Di Maria, Pogba, Kroos & Rodriguez Are World XI Shortlist Debutantes

Manchester United midfielder, Ángel Di Maria, Real Madrid’s duo of Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez, and Juventus’ Paul Pogba are debutants on the shortlist of 15 midfielders for the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2014.

Fifa and FIFPro- the World Players’ Union- revealed the names of 15 midfielders nominated for World XI as part of the 55-men shortlist to be revealed on Monday 1 December 2014.

Three midfielders from the nominees will join the best goal keeper from a five-man shortlist, along with four defenders and three attackers.

The Fifa/FIFPro World XI, voted for by tens of thousands professional footballers worldwide will be unveiled on 14 January at the Fifa Ballon d’Or awards at the Kongresshaus, in Zurich.

Angel Di Maria Celebrates Scoring an Extra-Time Match-Winner Against Switzerland in the Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup. Getty Image.
Angel Di Maria Celebrates Scoring an Extra-Time Match-Winner Against Switzerland in the Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup. Getty Image.

Manchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure is the only African representative. Toure also made the shortlist in 2013.

Barcelona’s pair of Andre Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez, who has both made the 5 previous World XI’s, are in contention. Bayern Munich and France playmaker Franck Ribery joins the shortlist from the winners of last year’s World XI midfielders.

Bayern Munich’s Xabi Alonso and Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo are the other former winners to return on the shortlist. Alonso, who won the Uefa Champions League with Real last season, was named in the 2011 and 2012 World XI. Pirlo, winner in 2006, is also in contention after helping Juve win a third successive Italian Serie A title. The veteran Italian midfielder has appeared on all ten shortlists since the introduction of the World XI in 2005.

Chelsea duo of Cesc Fàbregas and Eden Hazard and Real’s Luka Modric missed out on last year’s shortlist following their inclusion in 2012. All three midfielders are back a year after.

The shortlist for the midfielders

Xabi Alonso (Spain, FC Bayern Munich)

Ángel Di Maria (Argentina, Manchester United FC)

Cesc Fàbregas (Spain, Chelsea FC)

Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea FC)

Xavi Hernández (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Andrés Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid CF)

Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid CF)

Mesut Özil (Germany, Arsenal FC)

Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus)

Paul Pogba (France, Juventus)

James Rodríguez (Colombia, Real Madrid CF)

Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern Münich)

Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, Manchester City FC)

Arturo Vidal (Chile, Juventus)