Gareth Bale makes FIFPro world team of the year shortlist
Tottenham Hotspur defender makes the cut alongside 12 other Premier League players as La Liga dominates 2011 shortlist
Gareth Bale has been nominated on a 55-man shortlist for the Fifa FIFPro World XI 2011, along with five Englishmen from the Premier League.
The Tottenham Hotspur defender joins Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney on the list for the 2011 prize.
The English Premier League boasts 18 nominees but Spain’s top division dominates the list with 22 players.
Champions League holders Barcelona have nine players on the shortlist, while Pep Guardiola’s arch rivals Real Madrid can boast 10, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho and Iker Casillas.
Italy’s Serie A adds nine players to the list, including Andrea Pirlo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The shortlist was drawn up after 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players’ unions across the world that form FIFPro took part in a secret ballot to nominate their peers.
The final XI, comprising four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and goalkeeper, will be announced at the Fifa Ballon d’Or gala on 9 January in Zurich.
The 55-player shortlist in full:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich), VÃctor 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, Internazionale), David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea), Maicon (Brazil, Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (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, Internazionale), Yaya Toure (Côte d’Ivoire, Manchester City), Xavi (Spain, Barcelona).
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, Napoli), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire, Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, Anzhi), Radamel Falcao (Colombia, Atletico Madrid), Mario Gomez (Germany, Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Neymar (Brazil, Santos), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Netherlands, Arsenal), David Villa (Spain, Barcelona).
