The finalists for this year’s FIFPro Men’s World XI have been announced, and among the 26 nominees is our very own Cole Palmer, flying the blue flag high among all the other names from PSG, Real Madrid,
Barcelona … and even Inter Miami and Al-Nassr because Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo appear to be eternal.
Palmer is the first Chelsea player to be shortlisted since Thiago Silva and Enzo Fernández were among the finalists for the 2022 award. No Chelsea player has actually made the FIFPro Men’s World XI since N’Golo Kanté and Jorginho got in for 2021, after our Champions League victory. John Terry is the all-time Chelsea leader with five (5) appearances, starting with the inaugural edition back in 2005. Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Claude Makélélé, and David Luiz have also earned this distinction, which is voted on by their fellow professionals, at least once in their careers.
Could Palmer join them? Unlikely, but he’s just getting started. (And sure would be nice to get him back healthy.)
The nominees are:
GOALKEEPER: Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma
DEFENDERS: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Pau Cubarsi, Virgil van Dijk, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, William Saliba
MIDFIELDERS: Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić, João Neves, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Federico Valverde, Vitinha
FORWARDS: Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Raphinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal
