BARCELONA AND REAL Madrid players dominated the 2015 FIFPro World XI, which was announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich on Monday.
Barca and Madrid both had four representatives, while Juventus – who were runners-up in the 2014-15 Champions League – had one, along with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain.
No current Premier League players made the cut for the award, which is voted for by professional players from all over the world whose national associations are FIFPro or candidate members, with over 45,000 ballots sent out.
El Clasico rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made the XI for the ninth time in their respective careers, while Andres Iniesta became the outright third-best performer in the award’s history by being named to his seventh team.
Manuel Neuer is selected as goalkeeper for the third consecutive year as he keeps his place from the 2014 FIFPro World XI along with Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, Iniesta, Messi and Ronaldo.
Barcelona striker Neymar, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and Juventus star Paul Pogba are named to the team for the first time, but Barca’s Luis Suarez is still waiting for a debut selection, as are Madrid duo Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.
FIFPro World XI 2015: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Neymar (Barcelona).
3 brazilian defenders? Joke.
Ramos in there is also a joke! No where near as good as some defenders this year!
At least no David luiz this time.
Alaba a head of Marcelo all day long how he get in that team is beyond me. Ramos should’nt be in that team either
Ramos seems like a lad seriously lucky to be in Madrid’s youth academy. Had he been in another team in Spain I doubt he would have achieved what he has. To be fair was instrumental in their champions league final in 2014
That was in 2014 tho…
He was never in madrids youth academy. They bought him from Sevilla.
He wasnt in Madrid’s youth academy, he was bought from Seville
Marcelo?
Declan,I agree 100% Alaba is Quality Left back he should Defo be no.1 left back!
Cheilini can feel hard done by here was instrumental in juve getting to the champions league final
This is the second year in a row alaba has been snubbed he’s more than deserved to be there both times.
Apart from ronaldo none of the other Madrid players should be on that team, this team is a joke every year. Worst was a few year ago when it was entirely La Liga players
2 fingers up to juventus after reaching champions league final.buffon,morata and tevez should be in that team,tevez scored 7 goals and morata 5 to get them to final.
That’s a fair point but who do you take out.
Obviously neuer and then pogba and modric.i don’t get why they treat this team like a fantasy football team.if they acknowledged players who had a great season rather than worry about picking more or less a real/barca 11 every year fans would take this more seriously.
Silva and Ramos ahead of Chielini and Godin!?! I know who I’d prefer in the heart of my defence…
Modric is a joke. Was at the cause of at least 2 of Madrid’s goals in the last el classico. Hes creative but shocking when not on the ball
Brazil were knocked out to paraguay§. Real were knocked out juventus yet they only have one player on it
Ozil and Koscielny should be there.
If the real madrid players are actually the best and brazil why didnt they win anything. And pep as coach wheres allegri? He won the bundesliga wow!
How Thiago silva gets in teams of the year and people rate him highly is beyond me. One of the worse defenders I have ever seen at that level. As for Ramos he is one of the best around the John Terry of Spain.
Delighted for modric, class act
Yet more evidence that the corruption runs deeper
Vidal should be there well ahead of modric. He won the copa America with Chile, won the league with juventes , and got to the champions league final.
Arturo Vidal before Modric, Champions League finalist, Serie A and Coppa Italia champ, and with Chile winning copa america, pure politics