Eyebrows are raised after the FIFA Pro Women’s World XI shortlist was unveiled on Monday, with several of the world’s biggest names missing. The 26-player shortlist, voted for by fellow professional footballers, omits Manchester City star Khadija Shaw — even though she finished third in the Ballon d’Or and was the WSL’s Player of the Year.
FIFA Pro World XI Snubs
Five of the top 10 Ballon d’Or finishers failed to make the shortlist. Alongside Shaw, Malawi star Temwa Chawinga and Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay were shock omissions, as were Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen and Denmark captain Pernille Harder. Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp also missed out, despite strong form for club and country. Shaw’s omission stings most: she helped Manchester City win a league and FA Cup double as their top scorer with 21 goals in 22 games.
Controversial Inclusions and the Voting Process
The surprises cut both ways. England trio Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Aggie Beever-Jones all made the shortlist — despite all three initially failing to make the most recent Lionesses squad. Beever-Jones scored just seven goals in all competitions for club and country during the voting period, while Toone and Kelly both struggled for form and fitness. The shortlist was voted for by 6,511 women’s footballers from 64 countries, making FIFA Pro the only major world XI decided solely by players, and it covers the period from 4 August 2025 to 16 August 2026, with all nominees required to have featured at least 20 times.
The final World XI — one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, three forwards, plus the next-highest-voted outfield player — will be unveiled on Monday, November 9 at 13:00 GMT. And this is not the first controversial shortlist: last year Mariona Caldentey missed out despite finishing runner-up in the Ballon d’Or, and in 2024 four of the top five Ballon d’Or finishers were not shortlisted.
Khadija Shaw and Lauren Hemp (Credits: BBC Sport)
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
