Cristiano Ronaldo has been included on a 23 player shortlist for FIFPro team of the year, with the squad featuring nine members of Manchester City’s Treble winning team.
Ronaldo features on the shortlist despite playing his club football for the Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr during 2023, following his exit from Manchester United.
The 38-year-old ended the year as the top scorer in world football with 54 goals for club and country.
His inclusion will likely raise eyebrows considering the relative strength of the Saudi top flight compared to major European leagues.
The shortlist has been dominated by Man City players, after Pep Guardiola‘s side lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in a remarkable campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland have been named on the FIFPro team of the year shortlist
Haaland is one of nine members of Man City’s treble winning squad to make the shortlist
Argentina and Lionel Messi’s victory in the World Cup final is included in the voting period
Erling Haaland leads the Man City stars included with the Norwegian having scored 52 goals in 53 appearances to spearhead their success.
Ederson, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker have been included in the squad, while Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva feature following their contributions.
Ilkay Gundogan, who moved to Barcelona in the summer, has also been shortlisted having lifted all three trophies at Man City’s club captain.
England are represented by four players in the squad, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane joining Walker and Stones.
Bellingham and Kane have both been nominated with the pair having enjoyed enjoyed an outstanding 12 months for club and country.
Despite the duo having starred for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich following their big-money summer moves, their performances for Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham have led to their nominations.
Votes have only taken into account performances from December 19 in 2022 to August 20, 2023.
The timeframe includes the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup final, won by Argentina and their caption Lionel Messi.
Messi, who has made the FIFPro team of the year on 16 occasions, could extend his record further.
Jude Bellingham makes the shortlist for a second year after starring for club and country
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane earned a nomination after scoring 52 goals during 2023
The Inter Miami star is named on the shortlist alongside his former PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in defeat for France in the World Cup final.
Aston Villa Emiliano Martínez’s is one of three goalkeepers on the shortlist, alongside Ederson and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.
Liverpool’s Vigil van Dijk completes the Premier League representation in the 23-man squad.
Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Luka Modric, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr are among Real Madrid players included, alongside their former team-mate and Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema.
FIFA FIFPRO MEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST
Goalkeepers
Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
Defenders
Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal)
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
Eder Militao (Real Madrid, Brazil)
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany)
John Stones (Manchester City, England)
Kyle Walker (Manchester City, England)
Midfielders
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund/Real Madrid, England)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City/Barcelona, Germany)
Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)
Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City, Portugal)
Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)
Forwards
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/Al-Ittihad, France)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur/Bayern Munich, England)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/Inter Miami, Argentina)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)
The nominees follow votes from over 28,000 professional footballers.
The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who have received the most votes will be selected for the team.
The final spot will be assigned to the remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes.
FIFA and FIFPRO will announce the team on January 15 at the The Best FIFA Football Awards in London.