Ballon d'Or winner Kane left out of FifPro World XI as Lionesses earn record recognition

Harry Kane has been left out of the FifPro Men’s World XI despite winning the Ballon d’Or last month, in a team selected exclusively by more than 26,000 professional footballers across 75 countries. The Bayern Munich and England striker’s historic goalscoring season was not enough to earn him a place in a front four built around Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.

Messi’s inclusion marks a record 18th appearance in the FifPro World XI, extending his own all-time mark. The team is arranged in an unorthodox 3-3-4 formation, with Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, a back three of Pau Cubarsi, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, and a midfield of Jude Bellingham, Rodri and Vitinha completing the side.

Bellingham’s selection means Kane’s England colleague earns recognition despite his club Real Madrid enduring a turbulent domestic season. Rodri, who missed much of last season through injury, returns to the XI alongside Paris Saint-Germain pair Hakimi and Vitinha, reflecting PSG’s dominance in European football over the voting period — 4 August 2025 to 19 July 2026.

On the women’s side, England and Spain shared the FifPro Women’s World XI between them, with Zambia’s Barbra Banda the only player drawn from outside those two nations. Lucy Bronze earns a record ninth appearance in the team, while Chelsea teammates Hannah Hampton and Bronze are joined by Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood, Manchester United’s Ella Toone and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo.

Alexia Putellas, who won the Ballon d’Or Féminin, is also included alongside Barcelona and Spain teammates Aitana Bonmati, Mapi Leon, Irene Paredes and Claudia Pina.

Voting was conducted through a secure digital platform shared by FifPro and its affiliated player unions, with each candidate required to have made at least 30 official appearances during the eligibility window.