As announced on Monday, FIFA revealed the list of 20 defenders nominated for the typical team of the year, and notably, there are no African defenders among them. The only French representative in this category is the young talent from Real Madrid, Raphael Varane. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid lead as the best-represented clubs, each having four players on the list.
Ligue 1 is also represented by Thiago Silva from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The nominations for the midfielder position will be disclosed on Friday, followed by the attackers on December 9. The list of five goalkeepers was already announced earlier this week.
The final World XI or the eleven best players will be unveiled on January 13, 2014, during the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala. The list of nominated defenders includes notable names from top clubs, emphasizing the global talent and competition in the world of football.
