Harry Kane has excelled for Bayern Munich since his move from Tottenham, but his brilliant form has not been recognized by his fellow pros this season.
The former Spurs hitman is one of the top names in world football and has not been included in this year’s Fifpro XI nominations, which is a major omission.
Just as Kane was also harshly rejected in the recent Ballon d’Or list.
The shortlist of 26 men who will become the starting XI of the prestigious side are names picked from professionals who found the efforts of their colleagues outstanding.
According to reports, as many as 60,000 pros cast their votes this year for three players who made the biggest impact between August 2024 and the same month in 2025.
Fifpro XI selection and big names missing from the shortlist
Kane, 32, had a stellar season last season with 49 goals in all competitions for club and country from 62 appearances.
However, it is said that his form, which does not include this term, was outside the voting window and so he was placed as missing from the list with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, despite the pair playing in a so-called “lesser league”.
But who else is missing from the list of 26 players considered among the best in the world?
And which players made the cut?
We’ll start with the obvious and aforementioned…
Harry Kane
We’ve already mentioned the England captain, of course, but it seems baffling that his efforts in the Bundesliga didn’t warrant a place.
His goals helped bring the Bundesliga title back to the Allianz Arena, while he also lifted the Super Cup, but that wasn’t enough to include him among the elite.
It could be a tough ask considering the aforementioned Messi and Ronaldo might still sneak into the squad based on their reputations. With all due respect.
Gabriel
The Arsenal defender has been hailed by some as the ‘best in the world’, but the recent player poll seems to contradict this statement.
Brazil’s veteran centre-back is behind William Saliba, who DID finish, but you could argue the 27-year-old deserves a more – or at least similar – place.
Granted, this season’s dominance doesn’t count because it’s out of the window, but he was also very good last year.
Bukayo Saka
The 24-year-old may have been plagued by injury, but he still scored 12 goals and 14 assists in all competitions in 37 appearances for Arsenal in the 2024/5 season.
Given that the likes of Cole Palmer are involved, despite Chelsea’s fourth-place finish last season behind Arsenal’s second-place finish, Saka might feel aggrieved at not making the list.
Declan Rice
The central midfielder has a lot of control in Arsenal’s engine room and was rewarded for this with a place on the Ballon d’Or list in 27th place.
His free-kicks against Real Madrid in particular were a highlight in the Champions League last season, but here too his performances in the Premier League and at home for the Gunners were hugely impressive.
Rice often does his job quietly, which could work against him, but he made 52 appearances last season with nine goals and 10 assists and he does the dirty part of the game well too.
Perhaps an overlooked element of the game that Rice does so well.
Scott McTominay
Scotland’s main man was exceptional in Serie A last season with Napoli.
The former Manchester United midfielder proved there is life after Old Trafford with his Ballon d’Or nomination, where he finished 18th in the prestigious group’s list.
The 28-year-old has scored 13 goals in all competitions and provided six assists in the same number of games, making a total of 39 for the club.
But it was the player’s leadership that shone through alongside his talents and abilities on the pitch, with McTominay often coming up with huge goals at crucial moments for the team.
Robert Lewandowski
The Barcelona forward had a strong season last season, despite being at the ripe old age of 37.
Robert Lewandowski imagined himself playing for Barcelona in 2024 during a pre-season friendly
Still finding the net with ease, Lewandowski finished narrowly above McTominay in the Ballon d’Or table in 17th place and hidden 44 goals for the Catalan giants from just 58 games.
An incredible achievement for the veteran who retired from international duty with Poland to concentrate on his club football.
Viktor Gyokeres
He joined Arsenal this summer but his Sporting CP form was still seemingly ignored by his fellow pros.
The Swedish frontman scored an impressive 54 goals in 52 games for the Portuguese giants and he also racked up his fair share of 13 assists.
Has not yet set the world on fire at Arsenal, but that would not have been an issue within the voting window anyway.
Full shortlist of Fifpro XI 26 men
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool, Brazil), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium), Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Manchester City, Italy).
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/Real Madrid, England), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain), Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco), Nuno Mendes (PSG, Portugal), Marquinhos (PSG, Brazil), William Lintasa (Arsenal, France).
William Saliba imagined himself playing for France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Napoli, Belgium), Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England), Luka Modric (Real Madrid/AC Milan, Croatia), Joao Neves (PSG, Portugal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England), Pedri (Barcelona, Spain), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay), Vitinha (PSG, Portugal).
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (PSG, France), Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France), Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal).
#Notable #omissions #Fifpro #Harry #Kane #tops #list #missing #stars