One is a story about who got in. The other is about whether a young star can ever get back.
Part One: Messi In, Ronaldo Out
For more than a decade, the FIFPRO Men’s World 11 has been as much a stage for the Cristiano Ronaldo–Lionel Messi rivalry as any pitch. On Monday, it told a different story.
Ronaldo was absent from the 2026 selection, while Messi took his place among the eleven.
The list, which honours the best performers of the 2025/26 season, was released by FIFPRO across its digital platforms on Monday, November 9. A total of 19,806 male footballers from 73 countries cast votes.
Spain supplied the most representatives, with four players: Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí, Manchester City midfielder Rodri and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal.
Paris Saint-Germain matched that presence through defenders Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, plus midfielder Vitinha.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham completed the midfield alongside Rodri and Vitinha, while Messi joined Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Yamal in attack.
FIFPRO said players were judged on performances between August 4, 2025, and July 19, 2026, and needed at least 30 official appearances to qualify.
Established in 2005, the World 11 remains the only global football award decided exclusively by professional players.
Part Two: The Musiala Question
In Munich, a different kind of scrutiny is underway — not over who deserves a place, but whether a 23-year-old can reclaim the level he once reached.
Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has expressed doubt over whether Jamal Musiala can return to his previous standard after a run of health problems.
The Germany international collapsed twice within four days during pre-season, with medical examinations later revealing a treatable neurological dysfunction.
Musiala has scored twice in four appearances for Bayern across all competitions this season, but has been sidelined since a hamstring injury in September. He has recently returned to training.
Speaking to Bavarian broadcaster BR24, Hoeness acknowledged that the condition could affect the midfielder’s long-term performance, though medication may help manage it.
He said: “We are facing a dilemma in this case, as he is suffering from an illness that cannot simply be cured, but it can be controlled to a certain extent with the use of medication.”
Hoeness assured Musiala of the club’s continued support. The midfielder is under contract until 2030.
Former Bayern and Germany captain Lothar Matthäus read the comments differently — not as undermining the player, but as a deliberate challenge.
The Battle
He told Sky90: “He’s needling him a little. It’s not just about wrapping him in cotton wool. He also has to battle against adversity sometimes.
“Uli was looking to create that adversity with this statement.
“It’s fine for him to say something like that, because we can’t just put a positive spin on things and somehow wait for him to come back.
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“If I were in Jamal Musiala’s position, that would be motivation enough to show Uli I’m back.”
Musiala joined Bayern in 2019 after coming through Chelsea’s academy and broke into the first team at 17.
He has since scored 71 goals and provided 38 assists in 235 appearances for the Bavarian giants, and has become a key figure for Germany, sharing the Golden Boot as joint-top scorer at Euro 2024.