Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland headline 23-man shortlist for 2023 FIFA FIFPRO World 11

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have once again been shortlisted for the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO World 11.

Over 28,000 professional players have cast their votes for their team of the year.

And, after winning pretty much every trophy in sight over the last 12 months, it's Manchester City stars who dominate the 23-man shortlist.

Eight of Pep Guardiola's squad have made the cut, including striker Erling Haaland, who scored 44 goals across all competitions for his club in 2023.

He is joined by team-mates Ederson, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva.

Only two other Premier League players made the grade, with Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez backing up the Yashin Trophy he picked up towards the end of last year, and Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also getting the nod.

That means there's no place on the shortlist for Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, scorer of 32 goals in the last calendar year, or Arsenal's Bukayo Saka.

However, Harry Kane, who has found the back of the net 25 times for Bayern Munich since his summer move from Tottenham, has made the grade.

He is one of four England internationals to get nominated, alongside Walker, Stones and Jude Bellingham, who has shone since joining Real Madrid.

The nominations for Messi and Ronaldo come despite neither player spending the latter half of 2023 playing in Europe.

The pair, considered by many to be the greatest footballers of all time, now play in the United States and Saudi Arabia respectively.

Messi, 36, transferred to the MLS to join Inter Miami after his contract at Paris St-Germain expired, while Ronaldo swapped Manchester United for Al-Nassr in late December 2022.

That hasn't stopped either making the shortlist, though, with Argentina's World Cup winner Messi now having made the World 11 on 16 successive occasions since his debut in 2007, while Ronaldo has been selected 15 times.

The final XI will be named at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in London on January 15, where the Women's World 11 will also be revealed.

The shortlist for that includes a number of the England Lionesses side who lost the World Cup final to Spain, including goalkeeper Mary Earps.

She is joined by international team-mates Lauren James, Keira Walsh, Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway, Alex Greenwood, Ella Toone and Lucy Bronze.

Chelsea's Sam Kerr has also been nominated along with 2023 Ballon d'Or Feminin winner Aitana Bonmati.

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