Lucy Bronze has made history in the 2026 FIFPRO Women’s World 11, earning a ninth selection as the players’ global team of the year was announced on Monday, 9 November. The England and Chelsea defender now holds the women’s record outright, while Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland are among the Premier League representatives in the men’s selection.
What has FIFPRO announced?
FIFPRO, the international union for professional footballers, published its men’s and women’s World 11 teams on 9 November. Unlike awards decided by journalists or fans, the selections reflect votes from professional players themselves. The union said 26,317 players from 75 countries participated across the two awards, making the result a distinctive measure of recognition from fellow professionals.
Bronze’s ninth appearance is the standout individual milestone in the women’s team. She has remained prominent across different clubs, competitions and generations, and the new honour reflects the respect she continues to command among her peers. The record is for selections to the FIFPRO Women’s World 11, rather than an overall record for every football award.
Which England and Premier League players feature?
Five England internationals appear in the women’s team: Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze, Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood, Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo. The selection brings together players from several Women’s Super League clubs, demonstrating the league’s influence without suggesting that the award is restricted to domestic performances.
On the men’s side, Arsenal’s David Raya is the selected goalkeeper and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland features among the forwards. The other men’s winners include Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Rodri, Pau Cubarsí, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Vitinha. Players’ club affiliations and careers can change during an awards period, so the team should be read as recognition of individual performance, not a league table of clubs.
Harry Kane is absent from the men’s selection despite his widely recognised 2025-26 campaign. That omission is a consequence of the voting outcome, not a statement that he was ineligible or that his achievements have been discounted by the organisers.
Why is Bronze’s ninth selection significant?
World 11 selections are especially notable because players are assessed by other professionals who understand the demands of elite competition. Bronze’s longevity across nine editions of the women’s award is therefore an unusual achievement. FIFPRO identifies her as the record holder, ahead of the other players who have featured repeatedly since the women’s World 11 began in 2015.
The women’s side also includes Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí and Claudia Pina, Irene Paredes, Mapi León, Alexia Putellas and Zambia international Barbra Banda. Banda is the only player in the women’s XI representing a country outside England or Spain, according to FIFPRO’s announcement. That concentration highlights the strength of those two national football systems in the voting, although it should not be mistaken for a ranking of every international side.
What does the men’s team tell us?
Messi returns to the World 11 for the first time since 2023, extending his personal record to 18 appearances. Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal becomes the first player selected twice before his 20th birthday. Raya and Cubarsí are among the Spanish players recognised, adding to Spain’s remarkable representation following its international success.
For English football followers, Raya’s place offers an individual endorsement of Arsenal’s goalkeeper, while Haaland’s inclusion keeps a Manchester City forward among the global elite. The results also show how difficult it is to make the team: there are only eleven positions, and strong seasons do not guarantee a place when voting is spread across the worldwide professional game.
Where can supporters check the full results?
The authoritative list, voting context and historical records are available in FIFPRO’s official announcement. The Reuters report published on 9 November independently covers Messi’s return, Kane’s omission and Bronze’s record.
The central story is not simply which famous names made the cut. It is the rare recognition of a defender’s sustained excellence, alongside a new generation making its mark. Bronze’s ninth appearance and Yamal’s teenage milestone underline the breadth of experience represented in the 2026 World 11.