Lionel Messi has now appeared 18 times in FIFPRO's World Best Eleven, the central number in this year’s awards story. The 2026 vote drew 19,806 male footballers from 73 countries, and it again placed Messi at the top of the long-running recognition game. Sergio Ramos is still in the frame too, with 11 historic selections, while Dani Alves has 8.

The numbers behind the 2026 vote

The scale of the ballot is part of what gives the list weight. Nearly 20,000 players from 73 countries took part, which is a decent reminder that this is not a small media panel handing out a niche prize.

Messi’s total now stretches to 18 World Eleven appearances. That keeps him clear as the defining figure in the award’s modern history, and it sits alongside a strong 2026 run from players still operating at the top level. Lamine Yamal made the cut again, becoming the first player to be selected twice before turning 20, while Kylian Mbappé remains one of the obvious headline names after 13 goals in 12 La Liga appearances.

Ramos, Alves and the Sevilla link

The longer view is what makes the former Sevilla pair stand out. Sergio Ramos has been selected 11 times in FIFPRO's historic eleven, and Dani Alves has 8. Both numbers speak to staying power at the very top, even if they arrived there in different ways and through different eras.

Ramos’s own club story still helps explain his place in this company. He spent 16 successful years at Real Madrid from 2005 to 2021 and two years at PSG from 2021 to 2023. Alves has his own Sevilla connection too, having joined for less than 500,000 euros in the winter market of 2003 before moving on to Barcelona for 35.5 million plus variables in 2008.

Alves also offered the sort of line that fits his personality as much as his medal case. Speaking to Estadio Deportivo in translated comments, he said: "My partnership with Messi? No, my partnership is better with Christ." The remark is offbeat, but the real story is simpler. FIFPRO’s voting keeps putting these names in the same historical neighbourhood.

Messi’s 18th selection is the number that will get the most attention, and rightly so. Ramos and Alves remain there too, which is exactly why this awards list still feels like a history lesson as well as a current-team sheet.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →