FIFPRO World 11: Lineups That Lionel Messi Was Part of From 2007 to 2023

The Inter Miami star was included in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI for the 17th year in succession, extending his incredible record.

Sports Brief looks at the FIFPRO World 11 lineups that Messi has been part of in his illustrious career.

FIFPRO Men's World XI lineups with Messi

2007

Lionel Messi first made the FIFPRO World XI in 2007. He scored 14 goals for Barcelona in La Liga and recorded two goals and one assist for Argentina during their Copa America campaign.

He was joined in the global lineup by forwards Ronaldinho and Didier Drogba, midfielders Steven Gerrard, Kaka, and Cristiano Ronaldo, defenders Carles Puyol, John Terry, Fabio Cannavaro, and Alessandro Nesta, and goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.

2008

Messi was included in the FIFPRO World 11 in 2008 after scoring 16 goals and dishing out 13 assists in all competitions for Barcelona. He also won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics that year.

The Argentine star was joined in the global lineup by forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres, midfielders Xavi, Steven Gerrard, and Kaka, defenders Rio Ferdinand, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, and John Terry, and goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.

2009

Messi made the FIFPRO World XI for the third year running in 2009. He led Barcelona to a historic treble, scoring 38 goals in 51 matches. He won his first Ballon d’Or title in 2009 and was also named UEFA Player of the Year.

He was joined in the global 11 by forwards Fernando Torres and Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Steven Gerrard, defenders Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, John Terry, and Dani Alves, and goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.

2010

Messi was included in the FIFPRO World 11 in 2010 after becoming the top scorer in the Champions League and La Liga.

The Barca forward was joined in the global lineup by forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and David Villa, midfielders Andre Iniesta, Xavi, and Wesley Sneijder, defenders Gerard Pique, Lucio, Maicon, and Carles Puyol, and goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.

2011

The Argentine maestro made the FIFPRO World XI for the fifth year running in 2011. It was a great year for Messi, who won the Champions League, La Liga, and a Ballon d’Or title.

He was joined in the global 11 by forwards Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Xabi Alonso, defenders Nemanja Vidic, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, and Dani Alves, and goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.

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Football

2012

Messi continued his dominance in 2012, winning his fourth Ballon d’Or title that year. He scored 73 goals in all competitions that season, breaking the record set by Germany’s Gerd Muller in the 1972/73 campaign.

His World XI teammates were forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao; midfielders Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Xabi Alonso; defenders Marcelo, Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, and Dani Alves; and goalkeeper, Iker Casillas.

2013

Messi was included in the FIFPRO World 11 in 2013 after winning the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga titles. He recorded 60 goals and 15 assists that season.

His teammates in the global lineup were forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, midfielders Andre Iniesta, Xavi, and Franck Ribery, defenders Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves, Philipp Lahm, and Thiago Silva, and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

2014

Messi reached the World Cup Final for the first time in his career in 2014, with Argentina losing to Germany in the championship match. He still won the Golden Ball in that tournament, an honour that helped him notch a spot in the FIFPRO World XI.

He was joined in the global 11 by forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben, midfielders Toni Kroos, Andres Iniesta, and Angel Di Maria, defenders Philipp Lahm, Sergio Ramos, David Luiz, and Thiago Silva, and goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer.

2015

The Argentine maestro made the FIFPRO World XI for the ninth year running in 2015. It was a great year for Messi, who won the treble with Barcelona and became La Liga’s all-time top scorer.

He was joined in the global 11 by forwards Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Paul Pogba, and Luka Modric, defenders Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and Dani Alves, and goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer.

2016

Messi scored 41 goals and recorded 23 assists for Barcelona that season, numbers that were enough to land him a spot in the FIFPRO World XI for the tenth straight year.

His teammates in the global lineup were forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez; midfielders Andre Iniesta, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric; defenders Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, and Marcelo; and goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer.

2017

Messi remained unstoppable for Barcelona in 2017, recording 54 goals and 16 assists in 52 matches played that season. He helped the Catalan giants win the Spanish Super Cup and Copa Del Rey that year.

He was joined in the FIFPRO World XI by forwards Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric, defenders Leonardo Bonucci, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and Dani Alves, and goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.

2018

Messi was included in the FIFPRO World 11 in 2018 after winning the Copa Del Rey and La Liga titles. He recorded 45 goals that season, 34 of which came in the Spanish top flight.

His teammates in the World XI were forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe; midfielders Eden Hazard, N’Golo Kante, and Luka Modric; defenders Sergio Ramos, Dani Alves, Marcelo, and Raphael Varane; and goalkeeper, David De Gea.

2019

Messi made the FIFPRO World XI for the 13th year running in 2019. It was a great year for the football icon, who won his sixth Ballon d’Or title and led Barcelona to another La Liga title.

He was joined in the FIFPRO World XI by forwards Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielders Eden Hazard, Frenkie de Jong, and Luka Modric, defenders Virgil Van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, Sergio Ramos, and Marcelo, and goalkeeper, Alisson Becker.

2020

Messi recorded another scoring milestone, netting his 700th career goal in the 2020 season.

He was once again included in the FIFPRO World XI, joining forwards Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielders Thiago Alcantara, Joshua Kimmich, and Kevin De Bruyne, defenders Virgil Van Dijk, Alphonso Davies, Sergio Ramos, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and goalkeeper, Alisson Becker.

2021

Messi finally won his first international title with Argentina, leading La Albiceleste to the Copa America title.

He was once again included in the FIFPRO World XI, joining forwards Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Erling Haaland, midfielders N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Kevin De Bruyne, defenders Leonardo Bonucci, Ruben Dias, and David Alaba, and goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.

2022

Messi completed football in 2022 when he led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar. He was spectacular in that tournament, recording seven goals and three assists.

He became the first player to record 16 appearances in the FIFPRO World XI after Ronaldo failed to make the global lineup that year.

He joined forwards Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Karim Benzema; midfielders Luka Modric, Kevin De Bruyne, and Casemiro; defenders Virgil Van Dijk, Achraf Hakimi, and Joao Cancelo, and goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois in the World 11.

2023

Messi’s move to MLS wasn’t enough to discourage voters from naming Messi in the FIFPRO World XI.

He was included in the lineup for a record-extending 17th year on Monday, per FIFA.com. Messi joined forwards Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Vinicius Junior, midfielders Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Jude Bellingham; defenders John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Kyle Walker, and goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, in the World 11.

Most FIFPRO World XI selections

Messi holds the record with 17 selections, with the Argentine star named in the lineup from 2007 to 2023.

Ronaldo is ranked second with 15 selections. He was named in the lineup from 2007 to 2021.