Eighteen. That is how many times Lionel Messi has now been voted into the FIFPRO Men’s World 11 by his fellow professionals, after a two-year absence from the team.

FIFPRO announced the 2026 XI on Monday, drawn from a global ballot cast by 19,806 male professional footballers. It is Messi’s first inclusion since 2023, and it extends a record the Argentina forward has held since his career-opening run of 17 straight selections from 2007.

Ronaldo sits second on 15, which means Messi’s lead has grown to three. Sergio Ramos is next on 11, Andrés Iniesta on nine.

Voted on performance, not reputation

The ballot assessed performances between 4 August 2025 and 19 July 2026, with a minimum of 30 official matches to qualify. Kylian Mbappé topped the outfield vote with 9,105 ballots, while Messi collected 29.5 per cent of the forward vote in a window that took in both the 2025/26 club season and the World Cup in North America.

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Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane left out

The most pointed absentee is Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich forward was named the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner in October but finished fifth among forwards in the FIFPRO vote with 27.6 per cent, according to 101 Great Goals. Ronaldo also missed out despite making the 26-man shortlist, as 3news reported.

Spain’s players dominate the team on the back of their World Cup win. David Raya, Pau Cubarsí, Rodri and Lamine Yamal all make the XI, with Cubarsí a first-time selection and Yamal returning at 19 after debuting last year.

The 2026 FIFPRO Men’s World 11

• Goalkeeper: David Raya (Arsenal)
• Defenders: Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Rodri (Manchester City), Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Forwards: Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Three of the eleven are first-time selections: Raya, Cubarsí and, in the women’s team announced alongside, Claudia Pina.

Messi’s year: MLS Golden Boot, a World Cup final, then goodbye to Argentina

Messi, now 39, played the past year on two fronts. In MLS he produced 43 goal contributions (26 goals, 17 assists) with Inter Miami and won a second consecutive Golden Boot. With Argentina he reached the World Cup final, which Spain won, and then stepped away from international football.

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Claudia Pina leads the women’s XI announced on the same day, with Spain again the most-represented nation after their Euro and World Cup double over the past 18 months.

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