News
WED 26.11.2014
The high standard of the Liga BBVA comes under the spotlight each year in world football. The top stars from all over the planet want to play in the most important Spanish teams and their work is rewarded at the end of each season with nominations for the FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2014.
After the inclusion of Iker Casillas and Claudio Bravo in the goalkeeper category, on Wednesday the short-list of 20 defenders in contention for this Team of the Year was announced, including ten Liga BBVA footballers and Filipe Luis, the former Atlético Madrid player, following his great campaign at the club.
The team bringing the most players to this list is Real Madrid CF. The winners of the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey have Sergio Ramos, Daniel Carvajal, Marcelo Vieira, Pepe and Raphaël Varane as candidates for the best team of the year, following their great season under manager Carlo Ancelotti.
They are followed very close behind by FC Barcelona, who provide four of their defenders, as voted for by footballers themselves all over the world. Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Daniel Alves and Javier Mascherano are the Liga BBVA representatives who, alongside the Whites’ players, could form the defensive line of the FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2014.
And last but not least is the inclusion of Diego Godín, one of the mainstays of the Atlético Madrid team, champions of the last Liga BBVA. The former player for the Rojiblancos and also an important member of the squad that claimed the title, Filipe Luis, is also among the nominees alongside the best defenders in the world.
The nominees were selected by the players themselves through a vote among professional footballers all over the world. The players selected one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. Football’s governing body also revealed that the short-lists of midfielders and forwards will be published on 28 November and 1 December, respectively, at FIFA.com.
© LALIGA - 2014