Nine of the eleven best footballers in the world gathered in Zurich to celebrate the FIFA/FIFPro 2009 World XI as voted by professional footballers from all regions of the globe.
It is the fifth time FIFPro has organized the vote for the players’ choice as the best XI in the World. The World Players’ Union sent out 55 thousand ballots to professional footballers and an impressive 22,680 players responded by filling in their forms and entering them into FIFPro secure ballot boxes. The eleven players nominated by their peers as the World’s best are;
The FIFA/FIFPro World XI of 2009:
Goalkeeper: IkerCasillas (Real Madrid);
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), NemanjaVidic and Patrice Evra (both Manchester United);
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Xavi and Andrés Iniesta (both Barcelona);
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Fernando Torres (Liverpool).
Seven of the eleven players also made the FIFPro World XI of 2007/08. Four players were picked for the first time: Barcelona’s Daniel Alves and Andrés Iniesta, and Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and NemanjaVidic. All four played in the Champions League final of 2009. Unfortunately Evra and Vidic were not able to collect their award due to personal circumstances.
John Terry becomes the only player to be elected by his peers on all five occasions. Steven Gerrard, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made it to the team for the third time in a row.
European champions and recently crowned World champions Barcelona are the team with the most representatives in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI. Four Azulgranas received their award in Switzerland: Alves, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. The latter was even crowned as Best Male Player in the World, moments later at the FIFA World Player Gala.
Once again Spain is the country that provided the most players. This year 4 Spanish footballers are named in the World XI. Last year Spain set a record with 5 representatives.
For more details visit www.fifpro.org
