Real Madrid News
Seven Real Madrid stars and Toni Kroos nominated for FIFPro Men’s World XI
FIFPro, the global union for professional football players, has announced the 26-man final nomination list for the 2024 Men’s World XI and Real Madrid have the highest representation in the group.
The FIFPRO Men’s World XI is an all-star team made up of the world’s leading footballers – voted by the players, for the players.
Footballers choose the three players who, in their opinion, were the most outstanding in each of the said positions – goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and forwards.
One goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the most votes in their position make it into the World XI. The 11th spot is assigned to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes.
Real Madrid have eight representatives
With the 26-man nominations list being unveiled today, Real Madrid have as many as eight representatives on the final shortlist.
Seven active players – Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric, Vinicius Jr., and Kylian Mbappe feature on the list along with the now-retired club legend Toni Kroos.
It does not come as a surprise considering the success that the Real Madrid stars tasted this year – winning the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League as well as the UEFA Super Cup.
Meanwhile, Carvajal also has the UEFA Euro 2024 triumph to his name with the Spanish national team.
As for Real Madrid’s arch-rivals Barcelona, they have only one representative in the form of Golden Boy winner Lamine Yamal.
Other players such as Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martinez, Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Cole Palmer have also been nominated.
The final World XI will be announced by FIFPro itself on Monday, December 9.
Real Madrid can’t seem to catch a break, as far as La Liga is concerned.
After a defeat to Atletico Madrid, where the referee made a few controversial calls, Real Madrid’s recent game against Villarreal was also mired in controversy, after Vinicius Jr. was sent off and his goal disallowed.
The Brazilian now faces the possibility of facing a lengthened suspension that could rule him out of El Clasico later this month.
Real Madrid frustrated over kickoff time vs Valencia
Now, Real Madrid have found themselves another issue, this time regarding the kickoff time for their upcoming La Liga game.
According to AS, Real Madrid are unhappy with the slot LaLiga has handed them for their Matchday 12 meeting with Valencia.
Madrid face AEK Athens in the Champions League on Wednesday, November 4 at 6:45 PM, only for LaLiga to then schedule the Valencia clash for Saturday, November 7 at 9:00 PM.
With the squad set to land back in the capital in the early hours, Mourinho’s men will have little more than Thursday and Friday to prepare for a Valencia side that has proven stubborn of late.
Club sources describe “enormous unease and surprise” at the decision, precisely because it hits the players so directly.
Rivals handed the kinder draw
The frustration deepens when Madrid look across at their title rivals.
Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal all play their European fixtures a day earlier, on Tuesday, November 3, and then feature in LaLiga on Sunday, November 8.
Betis, who travel to Borussia Dortmund on the Wednesday, are likewise handed a Sunday slot.
That leaves Real Madrid as the only one of the five Spanish sides in Europe forced to play on the Saturday, surrendering a full day of recovery to their competitors.
From the dressing room’s point of view, there is no logic to it. With an international break following that weekend, and no midweek European or Cup commitments to juggle, Madrid see no reason the game could not have been pushed to Sunday.
