Just four Premier League players make shortlist for world’s best defenders
FIFA have just released their shortlist of the best 20 defenders in the world for their FIFPro World XI and it contains a few surprises.
Just four Premier league players make the cut: Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany from Manchester City and new Chelsea man Filipe Luis along with Branislav Ivanovic.
Somewhat strangely if you saw him play for Chelsea but David Luiz/Sideshow Bob is also nominated.
It must be for outstanding defensive displays like this:
Leighton Baines, Ashley Cole and Nemanja Vidic, who were part of last year’s list, miss out while unsurprisingly Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona dominate.
The full shortlist is:
David Alaba (Austria / FC Bayern München)
Jordi Alba (Spain / FC Barcelona)
Dani Alves (Brazil / FC Barcelona)
Jerome Boateng (Germany / FC Bayern München)
Daniel Carvajal (Spain / Real Madrid CF)
David Luiz (Brazil / Paris St-Germain FC)
Filipe Luis (Brazil / Chelsea FC)
Diego Godin (Uruguay / Atlético Madrid)
Mats Hummels (Germany / Borussia Dortmund)
Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia / Chelsea FC)
Vincent Kompany (Belgium / Manchester City FC)
Philipp Lahm (Germany / FC Bayern München)
Marcelo (Brazil / Real Madrid CF)
Javier Mascherano (Argentina / FC Barcelona)
Pepe (Portugal / Real Madrid CF)
Gerard Pique (Spain / FC Barcelona)
Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid CF)
Thiago Silva (Brazil / Paris St-Germain FC)
Raphael Varane (France / Real Madrid CF)
Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina / Manchester City FC).
