
Argentina icon joins Mbappe, Haaland and Yamal in four-superstar attack as Spain-dominated squads announced
AI-generated summary
FIFPRO, the global players' union based in the Netherlands, organizes an annual poll where nearly 20,000 players vote for the World XI team. The men's and women's teams were announced Monday.
GENEVA (AP) -- Lionel Messi's peers gave him one more appearance in the FIFPRO World XI lineup Monday after nearly 20,000 players voted for their best team in a poll organized by the global union.
At age 39, the Argentina icon was elected to the team as part of a four-superstar attack alongside Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal. Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane missed out.
This is Messi's 18th selection to the World XI, and he was last chosen in 2023.
The Inter Miami forward was also the only men's World XI selection playing for a club outside Europe. Paris Saint-Germain's Moroccan right back Achraf Hakimi was the only other selection representing a national team outside Europe.
Spain's World Cup champion squads dominated, with four players, including 19-year-old Yamal, voted onto the men's team and five onto the Women's World XI, including three-time Ballon d'Or winners Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, also announced Monday by the Netherlands-based union.
The women's team also had five players from European champion England and none from the United States for another year. FIFPRO said more than 6,500 female players from 64 countries voted.
Orlando Pride and Zambia forward Barbra Banda was the only team member with a connection to Africa or the Americas.
The combined ages of Barcelona pair Yamal and defender Pau Cubarsi add up to a couple of days fewer than Messi's 39 years and four months. The World XI has a third Barcelona and Spain player in Rodri, who signed from Manchester City after winning the FIFA Golden Ball as the best player at the World Cup.
Goalkeeper David Raya was a backup for Spain, though he was elected to the World XI for his performances with Arsenal, the Premier League winner and Champions League finalist.
Two-time Champions League winner PSG had three players selected: Hakimi was joined by left back Nuno Mendes and midfielder Vitinha.
Jude Bellingham's selection alongside Mbappe gave Real Madrid two picks.
Zambia's Banda was also in the 2025 women's lineup, though she was joined then by Moroccan midfielder Ghizlane Chebbak. The 2024 team also included Banda and two South Americans, Brazilian great Marta and Colombia's Linda Caicedo.
The last US player to be voted onto the team was Alex Morgan in 2023.
European champion Barcelona provided five players to the 2026 team. Putellas and defender Mapi Leon have both moved to London City Lionesses since Barcelona's latest Women's Champions League title in May.
Defender Irene Paredes and forward Claudia Pina completed the contingent from 2023 Women's World Cup winner Spain.
The five players from European champion England were goalkeeper Hannah Hampton and defender Lucy Bronze of Chelsea, Manchester City defender Alex Greenwood, Manchester United midfielder Ella Toone and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo. Bronze earned a record ninth selection to the team, which was first elected in 2015.

Hyrox, an indoor fitness race combining running and functional workouts, is surging in South Korea, with its Seoul event expected to draw 19,000 participants after tickets sold out in an hour. Brands like Puma, Nike, and Adidas are launching related products as the hybrid training market grows.

FC Seoul midfielder Son Jeong-beom, 19, recovered from a high fever and will depart for his first South Korea national team camp alongside Song Bum-keun and Shin Min-ha. The team trains Tuesday ahead of November matches against Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

South Korean shooter Oh Se-hee won silver in the women's 50-meter rifle three positions final at the ISSF World Championships in Doha, scoring 357.7 points and securing an Olympic quota place for South Korea for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The 2026 KLPGA Tour ended with Kim Min-sol's three wins. There were 19 winners in 29 competitions with a total prize money of 33.5 billion won, and Kim Min-sol swept the grand prize, rookie of the year, and prize money king, exceeding 1.6 billion won in single season prize money. Seo Kyo-rim became the leader in most wins with four wins, and six players recorded their first wins.

The Samsung Lions won the Korean Series for the first time in 12 years. The three-pronged strategy of breaking down pure-bloodism, data-based training, and one-team spirit was effective. General Manager Lee Jong-yeol, Director Park Jin-man, Choi Hyeong-woo, Chris Fedek, Jang Chan-hee, Koo Ja-wook, and Won Tae-in played key roles.

As a result of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote, Detroit infielder Kevin McGonigle was selected as the American League Rookie of the Year, and Cincinnati first baseman Sal Stewart was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year. Korean-American JJ Weatherholt of St. Louis stayed in third place.