. His shot-to-goal conversion rate is 41 per cent.

RELATED:

• The Countries With The Most Bets To Win The FIFA Qatar World Cup
• The Football Clubs with the Most Representatives at the FIFA Qatar World Cup

7. Portugal/Man City – Ruben Dias (Estimated value: €118m)

Every fan of the Premier League is aware of how important Ruben Dias has been to Pep Guardiola’s illustrious Manchester City team over the past several seasons. Dias and City teammate Joao Cancelo will be vital to Portugal’s chances of winning the World Cup because players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, and Bernardo Silva will be causing havoc at the opposite end of the field.

8. Croatia/Leipzig – Josko Gvardiol (Estimated value: €110m)

You might not be very familiar with the first name on this list. Chelsea and Barcelona were both interested in signing the 20-year-old Croatian defender in 2022, and he might draw additional interest going into the January transfer market if he performs well in Qatar. Croatia should advance from a group that also included Canada, Belgium, and Morocco.

9. Netherlands/Barcelona – Frenkie de Jong (Estimated value: €110m)

Keep an eye on Frenkie de Jong in Qatar if you haven’t grown tired of hearing his name after the will he or won’t he dispute with Manchester United over the summer. He plays an important role in the Netherlands team coached by Louis van Gaal, who is optimistic his team can win the World Cup.

10. Argentina/Inter Milan – Lautaro Martinez (Estimated value: €99m)

Everyone we spoke to appears eager to watch the best team in international football compete for victory this winter, which is well justified. Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria, and Lionel Messi form a terrifying attacking three, and the Inter forward has scored more than one goal for his country every other game – 21 in 40 games.

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