Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo heads a Fifa team of 2013 that does not include any Premier League players.
The Fifpro World XI, which was announced at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich, is made up of players from only four sides – Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid.
Five British players were named on a long list for the team, which is chosen by 50,000 professional footballers from across the world.
But England defenders Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole, midfielder Steven Gerrard, striker Wayne Rooney and Wales forward Gareth Bale all missed out.
Rooney and Manchester United colleague Nemanja Vidic were the last Premier League players to be named in a Fifa team of the year, back in 2011. (external)
No player from Germany’s Bundesliga or France’s Ligue 1 had previously been selected, with Spain’s La Liga making up the entire team last year.
Here are the 11 players who made the cut:
GOALKEEPER – MANUEL NEUER (Bayern Munich)
Every great team needs a solid last line of defence and the Germany international, 27, provides exactly that for Bayern Munich. Even when the Bundesliga and Champions League winners are dominating matches, Neuer’s concentration never lets him down when he is called into decisive action.
Did you know? 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)
Brazil international Alves is the prototype of a modern-day right-back – keen to burst forward at every opportunity, but with the stamina to make sure his defensive duties are not neglected. And the 30-year-old contributed at both ends of the pitch as Barcelona won the Spanish league in 2013.
Did you know? Created more goalscoring chances than any other defender in La Liga in 2013 (49).
DEFENDER – THIAGO SILVA (Paris St-Germain)
Brazilian defenders used to be commonly stereotyped as being comfortable in possession of the ball, but not so adept at the grittier side of their duties. PSG skipper Silva, 29, has further consigned that to the history books in a year where he led his side to their first French title in 19 years and lifted the Confederations Cup for the Selecao on home soil.
Did you know? 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)
Question marks continue to be raised about the Spain international’s temperament, with his Real Madrid career often chequered by rash sending-offs. But the 27-year-old’s ability to snuff out the danger posed by opposition forwards – for club and country – cannot be questioned.
Did you know? Excluding the play-offs, no player made more interceptions in the European World Cup qualifiers in 2013 than Sergio Ramos (22).
DEFENDER – PHILIPP LAHM (Bayern Munich)
Captaining a team which wins every major honour in club football is a dream for any professional footballer – and a reality for 30-year-old Bayern skipper Lahm in 2013. The Germany captain, who was also deployed in midfield towards the back end of last year, will be aiming to add an international title to his impressive CV at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Did you know? No defender assisted more goals in the top five European leagues in 2013 than Phillip Lahm (10).
MIDFIELDER – XAVI (Barcelona)
As the heartbeat of Barcelona and Spain, Xavi will rightly go down as one of the best midfielders of his generation. The 33-year-old dictates everything for club and country with his pinpoint passing and takes his place in the team of the year for the sixth successive year.
Did you know? 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)
A teamsheet without 29-year-old Iniesta alongside Xavi in the Barcelona midfield looks rather strange – as would a Fifa team of the year without the pair. The diminutive midfielder, who is at the heart of what is great about the Spanish champions’ thrilling attacking play, is honoured by his fellow professional for a fifth time.
Did you know? Just one player completed more passes in La Liga in 2013 than Iniesta (2303) – averaging 64 a game.
MIDFIELDER – FRANCK RIBERY (Bayern Munich)
France winger Franck Ribery was the creative force in a Bayern side which swept all before them on the domestic, European and world stage. Known for his dribbles, precise shooting and acceleration, the France international, 30, was named Uefa’s 2013 player of the year – but was unable to add the Ballon d’Or.
Did you know? 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)
On a individual basis, the past 12 months could not have gone any better for the Portugal captain. The 28-year-old scored 66 goals in 56 games, including a brilliant treble for his nation in the World Cup play-off win against Sweden. But he was unable to help Real win a title in a trophyless year for the Spanish giants.
Did you know? 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)
Sweden skipper Ibrahimovic has an eye for the outrageous – as proved by the stunning volley against England which earned him Fifa’s Puskas Award for 2013’s finest strike. But the 32-year-old showed he can do the simple things as well as anybody else in the world on the way to helping PSG to the French title.
Did you know? 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)
Argentina forward Messi, 26, may have missed out on a fifth successive Ballon d’Or, but he can take solace from being named in the world team of the year for the seventh year in a row. Barcelona’s talisman scored 45 goals in 42 matches to help the Catalans win La Liga.
Did you know? Scored against 16 of the 17 different teams he appeared against in La Liga in 2013 (all except Atletico Madrid).