FIFPro released the "preview results" of its 2016 voting today, naming the 55 players who received the most votes in their respective positions. The actual World XI will be revealed March 8th. https://www.fifpro.org/en/?option=com_content&view=article&catid=27&id=6768 Goalkeepers: Defenders: Midfielders : Attackers :
I can't speak to other leagues, but it certainly is odd to me to see some current- or recent-NWSL players listed here who didn't make the 2016 First or Second all-league teams... Considering it's all players voting, I expect FIFPro to be a better representation of performance than the official FIFA World Player award, though I guess there's still some big-name-itis going on.
Yeah, this 3000 voting players from 47 countries are mainly from top UEFA clubs and NWSL league so I guess they were voting for familiar faces. Not even one player from a club based outside of Europe and US made the list (well there's Steph Catley - but she played mostly in Orlando Pride in 2016).
I wonder how much of the women's game female players watch in general. My impression is that they prefer to watch the men's game for educational purposes and pick up things in their own game to improve. When you read interviews or profiles of different players, most of them seem to have a male player as favourite player. It doesn't help that women's club football pretty much is unavailable on television either. Women are not interested in watching other women play football, which is a big reason to why woso struggles as a spectator sport.
It is a better list than the FIFA one, but maybe this is due to the size that allow to get nearly everyone in. But at least proper candidates are not overlooked like Hegerberg.
BREAKING: @FIFPro proudly presents the #WomensWorldXI 2016. Read more: https://t.co/e95Mn3QAod #BeBoldForChange pic.twitter.com/0HCa3MTFxG— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) March 8, 2017 And of course, here's last year's list again: Soso, Renard, Le Sommer, and Lloyd repeat
Sighs I kinda wanted to see Bronze there, but at least Ada and Leonie are there which makes me happy.
It's still just a popularity contest of sorts cuz no votes or candidates were collected from AFC, CAF or CONMEBOL clubs