Spain on Top of the World: FIFA FIFPRO World XI 2009

On the day that Spain were officially unveiled as FIFA's top ranked country, the governing body also released the names of 55 footballers who make up the shortlist for a FIFA FIFPRO World XI for 2009. Spain contribute the most stars with a total of 11 coming from 'La Roja', followed by Brazil with 8 and England/Italy with 7 each. Over 50,000 professional players from around the world will choose their favourite players for each position, and the XI will be announced in Zurich on December 21st.

Pick your best eleven out of this lot.

GOALKEEPERS: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/Real Madrid), Julio Cesar (Brazil/Inter), Pepe Reina (Spain/Liverpool), Edwin van der Sar (Holland/Manchester United)

DEFENDERS: Dani Alves (Brazil/Barcelona), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy/Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy/Juventus), Gaël Clichy (France/Arsenal), Ashley Cole (England/Chelsea), Patrice Evra (France/Manchester United) Rio Ferdinand (England/Manchester United), Fabio Grosso (Italy/Juventus), Glen Johnson (England/Liverpool), Philipp Lahm (Germany/Bayern Munich), Lucio (Brazil/Inter), Maicon (Brazil/Inter), Alessandro Nesta (Italy/AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal/Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (Spain/Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain/Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), Walter Samuel (Argentina/Inter), John Terry (England/Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia/Manchester United)

MIDFIELDERS: Xabi Alonso (Spain/Real Madrid), Michael Ballack (Germany/Chelsea), Daniele De Rossi (Italy/AS Roma), Diego (Brazil/Juventus), Michael Essien (Ghana/Chelsea), Cesc Fabregas (Spain/Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (England/Liverpool), Ryan Giggs (Wales/Manchester United), Andrès Iniesta (Spain/Barcelona), Kaká (Brazil/Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (England/Chelsea), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/AC Milan), Franck Ribéry (France/Bayern Munich), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast/Barcelona), Xavi (Spain/Barcelona).

FORWARDS: Nicolas Anelka (France/Chelsea), Andrei Arshavin (Russia/Arsenal), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast/Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon/Inter), Luís Fabiano(Brazil/Sevilla), Thierry Henry (France/Barcelona), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Barcelona), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina/Inter), Alexandre Pato (Brazil/AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England/Manchester United), Fernando Torres (Spain/Liverpool), David Villa (Spain/Valencia).