For the first time in as many years, Players from the Bundesliga and French Ligue 1 made the FIFPRO World 11 for 2013 while no Premier League player surfaced in the list of 11 best players in the world.
Only players from four European sides- namely; Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris St- Germain and Bayern Munich- made the FIFA Team of the Year.
Manchester United pair Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney were the last Premier League players to be named in the FIFA team of the year, taking their place in the 2011 selection.
Here are what you need to know about the 2013 selection…
GOALKEEPER – MANUEL NEUER (Bayern Munich)
The Germany number one goal- tender kept 23 clean sheets in 2013 in the Bundesliga and Champions League combined – no keeper in the top five leagues managed as many as this.
DEFENDER – DANI ALVES (Barcelona)
The Brazil international created more goalscoring chances than any other defender in La Liga in 2013 (49).
DEFENDER – THIAGO SILVA (Paris St-Germain)
Brazil centre-back, Thiago Silva, won 72.9% of duels in Ligue 1 in 2013, the best ratio for a PSG player. He only committed nine fouls in 1736 minutes, that’s one every 193 minutes.
DEFENDER – SERGIO RAMOS (Real Madrid)
Excluding the play-offs, no player made more interceptions in the European World Cup qualifiers in 2013 than Spaniard Sergio Ramos (22).
DEFENDER – PHILIPP LAHM (Bayern Munich)
No defender assisted more goals in the top five European leagues in 2013 than Germany international, Phillip Lahm (10).
MIDFIELDER – XAVI (Barcelona)
The Spaniard, averaged 83 successful passes per game in La Liga in 2013 – at least 10 passes more than any other player in the top five European leagues in the calendar year.
MIDFIELDER – ANDRES INIESTA (Barcelona)
Just one player completed more passes in La Liga in 2013 than Spain international Iniesta (2303) – averaging 64 a game.
MIDFIELDER – FRANCK RIBERY (Bayern Munich)
Frenchman, Ribery, won 41 of the 45 games he played for Bayern in 2013, losing just once. Scored or assisted 26 goals (12 goals, 14 assists) for Bayern Munich in 28 Bundesliga appearances in 2013.
FORWARD – CRISTIANO RONALDO (Real Madrid)
The Portuguese winger scored more goals than any other player in the top five European leagues in 2013 (38), as well as scoring the most in the Champions League last year (15).
FORWARD – ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC (Paris St-Germain)
Swedish striker, Ibrahimovic, scored or assisted 37 goals in 36 games in 2013 (27 goals and 10 assists); more than any other player in Ligue 1. He also had the most shots: 163 (incl. 66 on target).
FORWARD – LIONEL MESSI (Barcelona)
The Argentina captain, scored against 16 of the 17 different teams he appeared against in La Liga in 2013 (all except Atletico Madrid).
