The FIFA Pro World XI is to be elected on the 13th January 2014 along with the Ballon d’Or. The team is selected every year by the players, for the players. Every calendar year FIFA invite all football players all over the globe to form their best possible team of the year. This year nominees saw new faces from every department, be it the Goalkeeping, Defense, Midfield or the Attack.
New Arrivals:
Diego Costa of Atletico Madrid, Robert Lewandowski of Borussia Dortmund and Mario Mandzukic of Bayern Munich were the new faces in the nominees for the attack line. Arturo Vidal, Marco Reus and Isco were the new faces in the midfield shortlist. Gareth Bale who was nominated in the defensive shortlist last year, has been nominated this year too but in the midfield shortlist. And for the first time since 2005, Frank Lampard has not been able to make it to nominees for the midfield shortlist. Dante, Jerome Boateng and David Alaba of Bayern Munich, along with Leighton Baines of Everton, Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City and Raphael Varane of Real Madrid. In the Goalkeeper shortlist, Manuel Neuer Iis expected to win and end Iker Casillas’s 5 year run.
Shortlist for Goalkeepers:
Gianluigi Buffon
Iker Casillas
Petr Cech
Manuel Neuer
Victor Valdes
Shortlist for Defenders :
Dante (Brazil, FC Bayern München)
David Alaba (Austria, FC Bayern München)
Jérome Boateng (Germany, FC Bayern München)
Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern München)
Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea FC)
Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea FC)
David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea FC)
Jordi Alba (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Dani Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona)
Gerard Piqué (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
Leighton Baines (England, Everton FC)
Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City FC)
Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina, Manchester City FC)
Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid CF)
David Alaba (Portugal, Real Madrid CF)
Raphaël Varane (France, Real Madrid CF)
Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid CF)
Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United FC)
Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain FC)
Shortlist for Midfielders:
Andrés Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Sergio Busquets (Spain, FC Barcelona)
Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona).
Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid CF)
Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur FC/Real Madrid CF)
Isco (Spain, Málaga CF/Real Madrid CF)
Mesut Özil (Germany, Real Madrid CF/Arsenal FC)
Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool FC)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern München)
Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München)
Franck Ribéry (France, FC Bayern München)
Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, Manchester City FC)
Arturo Vidal (Chile, Juventus)
Marco Reus (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)
Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus)
Shortlist for Forwards:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid CF)
Robin van Persie (Netherlands, Manchester United FC)
Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC)
Sergio Agüero (Argentina, Manchester City FC)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona)
Neymar (Brazil, FC Barcelona)
Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool FC)
Mario Balotelli (Italy, AC Milan)
Diego Costa (Spain, Atlético de Madrid)
Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, AS Napoli/Paris Saint-Germain FC)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain FC)
Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Borussia Dortmund)
Mario Mandzukic (Croatia, FC Bayern München)
Radamel Falcao (Colombia, Atlético de Madrid/AS Monaco FC)
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Galatasary SK)
The Likely FIFA Pro World XI :
Formation: 4-3-3
GK:
Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München )
The German goalkeeper is the man likely to bag this position of the field after his superb performances all year round and helped Bayern Munich to their maiden historic treble.
DEF:
Dani Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona)
The Brazilian full back is the most favorite to bag this position after his stellar performances for Barcelona and helped the team win the La Liga 2012-13.
Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain FC)
The former AC Milan full back was just phenomenal through out the year and successfully guided his side to the Ligue 1 title and also till the quater finals of the Champions League
Dante (Brazil, FC Bayern Munchen)
The Brazilan full back played an instrumental side in helping his side record a treble and was the heart of the Bayern defense.
Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern München)
The Bavarian captain successfully led his side to their maiden treble and after being nominated for the FIFA World Pro XI , is expected to make it to the World XI this time.
MID:
Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur FC/Real Madrid CF)
The Welsh winger was just unstoppable throughout the last season which saw him being named PFA Young Player of the Year, the PFA Player’s Player of the Year and aslo the FWA Footballer of the Year awards. His performances were the main reason because of which Real Madrid readily splashed out a record 100 mill Euros to bring him to Santiago Bernanbue.
Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid CF)
Xabi Alonso is the heart of the Spanish national team as well as of Real Madrid’s midfield. The former Liverpool midfielder though wasn’t able to help his side win any silverware but was just outstanding throughout the seson and is likely to bag a position in the World XI.
Franck Ribéry (France, FC Bayern München)
The French international’s heroic performances were the main reason of Bayern Munich’s treble last season and is also favored by some to pip Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’OR after winning UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.
FORW:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid CF)
The Portuguese captain has been in just scintillating form this year netting a total of 68 goals this calendar year and is very likely to feature yet again in the World XI this year too.
Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona)
The Argentinean forward along with Ronaldo likely to feature yet again and thought the Barcelona forward has been injured lately but still has managed 45 goals in the calendar year and also helped his side lift the La Liga title.
Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool FC)
The Uruguayan striker has just being unstoppable this year especially after coming back from a 10 game ban and is the likely candidate to pip Diego Costa and Cristiano Ronaldo for the Golden Boot if he continues his goal scoring form.
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