A few weeks after the Ballon d’Or, it is the turn of FIFA and the international federation of FIFPro players to unveil the nominees for one of its trophies. The XI of the year, which will be known on January 17 for the “Best Awards”, will bring together players who have performed in the calendar year 2021.
Among them may be three French, who have the honor of applying from a list of 23 contenders: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), and Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain) may be lucky enough to have their name featured in the prestigious Team of the Year.
Surprising presences, intriguing absences
Many Paris Saint-Germain players appear in the list of 23: the Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi, or the Yachine Gianluigi Donnarumma trophy aspire to be included in the FIFA list which will include a goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and an eleventh player named best of fourth in each position.
More surprisingly, Neymar is present in the list, in particular instead of Mohamed Salah, sparkling at the start of the season. The presence of another Brazilian, Dani Alves, may come as a surprise: the new FC Barcelona player finished his year in August.
The fans of the year 2021 are for the most part present: Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho, Erling Haaland… The appearance of Frenkie De Jong can however surprise, even indignant on the side of the Madrid press, who would have preferred to see appear Toni Kroos or Luka Modric.
As a goalkeeper, in addition to Donnarumma, Edouard Mendy can hope to keep the cage of this honorary team. Alisson, rather average with Liverpool and absent from the 10 nominated for the Yachine trophy in parallel with the Ballon d’Or, is the surprising third nominated for the selection of FIFA-FIFPro.
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The 23 nominated
Alisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool FC), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy / AC Milan / Paris Saint-Germain), Edouard Mendy (Senegal / Chelsea FC), David Alaba (Austria / FC Bayern München / Real Madrid CF), Jordi Alba (Spain / FC Barcelona), Trent Alexander-Arnold (England / Liverpool FC), Dani Alves (Brazil / Sao Paulo FC / FC Barcelona), Leonardo Bonucci (Italy / Juventus FC), Ruben Dias (Portugal / Manchester City FC), Sergio Busquets (España / FC Barcelona), Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC), Bruno Fernandes (Portugal / Manchester United FC), Frenkie de Jong (Netherlands / FC Barcelona), Jorginho (Italy / Chelsea FC), N ‘ Golo Kante (France / Chelsea FC), Karim Benzema (French / Real Madrid CF), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Juventus FC / Manchester United FC), Erling Haaland (Norway / BV Borussia 09 Dortmund), Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München), Romelu Lukaku (Belgium / FC Internazionale Milano / Chelsea FC), Kylian Mbappe (France / Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (Argentina / FC Barcelona / Paris Saint -Germain), Neymar Junior (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain).
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