Ballon d'Or Winner Harry Kane Controversially Left Out of FIFPRO World 11

In a decision that has shocked the footballing world, Harry Kane has become the first-ever Ballon d'Or winner to be excluded from the FIFPRO Men’s World 11 in the same year as his individual triumph. Despite being recognized as the best player on the planet last month, the Bayern Munich striker did not receive enough votes from his fellow professionals to secure a place in the final lineup.

The vote, which involved 19,806 professional male footballers from 75 different countries, saw Kane narrowly miss out on an attacking spot. The England captain received 27.6% of the votes, falling just short of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who secured 28.4% to take the final position in the forward line.

The selected front four features Kylian Mbappe, who led the voting with 46%, alongside Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi. Other high-profile names such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Olise were also among the 26 finalists who failed to make the ultimate cut.

Spanish Stars Dominate Global Selection

The 2026 World 11 is heavily influenced by Spain’s recent World Cup victory. Four Spanish players made the team, including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who was the most-voted player overall with 51.9%. He is joined by Pau Cubarsí and Rodrigo, the latter having been named the MVP of the recent World Cup.

While Kane was overlooked, his international teammate Jude Bellingham did manage to secure a spot in the midfield. The rest of the team consists of defenders Achraf, Cubarsí, and Nuno Mendes, with a midfield trio of Bellingham, Rodrigo, and Vitinha supporting the star-studded attack.

Kane’s Ballon d'Or win last month was a historic moment for English football, as he became only the fifth Englishman to ever win the award, following in the footsteps of Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and Michael Owen. However, this latest snub from his peers highlights a surprising divide between individual accolades and the professional players' collective choice.