Eight Barça Players in FIFA’s World XI shortlist

www.fcbarcelona.cat

Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Iniesta, Mascherano, Xavi, Messi and Villa are the eight Barça players named in FIFA’s World XI shortlist announced today.

The eight are part of a 55 player shortlist drawn up by up to 50,000 federated players from all over the world to decide on the best 11 players from this year.

Alves, Piqué and Puyol have been nominated in the best defender category with Iniesta, Xavi and Mascherano amongst the top midfielders and Messi and Villa in the forwards category. Cesc Fàbregas has also been nominated, as has Ibrahimovic who was at the club last season.

Top XI revealed next year
The final XI will be announced during FIFA’s gala presentation of the World Player of the Year Award to be held in Zurich on January 10th 2011.