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Manchester City players dominated the FIFPRO world men’s team unveiled by FIFA at an awards ceremony in London on Monday evening.
The team consisted of the best men’s players from last season and more than 28,000 professional football players voted on who should join.
Six Man City superstars predictably dominated the team after their Treble-winning exploits last season, while there was no room for Man United players.
Lionel Messi was the only player outside Europe to be included in the team that forms a 3-3-4 formation with the best men’s players.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola was named the best FIFA men’s coach after guiding some of the Manchester City stars in attendance to incredible success last season.
Manchester City players dominated the FIFPRO world men’s team
GOALKEEPER: Thibaut Courtois
The Real Madrid goalkeeper competed with Man City’s Ederson and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez for the spot between the sticks.
Courtois has been injured all season so far after surgery for an anterior cruciate ligament injury and has been a big miss for Real Madrid.
The Belgian struggled during a dismal World Cup campaign for the country but was contrastingly impressive at club level for Madrid before his injury.
DEFENSE: Ruben Dias (Man City), John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Man City)
It’s no surprise that City’s Treble-winning defensive pack features FIFA’s best men’s team as Dias and Walker both feature. Frankly, there would be few complaints if City dominated every defensive position in this team after last season’s success.
Dias started 11 of City’s 13 Champions League games en route to the title and was a regular at center back for Pep Guardiola’s team alongside FIFA shortlisted John Stones.
Meanwhile, Walker takes the right-back position after his stunning attacking and defensive performances for City last season saw him continue to cement his status as one of the world’s best defenders.
Stones was the other addition to the three-man defense after the Englishman flourished under Guardiola last season, operating as both a defender and midfielder in the team.
MIDFIELD: Bernardo Silva (Man City) Kevin de Bruyne (Man City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
The dominance of City’s team selection continued in midfield, with both Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne being named alongside Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.
De Bruyne was largely responsible for providing the assists for Haaland’s incredible goal tally last season and was also a huge threat in scoring his own goals as City dominated in England and across Europe.
Silva was the other City star in the FIFPRO midfield after scoring seven goals and providing eight assists for City last season.
Bellingham was the only non-City representative in midfield or defense as the Englishman broke down a Premier League-dominated team.
The England midfielder has been praised for his excellent performances since leaving Borussia Dortmund for Real Madrid last summer.
ATTACK: Erling Haaland (Man City), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Vinicius Jnr (Real Madrid)
The voting criteria for this award states that the team will be formed around a 4-3-3 formation, but an exception appears to have been made this year in the FIFPro top men’s team.
Haaland is the obvious choice after his stunning 52-goal run last season guided City to the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup titles, with the Norwegian enjoying a stellar start in England.
Mbappe and Messi complete the other nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Award for inclusion in the World XI, following their respective successes with both Argentina and France.
However, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr was the surprise fourth choice as he was included in the Spanish Super Cup final just a day after scoring a hat-trick against Barcelona.