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Tom Hindle

Phil Foden, Jamal Musiala, Lamine Yamal and the six players making their FIFPRO Men's World 11 shortlist debuts

GOAL takes a look at six first-time FIFPRO World 11 nominees, with some big names making their debuts on the 2024 shortlist

The footballing world has been lucky in recent years, with so many top players performing at their peak for so long. There are many nominees on this year's FIFPRO Men's World 11 shortlist with multiple acknowledgments under their belt. But at some point, the next generation has to come through.

For some, such as Phil Foden, a first time nomination has perhaps come a little late. But for the majority of the six first-time nominees, everything seems to be coming together at exactly the right time, with many years of promise to come.

No nominee is guaranteed a spot among the final 11 winners, of course (the 2024 winners will be revealed next week). But a glance at the ages here, ranging from 17-24, suggests that the select group might be award contenders for the foreseeable future.

GOAL looks at the first-time nominees for the FIFPRO Men's World 11, how they got here, and why there could be further nominations in their future.

  • Bayer Leverkusen's Dutch defender #30 Jeremie Frimpong controls the ball Getty Images

    Jeremie Frimpong, Bayer Leverkusen

    One for the purists! Jeremie Frimpong was a crucial part of Xabi Alonso's immensely successful Bayer Leverkusen team, serving as a valuable dynamic attacking presence as a right wing back. His nine goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga alone are part of the reason why the German side broke their "Neverkusen" curse.

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    William Saliba, Arsenal

    The best center back in the Premier League? He's certainly up there. The attacking players may get the plaudits for Arsenal, but it's their rock solid defense that have made them perennial title contenders. Saliba is the Rolls Royce at the heart of it all, forming a formidable partnership with Gabriel at the back. With the duo bossing it, Arsenal conceded just 29 goals in the league last season.

  • Phil Foden Manchester City 2023-24Getty

    Phil Foden, Manchester City

    It's quite incredible that it's taken Phil Foden this long to get voted onto the shortlist. Then again, it did seem as if last year was when it finally came together for the man Pep Guardiola once likened to Andres Iniesta. Erling Haaland did all of the goalscoring for City last year, but Foden provided pretty much everything else, putting up his best attacking numbers to date and winning the PFA Player of the Year.

  • Jamal MusialaGetty

    Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich

    What a class of young midfielders Europe has these days. Jude Bellingham, Florian Wirtz and Foden would be enough. But throw Musiala in, and the next generation looks bright. Bayern may have gone without a trophy last season, but none of that can be blamed on the former Chelsea academy talent, who was magnificent throughout. He scored 12 and assisted eight to complete a breakout year. More honors are sure to come.

  • Cole Palmer Chelsea 2023-24Getty Images

    Cole Palmer

    Man City don't often make major mistakes in the transfer market, but the decision to let Cole Palmer leave - at any price - seems foolish now. The attacking midfielder is the reason that Chelsea are back on their feet as a club. He scored 27 and assisted 15 in all competitions last year, and has 14 goal contributions to date this campaign. Nothing about his manner or game is particularly glamorous, but Palmer is just immensely effective in the final third.

  • Lamine Yamal Spain 2024Getty Images

    Lamine Yamal

    Many have been crowned "the next Leo Messi" and Lamine Yamal might just be the only player who can come close to meeting that lofty tag. In truth, this has been coming for a while. Then-manager Xavi handed Yamal his Barca debut in 2023, and it was immediately clear just how good he was, even at 15. Now, he's practically ancient at 17, and tearing things up for club and country. Quick, skillful, and immensely mature for his age, Yamal could have multiple Ballons d'Or in his future.