FIFPro XI shortlist: Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Neymar in 55-player list; no place for Ozil

New Delhi: FIFPro on Thursday announced the list of 55 players shortlisted for the prestigious 2015 World XI.

The list has been selected by professional footballers worldwide, with a new record of almost 25,000 players from 70 countries participating in this year’s ballot.

The list was dominated by Spanish clubs with Real Madrid (12) and Barcelona (10) as expected contributing to the nomination. German giants too have 11 players listed in the shortlist.

Global superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben all have found in the list. But Arsenal star Mesut ozil was a surprising absentee.

From the list, a XI will be selected with best goalkeeper, four best defenders, three best midfielders and three best attackers. And the final XI will be announced on January 11, at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

Here are the 55-players shortlisted:

GOALKEEPERS

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus)

Iker Casillas (Spain, FC Porto)

David De Gea (Spain, Manchester United)

Keylor Navas (Costa Rica, Real Madrid CF)

Manuel Neuer (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)

DEFENDERS

David Alaba (Austria, FC Bayern Munich)

Jordi Alba (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona)

Jérôme Boateng (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)

Daniel Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid CF)

Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus)

David Luiz (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain)

Diego Godín (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid)

Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund)

Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea)

Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City)

Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)

Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid CF)

Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona)

Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid CF)

Gerard Piqué (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid CF)

Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain)

John Terry (England, Chelsea)

Raphaël Varane (France, Real Madrid CF)

MIDFIELDERS

Thiago Alcantara (Spain, FC Bayern Munich)

Xabi Alonso (Spain, FC Bayern Munich)

Sergio Busquets (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea FC)

Andrés Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid CF)

Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid CF)

Andrea Pirlo (Italy, New York City FC)

Paul Pogba (France, Juventus)

Ivan Rakitic (Croatia, FC Barcelona)

James Rodríguez (Colombia, Real Madrid CF)

David Silva (Spain, Manchester City)

Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, Manchester City FC)

Marco Verratti (Italy, Paris Saint-Germain)

Arturo Vidal (Chile, FC Bayern Munich)

FORWARDS

Sergio Agüero (Argentina, Manchester City FC)

Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid CF)

Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid CF)

Douglas Costa (Brazil, FC Bayern Munich)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris Saint-Germain FC)

Robert Lewandowski (Poland, FC Bayern Munich)

Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona)

Thomas Müller (Germany, FC Bayern Munich)

Neymar Jr. (Brazil, FC Barcelona)

Arjen Robben (The Netherlands, FC Bayern Munich)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid CF)

Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC)

Alexis Sánchez (Chile, Arsenal)

Luis Suárez (Uruguay, FC Barcelona)

Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Boca Juniors)