In FiFPro’s presentation of the 2013 FIFA FIFPro World XI unveiled today, four Barcelona players made the list. They are Dani Alves, Lionel Messi, Xavi & Andres Iniesta.
El FC Barcelona, con 4 jugadores, el equipo con más representantes en el FIFA/FIFPro 2013 pic.twitter.com/xtK89aSzQS ( @FCBarcelona_es)
— FC Barcelona (@FCBsphera) January 13, 2014
There are three players from Bayern Munich – Philip Lahm, Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery and five new faces in the team, all appearing for the first time: Manuel Neuer, Thiago Silva, Philipp Lahm, Frank Ribery and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
- Manuel Neuer
- Dani Alves
- Thiago Silva
- Sergio Ramos
- Philipp Lahm
- Andres Iniesta
- Franck Ribéry
- Xavi
- Lionel Messi
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Displaying unprecedented levels of goalscoring and overall consistency, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are back for the seventh consecutive year (2007-2013).
Xavi is picked for sixth time in a row (2008-2013, while Andres Iniesta has appeared in the last five editions of the World XI (2009-2013).
Sergio Ramos and Dani Alves have each been selected by their peers a total four times and are retained in defence for the third straight year.
Compared to 2012, which produced a FIFA FIFPro World XI made up entirely of Spanish-based players, Iker Casillas is a notable absentee. The Real Madrid goalkeeper’s reign finally ends after five consecutive appearances (2008-2012).
Gerard Pique drops out of the World XI having held down a spot in defence the last three years (2010-2012), Xabi Alonso makes way in midfield after back-to-back selections (2011, 2012), while Marcelo and Radamel Falcao bid farewell following their one and only appearance in the World XI.
The World XI holds a unique place in world football as it is the one award truly representative of the players. FIFPro, harnessing the collective voice of its members, first launched this global initiatve in 2005. The FIFA FIFPro World XI grows each year at an impressive rate as 68 countries took part in 2013 to produce a record number of votes in the tens of thousands. The players were asked to pick their World XI containing one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
