FIFA reveals World XI shortlist

The Premier League has 18 players among the 55-man shortlist for the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2011, while the Primera Liga has 22.

Premier League earns 18 candidates as Primera Liga dominates

The Premier League has 18 players among the 55-man shortlist for the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2011, although the Primera Liga continues to dominate world football. FIFPro, the worldwide players' union, will reveal the XI members of the team, which will include four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and goalkeeper, in Zurich on 9th January at the ceremony to unveil the Ballon d'Or. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is a contender, while other Premier League representatives also include defenders Ashley Cole, Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand, Vincent Kompany, John Terry, Nemanja Vidic and, surprisingly, David Luiz. Tottenham's Gareth Bale, Chelsea's Frank Lampard, Manchester United's Nani and Manchester City pair David Silva and Yaya Toure are among the midfield contenders. The Premier League also has five representatives among the strikers, with Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Didier Drogba, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie all included. But the Primera Liga, and Barcelona and Real Madrid in particular, dominates the shortlist, as Spain's top division has 22 candidates, including the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, Andreas Iniesta and Xavi.

The shortlist in full:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich), Víctor Valdes (Spain, Barcelona), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands, retired, formerly Manchester United). Defenders: Eric Abidal (France, Barcelona), Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal, Real Madrid), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United), Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Lucio (Brazil, Inter Milan), David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea), Maicon (Brazil, Inter Milan), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), John Terry (England, Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United). Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Sergio Busquets (Spain, Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Kaka (Brazil, Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), Nani (Portugal, Manchester United), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Juventus), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), David Silva (Spain, Manchester City), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, Inter Milan), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City), Xavi (Spain, Barcelona). Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester Utd), David Villa (Spain, Barcelona), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Anzhi), Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City), Neymar (Brazil, Santos), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool), Radamel Falcao (Colombia, Atletico Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, Napoli), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Mario Gomez (Germany, Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Netherlands, Arsenal).