From Drogba to Yamal.. The story of two consecutive generations accompanying Messi on the FIFPRO global team throne
Lionel Messi has written another chapter in football history after being named in the 2026 FIFPRO Men's World 11 for a record 18th time, extending an achievement that no other player has come close to matching.
The 39 year old Inter Miami superstar returned to the prestigious team for the first time since 2023 following the official announcement on Monday 9 November 2026.
His latest selection puts him three appearances ahead of long time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains second on the all time list with 15.
But the significance of Messi's achievement extends beyond the numbers.
Nearly two decades after his first inclusion in 2007, the Argentine is still receiving recognition from the world's professional footballers, competing for individual honours alongside players who were children when he first established himself among the elite.
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Eighteen selections in 20 years.. The scale of Messi's achievement
According to FIFPRO's official historical review, Messi first appeared in the World 11 in 2007, when he was emerging as one of Barcelona's most exciting talents.
He subsequently earned selection every year through 2023, establishing a remarkable streak of 17 consecutive appearances.
Although he missed the 2024 and 2025 editions, his return in 2026 extended his overall record to 18 selections across the 20 editions held since his debut.
That represents an appearance rate of 90% over the period.
The gap separating Messi from his closest rivals further illustrates the achievement.
| Player | FIFPRO World 11 selections |
|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 18 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 15 |
| Sergio Ramos | 11 |
| Andres Iniesta | 9 |
| Kylian Mbappe | 7 |
Messi has now accumulated more than twice as many selections as Mbappé, who is sixth on the all time list and remains one of the leading figures of the current generation.
From Didier Drogba to Achraf Hakimi.. A record spanning generations
One particularly striking detail connects Messi's first World 11 appearance with his latest achievement.
In 2007, the Argentine shared the prestigious selection with Ivorian legend Didier Drogba, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka.
Nineteen years later, Morocco international Achraf Hakimi represents African football in the 2026 lineup.
The Paris Saint Germain defender earned his second consecutive selection and is the only player representing an African national team in this year's World 11.
The contrast illustrates how dramatically football's leading figures have changed while Messi has remained among them.
Another remarkable coincidence concerns Barcelona youngsters Lamine Yamal & Pau Cubarsi.
Both were born in 2007, the same year Messi received his first FIFPRO World 11 selection.
Now, both feature alongside him in the 2026 team.
Messi ahead of Ballon d'Or winner Kane.. What did the players decide?
Messi's inclusion is also notable because of the voting results.
The 2026 FIFPRO Men's World 11 was selected by 19,806 professional footballers from 73 countries, with performances assessed between 4 August 2025 and 19 July 2026.
Official voting figures published by FIFPRO reveal that Messi received support from 29.5% of voters.
That placed him ahead of both Erling Haaland, who received 28.4%, and Harry Kane, who finished with 27.6%.
Kane's omission was particularly striking after the England captain won the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
Meanwhile, Mbappe received 46% of the vote, making him the most popular outfield player in the men's selection.
The distinction is significant because the FIFPRO World 11 is chosen exclusively by fellow professional footballers rather than journalists or a specialist jury.
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