Each year since 2005, FIFPRO invited all professional men's
footballers in the world to compose the best men's team of the year, named the FIFPRO World 11 (also known as the FIFPRO World XI). Every player was requested to pick one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards.
[14] In 2009, the world players' union joined hands with
FIFA. While the format remained the same, the award name changed to the
FIFA FIFPRO World 11. This became the only team award picked by all professional footballers worldwide.
Each year in September, approximately 45,000 voting ballots are sent out to professional footballers' associations that are FIFPRO members or candidate members, who are then asked to distribute the forms among all professional footballers in their countries. In October these are returned to FIFPRO'S head office. At the end of November, FIFPRO and FIFA together announce the 55-player shortlist, consisting of 5 goalkeepers, 20 defenders, 15 midfielders and 15 forwards.
[15] In January the votes are counted, and the 11-man FIFA FIFPRO World 11 is revealed at
The Best FIFA Football Awards (formerly the
FIFA Ballon d'Or) ceremony in
Zürich, Switzerland.
[15]