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PFAI 2009 Guide

FIFPRO WORLD XI TEAM 2009 NAMED
Tuesday, 22 December 2009 10:41

The FIFPro World XI Team of the Year 2009 was revealed on Monday night at a gala presentation in Zurich, Switzerland.  Over 22,000 players worldwide voted for the team and in a joint venture FIFPro and FIFA announced the world team of the year and Barcelona's Lionel Messi was named the World Player of the Year.

FIFPro_LogoThe FIFA/FIFPro World XI of 2009:

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid);
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), John Terry (Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra (both Manchester United);
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Xavi and Andrés Iniesta (both Barcelona);
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

Seven of the eleven players also made the FIFPro World XI of 2007/08. Four players were picked for the first time: Barcelona's Daniel Alves and Andrés Iniesta, and Manchester United's Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic. All four played in the Champions League final of 2009.

John Terry succeeded for the fifth time to join the World XI. The captain of Chelsea is the only player in the World that has been elected each time FIFPro has organized the vote. Steven Gerrard, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo made it to the team for the third time in a row.

European champions and recently crowned World champions Barcelona are the team with the most representatives in the FIFA/FIFPro World XI. Four Azulgranas received their award in Switzerland: Alves, Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. The latter was even crowned as Best Male Player in the World, moments later at the FIFA World Player Gala.

Once again Spain is the country that provided the most players. This year 4 Spanish footballers are named in the World XI. Last year Spain set a record with 5 representatives.