Recently, FIFPro has sent out voting forms to 50,000 professional footballers across the world who are members of the players unions. They were requested to participate in this secret ballot and to nominate their peers for inclusion in their World XI. Each player was asked to choose his team, picking the goal keeper, the four defenders, the three midfielders and the three forwards who, in his opinion, were the best at their position during 2011.

Barcelona is the team with the most players on this year's World XI shortlist. The reigning European and Spanish champions have twelve players nominated, one more than arch rivals Real Madrid. Manchester United is third with 6 players.

For the first time in the seven-year history of the World XI a player from a non European club has made the shortlist: Neymar, the Brazilian attacker of South American champions Santos.

Just like last year, Spain is leading all nations with twelve players on the shortlist. Brazil is second with 8 men.

For the professional footballers, the vote for the FIFA FIFPro World XI officially ended on November 30th. They are no longer allowed to vote.

Now FIFPro turns to the football fans. The world players' union challenges all football fans throughout the world to predict the 2011 World XI. First prize in this Facebook competition is an all-inclusive trip for eleven people to the FIFA Ballon d'Or in Zurich. On http://www.facebook.com/FIFPro, participants can predict the World XI and invite their friends to earn a chance of winning the trip.