Harry Kane‘s historic 2026 Ballon d’Or triumph was not enough to secure him a place in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11, creating one of the biggest surprises in this year’s selection. While the Bayern Munich striker received football’s prestigious individual award on October 26, he failed to earn enough votes to make the final team.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi returned to the prestigious World 11 after three years away, extending his record to an extraordinary 18 selections. Barcelona and Spain sensation Lamine Yamal also made history by becoming the first teenager to earn a second appearance in the team.
The final selection featured several of football’s biggest names, including Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Yamal. A total of 19,806 professional footballers from 73 countries participated in the voting process, making the results a reflection of the choices of players across the global game.
Harry Kane Misses Out Despite Winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or
Harry Kane was among the most notable omissions from the FIFPRO Men’s World 11. Despite winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or, the Bayern Munich forward could not translate his individual achievement into a place in the players’ team of the year.
Kane had initially been included on the shortlist, giving him an opportunity to earn recognition from fellow professional footballers. However, he ultimately failed to receive enough votes to secure a position in the final lineup.
The omission stands out because Kane had just been crowned the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner on October 26. His achievement placed him ahead of several leading names in world football, but the FIFPRO selection followed a separate voting process.
The result highlights that winning the Ballon d’Or and earning a place in the FIFPRO World 11 are two different forms of recognition. The former is an individual award, while the latter reflects the selections made by professional footballers participating in the voting.
Lionel Messi Returns to FIFPRO World 11 for an 18th Selection
While Kane missed out, Lionel Messi celebrated another remarkable milestone. The Argentina captain returned to the FIFPRO Men’s World 11 after three years away from the team, taking his total number of selections to 18.
Messi’s inclusion further extends his extraordinary record in the annual team. His continued recognition demonstrates the lasting influence he has maintained in world football.
The Inter Miami forward was selected alongside Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal in an attacking lineup featuring players from different generations of the sport.
Messi’s return also became one of the major talking points of the announcement, particularly because several high-profile players, including the newly crowned Ballon d’Or winner, were left out.
Lamine Yamal Makes History With His Second World 11 Selection
Lamine Yamal continued his remarkable rise by earning another place in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11. The Barcelona and Spain forward became the first teenager to receive a second selection in the prestigious team.
Yamal finished third in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings, further strengthening his position among football’s leading young talents. His inclusion alongside established stars such as Messi, Haaland and Mbappe reflects the recognition he has received for his performances.
At an age when many footballers are still developing their professional careers, Yamal has already achieved a milestone that sets him apart in the history of the FIFPRO World 11.
His second appearance also highlights the growing influence of younger players in the global game, with Yamal earning recognition alongside some of the most established names in football.
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland Lead the Forward Line
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland were also included in the attacking lineup. Mbappe, who finished second behind Kane in the 2026 Ballon d’Or race, secured his place in the World 11 after another season of recognition.
Haaland joined the Real Madrid forward, Messi and Yamal in a four-player attacking unit. The selection brought together different playing styles and generations, with each forward representing a major name in international football.
The inclusion of Mbappe and Haaland also made the omission of Kane more noticeable, as the Bayern Munich striker had finished ahead of Mbappe in the Ballon d’Or rankings but did not make the final FIFPRO team.
Jude Bellingham, Rodri and Vitinha Form the Midfield
The midfield featured Jude Bellingham, Rodri and Vitinha. Bellingham represented Real Madrid and England, while Rodri was selected for his performances with Manchester City and Barcelona, as listed in the team announcement.
Rodri had finished fourth in the 2026 Ballon d’Or standings, earning another significant recognition among the leading players in world football.
Vitinha completed the midfield after receiving recognition for his performances with Paris Saint-Germain. The Portugal international’s inclusion gave the team a strong representation from the French club.
The three midfielders were selected to form the central unit behind the attacking quartet, bringing together players recognised for their contributions at club and international level.
Barcelona and PSG Dominate the Defensive Selection
The defensive lineup included Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi and Paris Saint-Germain teammates Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.
Cubarsi represented Spain and Barcelona, while Hakimi earned recognition for his performances with PSG and Morocco. Mendes completed the defensive selection as the Portugal international from the French club.
The presence of two PSG defenders highlighted the club’s strong representation in the final team. Barcelona also secured multiple selections through Cubarsi and Yamal.
David Raya of Arsenal and Spain was chosen as the goalkeeper, completing the 11-player lineup.
Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Also Miss Out
Harry Kane was not the only major name left out of the final selection. Ousmane Dembele, the previous year’s Ballon d’Or winner, also failed to earn a place in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11.
Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was another high-profile omission. Dembele and Kvaratskhelia had finished sixth and seventh respectively in the Ballon d’Or voting but were not included in the final team.
Their absence added to the list of prominent players who missed out despite receiving recognition in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
The results demonstrate how the FIFPRO World 11 voting can produce a different outcome from the Ballon d’Or standings. Players who rank highly in one award are not automatically guaranteed a place in the other.
Complete FIFPRO Men’s World 11 for 2026
The final team features players from several leading European clubs, alongside Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who represents Inter Miami. Here is the complete lineup announced for the 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11:
Goalkeeper
- David Raya – Arsenal, Spain
Defenders
- Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona, Spain
- Achraf Hakimi – Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco
- Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal
Midfielders
- Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid, England
- Rodri – Manchester City/Barcelona, Spain
- Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal
Forwards
- Erling Haaland – Manchester City, Norway
- Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid, France
- Lionel Messi – Inter Miami, Argentina
- Lamine Yamal – Barcelona, Spain
FIFPRO World 11 Voting Highlights Different Forms of Recognition
The 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 announcement has produced several major talking points, from Kane’s unexpected omission to Messi’s record-extending return and Yamal’s historic second selection as a teenager.
With 19,806 professional footballers from 73 countries participating, the voting process brought together the opinions of players from across the sport. The final lineup included established superstars and emerging talents, reflecting the wide range of performances recognised during the voting period.
For Kane, winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or remains a major individual achievement, even though he missed out on the FIFPRO team. For Messi, the return represents another addition to an already remarkable record, while Yamal has created a new milestone in the history of the World 11.
The announcement once again demonstrates that football’s individual awards and players’ team selections can produce different results, even when they recognise performances from the same season.
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