A first for the Ballon d’Or
Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or last month. His fellow professionals did not put him in their team of the year. The FIFPRO World 11, unveiled today, has no place for the Bayern Munich striker, making him the first Ballon d’Or winner to miss out since the XI started in 2005.
Over 18,000 players voted, and Kane was one of 26 finalists. He took 27.6 per cent of the votes cast for forwards. Erling Haaland edged him at 28.4 per cent, which was enough to hand the Manchester City striker a spot in a front four that also holds Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
Kane had beaten Mbappe to the Ballon d’Or by one of the smallest margins ever recorded. The players’ vote went another way, and Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Olise were also left out of the attack.
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The rest of the side
David Raya of Arsenal starts in goal. Pau Cubarsi, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes make up a back three, with Vitinha, Rodri and Jude Bellingham in midfield. Bellingham is the only Englishman in the men’s team.
England’s absence from the forward line is awkward given the context. Kane became only the fifth Ballon d’Or winner from England, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001, after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.
The women’s team looks different. Seven Women’s Super League players made the cut, among them Chelsea pair Lucy Bronze and Hannah Hampton. Bronze reached nine appearances in the XI, a record. Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati also feature, with Putellas the reigning Women’s Ballon d’Or winner after taking a third trophy.
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