Real Madrid

The Real Madrid players Mesut Özil, Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric have been included in the list of 15 players vying for the three midfield positions in the FIFA FIFPro World XI. An award for which teammates Iker Casillas, as one of the five goalkeepers, and Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo, in the list of 20 defenders, have also been nominated. Next Thursday the nominee forwards will be announced. Alonso, who was in the best eleven last season, has been recognised for being part of the Real Madrid championship winning team and the Spanish European Championship winning team. Özil also contributed decisively in Mourinho’s league championship winning team, while Modric has been recognised after arriving at the Bernabéu this summer from Tottenham.

Alongside the three Real Madrid players, the list of nominees for the midfield consists of; Sergio Busquets (Spain and Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Spain and Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (England and Liverpool), Eden Hazard (Belgium and Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain and Barcelona), Frank Lampard (England and Chelsea), Andrea Pirlo (Italy and Juventus), Franck Ribery (France and Bayern Munich), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany and Bayern Munich), David Silva (Spain and Manchester City), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast and Manchester City) and Xavi (Spain and Barcelona).

This is the eighth consecutive year that the FIFA FIFPro World XI has been chosen. It uses votes from over 45,000 players from around the world and, since 2009, has been organised by the worldwide representative organisation for all professional players in collaboration with FIFA. The World XI will be announced during the Ballon d’Or gala on 7th January 2013. Last season Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso and Cristiano Ronaldo were part of the FIFA eleven.