Brazilian-Cameroonian Vinicius Junior snubbed from FIFPro Team of the Year shortlist

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been surprisingly left out of the 26-man shortlist for the 2024/25 FIFPro Team of the Year, despite a stellar individual season.

Vinicius, who has Cameroonian roots, was not even among the top 30 players voted for by his peers.

More than 28,000 professional footballers participated in the global poll, according to reports from OkDiario.

The omission comes just months after the Real Madrid star finished second behind Manchester City’s Rodri in the Ballon d’Or voting, an achievement that underscored his growing stature in world football.

His absence from the FIFPro list has therefore raised eyebrows among supporters and pundits alike.

Several of his Real Madrid teammates made the shortlist, including Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Kylian Mbappé. Former Madrid midfielder Luka Modric, now playing for AC Milan, was also included.

The full list of nominees features a mix of established stars and emerging talents from across Europe’s top leagues:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Manchester City), Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/Real Madrid), William Saliba (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nuno Mendes (PSG)

Midfielders: Vitinha (PSG), João Neves (PSG), Fede Valverde (Real Madrid), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Napoli), Luka Modric (Real Madrid/Milan), Pedri (Barcelona), Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

Forwards: Raphinha (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)

Vinicius’s exclusion comes despite his key role in Real Madrid’s domestic success last season.

The winger was instrumental in their attacking play, contributing goals and assists throughout the campaign.

While FIFPro’s selection process remains confidential, the omission of one of football’s most exciting talents will likely reignite debate about the fairness and criteria behind individual player recognitions.

For now, Vinicius will look to channel the disappointment into his performances, as Real Madrid continue their push for silverware in La Liga and Europe this season.