Controversial or deserved? Leo Messi, the great absentee at the FIFPRO World 11 2024

The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has announced the eleven players who will make up the FIFPRO World 11 2024, the team composed of the best athletes of the 2023-24 season. This team has been chosen by various professionals from 70 countries, whose voting was based on the players' performances between August 21, 2023, and July 14, 2024, both inclusive. Additionally, it was required that the players had participated in at least 30 official matches during that period.

Anecdotally, this voting has been marked by an especially surprising event for the international football fans. Why? Because of the notable absence of Lionel Andrés Messi, who was among the nominees for the best forward of the year, in the starting eleven.

The former FC Barcelona player failed to secure a place in the forward line, which was composed of Erling Haaland (Manchester City - Norway) as the center forward, and with Kylian Mbappé (PSG/Real Madrid - France) on the right side and Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid - Brazil) on the left side.

Introducing the 2024 FIFPRO Men's #World11, chosen by 21,266 players 🌟

🇧🇷 Ederson

🇪🇸 @DaniCarvajal92
🇳🇱 @VirgilvDijk
🇩🇪 @ToniRuediger

🏴 @BellinghamJude
🇧🇪 @KevinDeBruyne
🇩🇪 @ToniKroos
🇪🇸 Rodri

🇳🇴 @ErlingHaaland
🇫🇷 @KMbappe
🇧🇷 @ViniJr

By the players, for the players. pic.twitter.com/OoMcUZd3sK

— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) December 9, 2024

The absence of Leo Messi, a historic event in the FIFPRO World 11

The absence of Leo Messi is particularly striking because it breaks a streak of 17 consecutive years in which he appeared in the FIFPRO World 11, from his first inclusion on December 17, 2007. A reign that lasted 6,185 days and was interrupted on December 9, 2024.

This absence was caused by the votes of the 21,266 players who participated in the polls, with 5,096 of them voting for him, placing him in fourth position.

In the 2023-24 season, Leo Messi was a champion of the Copa America with Argentina, although with perhaps a somewhat discreet contribution, tallying one goal and one assist. Additionally, during the selection period, he faced a series of injuries that prevented him from performing as usual, both with his club, Inter Miami, where he accumulated 15 goals and 15 assists during that period. Were these numbers sufficient to be part of this XI?

Below are the players who make up the FIFPRO World 11 2024:

Goalkeeper:

• Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil) - (1st time chosen)

Defenders:

• Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain) - (1st time chosen)
• Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
• Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid, Germany) - (1st time chosen)

Midfielders:

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England) - (the most voted with 11,176 votes)
• Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
• Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany)
• Rodri Hernández (Manchester City, Spain) - (1st time chosen)

Forwards:

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
• Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid, France)
• Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid, Brazil)