William Saliba has cemented his status as one of the world’s best defenders after being selected in this year’s The Best FIFA Men’s 11.
The France international earned his spot thanks to standout performances for Arsenal, the Premier League’s meanest defence last season, and for France, whom he helped guide to the semi-finals of the European Championships.
His inclusion in the final XI came through a combination of a public vote and input from an “expert” panel.
David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka also made the men’s shortlist. On the women’s side, Mariona Caldentey, Steph Catley, Katie McCabe, and Emily Fox were nominated.
Individually, Raya was up for the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award, eventually won by Emi Martinez (insert eye-roll emoji), while Caldentey was in contention for the Best Women’s Player award, taken by former teammate Aitana Bonmati. Beth Mead also earned a nomination for the Marta Award, recognizing the best goal scored by a women’s team player.
The other big winner of the evening was Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior who was named the men’s player of the year at the Fifa Best Awards.
His success comes a few weeks after a Real Madrid delegation boycotted the Ballon d’Or awards after the Brazil international came second to Manchester City’s Rodri…the type of behaviour that really makes you want to get involved in their latest Super League nonsense.
The Best FIFA Men’s 11
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Kroos (Real Madrid)
Rodri (Man City)
Erling Haaland (Man City)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Emi Martinez isn’t even in the top ten best goalkeepers in the world, he just happens to play in the same side as Lionel Messi.
I get the feeling as a fellow gooner, but the guy is good man you can’t deny. Also a prick, yes. And the very very best? Prob not, but hard to name 10(!) better 🤷🏾♂️
At first I thought, “Holy shit, Villa got Messi?”
or your just a sad punk who is still salty for him switching clubs four years ago
Saliba is such a class act, hope we can keep him for all his career.
Wouldn’t swap Saka for any player in the world.
I’m a arsenal fan and yamal over Salah for me is ludicrous
Well done, Big Willy, stay up!!
Still so young for a seasoned centre-back. And he’s ours hahaha
How long has it been since we had the best in a position? Besides Saka 😉
And oh, literally half of R. Madrid team in that 11. Yeah, right!!! 😔
I think that must have been voted on by the Spanish media.
These things always ring as untrue because they measure the (recent) past not the present. Dias over VVD? No Salah?
always proud of emi martinez! true gunner