55 Penciled For FIFA Best Player

The worldwide players’ union FIFPro and FIFA has announced the 55 players shortlisted for the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2011. The winner will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or in Zurich January 9, 2012.

The 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players’ unions across the world that form FIFPro took part in a secret ballot to nominate their peers for inclusion in their World XI – choosing the best four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and goalkeeper of 2011.

World champions Spain have the most players in the shortlist with 12, followed by eight from Brazil, five each from Germany and England, four from Portugal, three each from France, the Netherlands and Italy, two each from Côte d’Ivoire, Argentina and Uruguay and one each from Serbia, Wales, Belgium, Colombia, Sweden, and Cameroon.

Spain’s Primera Division attracted the most nominees with 22, followed by England’s Premier League with 18 and Italy’s Serie A with nine. Four nominees came from Germany’s Bundesliga and one each from Russia’s Futbolnaja Premjer-liga and Brazil’s Serie A.

The winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of 2011 and the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2011 award will also be revealed during the televised gala night. In addition, the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award will be presented for the second time.

via leadership.ng

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