Mohamed Salah has been notably absent from the shortlist for the prestigious FIFPro World 11, despite his impressive form for Liverpool this season. The Egyptian forward has netted 13 goals and provided 11 assists across 20 appearances. However, his exclusion from the list, which was determined by over 28,000 footballers worldwide, is partly attributed to his underwhelming end to last season when Liverpool missed out on the Premier League title.
Surprisingly, both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, now playing in Saudi Arabia and the USA respectively, have made the shortlist, sparking some backlash. This has led to criticism, as both players are no longer in Europe’s top leagues. Alongside them on the list are other notable forwards like Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and young stars such as Lamine Yamal and Cole Palmer.
Liverpool fans will take solace in seeing Virgil van Dijk nominated for the defense category, while Arsenal supporters will be pleased with the inclusion of William Saliba. The final FIFPro World 11 will be revealed on December 9, alongside the announcement of The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Player awards.
Despite this year’s snub, Salah’s continued stellar performances for Liverpool this season, with the team sitting atop the Premier League and Champions League tables, may give him a stronger chance in the next year’s nominations.