adminManchester City’s Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta have been named on the 20-man shortlist of defenders for Fifa’s 2014 World XI. The entire 55-man World XI shortlist will be announced by 1 December. Four defenders from the nominees will join the chosen goalkeeper, along with three midfielders and three attackers. Barcelona’s Dani Alves and Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, both on the shortlist of defenders, are bidding to make the Fifa World XI for the fourth time in a row after being named in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 teams of the year. The winners, voted for by 20 000 players worldwide, will be unveiled on 12 January at the Ballon d’Or awards.
Defenders of the year shortlist:
David Alaba (Bayern Munich); Jordi Alba (Barcelona); Dani Alves (Barcelona); Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich); Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid); David Luiz (Paris St-Germain); Filipe Luis (Chelsea); Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid); Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund); Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea); Vincent Kompany (Manchester City); Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich); Marcelo (Real Madrid); Javier Mascherano (Barcelona); Pepe (Real Madrid); Gerard Pique (Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid); Thiago Silva (Paris St-Germain); Raphael Varane (Real Madrid); Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) – BBC
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