55 footballers have entered the shortlist of FIFA’s best team of 2018.
The International Association of Professional Footballers FIFPro, in collaboration with FIFA, has announced a list of 55 footballers who have found their name on the shortlist for the best team in 2018. The nominees feature five Croatian representatives, including Dejan Lovren, Šime Vrsaljko, Luka Modrić, Ivan Rakitić and Mario Mandžukić, reports Gol.hr on September 10, 2018.
⏰ BREAKING
— FIFPro (@FIFPro) 10 de septiembre de 2018
2⃣5⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ professional footballers in 6⃣5⃣ countries have voted
Here are their top 1⃣5⃣ midfielders
The 3⃣ most-voted midfielders will be in the #World11
Live blog ➡️ https://t.co/NV1eetMqzi#TheBest #FIFAFootballAwards pic.twitter.com/BRycjZt0Zh
UEFA’s ‘Player of the Year’, World Cup ‘Golden Ball’ winner, and captain of the Croatia national team, Luka Modric, who FIFA also included among the top 3 best footballers in the world, has found himself on FIFPro's list for the sixth time and the fourth consecutive time. Luka was selected among the prestigious 11 in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Ivan Rakitić is also among the selected midfielders, returning to the list after being included in 2015 and 2016.
Dejan Lovren and Šime Vrsaljko are among the 20 selected defenders, making the list for the first time, and Croatia national team hero, the recently retired Mario Mandžukić, has returned to the list for the first time since 2013.
Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, who were selected among the top 11 last year, have appeared on every wider list of 55 players since the 2004/2005 season, or since FIFPro began the competition. Some 25,000 professional footballers from all over the world choose the world’s best 11, selecting one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers.
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon, Thibaut Courtois, David De Gea, Keylor Navas, Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Defenders: Jordi Alba, Dani Alves, Daniel Carvajal, Giorgio Chiellini, Virgil van Dijk, Diego Godin, Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich, Dejan Lovren, Marcelo, Yerry Mina, Benjamin Pavard, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Kieran Trippier, Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane, Sime Vrsaljko, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Andres Iniesta, Isco, N’Golo Kante, Toni Kroos, Nemanja Matic, Luka Modric, Paul Pogba, Ivan Rakitic, David Silva, Arturo Vidal.
Attackers: Karim Benzema, Edinson Cavani, Paulo Dybala, Antoine Griezmann, Harry Kane, Robert Lewandowski, Romelu Lukaku, Mario Mandzukic, Sadio Mane, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar.
