2013 FIFA FIFPro World XI unveiled
13th January 2014
(Monday, January 13) FIFPro, the worldwide representative for 65 thousand professional footballers, together with FIFA, proudly presents the 2013 FIFA FIFPro World XI. There are five new faces in the team, all appearing for the first time: Manuel Neuer, Thiago Silva, Philipp Lahm, Franck Ribery and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
- Manuel Neuer
- Dani Alves
- Thiago Silva
- Sergio Ramos
- Philipp Lahm
- Andres Iniesta
- Franck Ribery
- Xavi
- Lionel Messi
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic
- Cristiano Ronaldo
Xavi is picked for sixth time in a row (2008-2013), while Andres Iniesta has appeared in the last five editions of the World XI (2009-2013).
Sergio Ramos and Dani Alves have each been selected by their peers a total four times and are retained in defence for the third straight year.
Compared to 2012, which produced a FIFA FIFPro World XI made up entirely of Spanish-based players, Iker Casillas is a notable absentee. The Real Madrid goalkeeper's reign finally ends after five consecutive appearances (2008-2012).
Gerard Pique drops out of the World XI having held down a spot in defence the last three years (2010-2012), Xabi Alonso makes way in midfield after back-to-back selections (2011, 2012), while Marcelo and Radamel Falcao bid farewell following their one and only appearance in the World XI.
The World XI holds a unique place in world football as it is the one award truly representative of the players. FIFPro, harnessing the collective voice of its members, first launched this global initiatve in 2005. The FIFA FIFPro World XI grows each year at an impressive rate as 68 countries took part in 2013 to produce a record number of votes in the tens of thousands. The players were asked to pick their World XI containing one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
FIFPro wishes to congratulate the FIFA FIFPro World XI team and all member unions around the world who assisted greatly in organising the votes of their respective players.