Fifa and FIFPro have revealed identities of the 20 defenders shortlisted for the Fifa FIFPro World XI 2014.
Barcelona’s Daniel Alves and Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos have both been named on the shortlist for defenders and are in contention to make the Fifa World XI for the fourth time in a row after being named in 2011, 2012 and 2013 teams of the year.
The 20 defenders will be followed by 15 midfielders, and 15 forwards to be announced and published subsequently as part of the run-in to the final 55-man World XI shortlist, which will be announced by December 1.
Four defenders from the nominees will join the best goal keeper from the five-man shortlist unveiled two days ago, along with three midfielders and three attackers.
Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta are joined by Chelsea’s Filipe Luis and Branislav Ivanovic as the only active Premier League players in contention.
German World Cup winners Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Philipp Lahm and Real Madrid quartet of Marcelo, Rafael Varane, Pepe and Daniel Carvajal are also included.
The winners, 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.
Shortlisted defenders for 2014 Fifa/FIFPro World XI
David Alaba (Austria / FC Bayern München)
Jordi Alba (Spain / FC Barcelona)
Dani Alves (Brazil / FC Barcelona)
Jerome Boateng (Germany / FC Bayern München)
Daniel Carvajal (Spain / Real Madrid CF)
David Luiz (Brazil / Paris St-Germain FC)
Filipe Luis (Brazil / Chelsea FC)
Diego Godin (Uruguay / Atlético Madrid)
Mats Hummels (Germany / Borussia Dortmund)
Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia / Chelsea FC)
Vincent Kompany (Belgium / Manchester City FC)
Philipp Lahm (Germany / FC Bayern München)
Marcelo (Brazil / Real Madrid CF)
Javier Mascherano (Argentina / FC Barcelona)
Pepe (Portugal / Real Madrid CF)
Gerard Pique (Spain / FC Barcelona)
Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid CF)
Thiago Silva (Brazil / Paris St-Germain FC)
Raphael Varane (France / Real Madrid CF)
Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina / Manchester City FC).
Well, FIFA has made their nominations which are controversial always.
Am confused with what Pique and Alba are doing there, there are more deserving candidates, or are they just making up the numbers?