FIFA FIFPRO Men's World XI 2022: Prediction

These players have done exceptionally well for their club and country.

Another year has passed and we have witnessed many amazing moments in football. It has been a wonderful year for fans as there were many performances to remember from various leagues to the World Cup 2022, particularly the final between Argentina and France, which was simply the best match of 2022. FIFA FIFPRO is the worldwide representative organization that represents 65,000 professional football players globally. It comprises 66 national players' associations. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo hold the record for the highest number of appearances in the FIFA FIFPRO World X1 with 15 each.

The nominees were revealed recenty, and now let’s look at the predicted FIFA FIFPRO XI 2022.

Goalkeeper - Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)

After a slow and rough start at the initial seasons, Courtois has done excellent glove work for Real Madrid last season. In 2022 he won the treble at Real Madrid which includes LaLiga, Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League. He kept 16 clean sheets in the 21-22 LaLiga season.

His Champions League heroics can’t be ignored as he single handedly took Real Madrid to the glory. He made 9 saves which is most in a Champions League final ever.

Right Back - Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)

Hakimi, who plays for PSG, is considered one of the best right backs in the world.

He is known for his speed and had a successful 21-22 season, scoring 4 goals and providing 6 assists. His performances at the World Cup helped his country (Morocco) secure a fourth-place finish.

Center Back - Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

The Dutchman had another outstanding year, during which he won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup at Liverpool. He also played in the Champions League final, which they lost to Real Madrid. Despite his brilliant performance in the Premier League, his club was unable to lift the title, as they narrowly missed it by just one point.

Additionally, he led his country at the World Cup 2022 and had a very successful tournament by reaching the quarterfinals. Furthermore, Van Dijk played more minutes than any other outfield player in 2022.

Center Back - Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig, Croatia)

The 21-year-old, tall, left-footed, young, and talented defender Gvardiol is being considered as one of the best center-backs in the world. He shook the world with his outstanding performance in 2022 for club and his country.

After the departures of Konate and Upamecano, Gvardiol was given the responsibility of defending duties, which he managed to grab very well and helped RB Leipzig secure a top 4 spot in the Bundesliga 21-22.

Left Back - Theo Hernandez (AC Milan, France)

The 25-year-old Frenchman, Theo Hernandez, is considered as one of the best left-backs in the world. During the 21-22 season, he helped AC Milan in winning the Italian Serie A by scoring 5 goals and providing 6 assists.

In the World Cup 2022, He got the opportunity to play in place of his injured brother Lucas Hernandez and performed exceptionally well. Theo Hernandez created 11 goal scoring opportunities for his teammate which is more than any other defender at the World Cup.

Defensive Midfielder - Casemiro (Real Madrid/Manchester United, Brazil)

Casemiro, who is now a Manchester United player, had a successful 2022 year. He is widely considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. In 21-22 season, he helped Real Madrid to lift the Champions League, LaLiga, and Spanish Super Cup, and has won every possible trophy during his stint at Real Madrid.

Despite some questions about his transfer fee and age when he joined Manchester United, Casemiro quickly silenced his critics with his top-class performances on the field in recent times.

Center Midfielder - Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)

The City magician had yet another exceptional year for his club. He has always been the main man for his manager and is a joy to watch as he is able to find a player from anywhere on the pitch.

He had a brilliant previous season where he scored 15 goals and provided 8 assists in the Premier League, which helped his club lift the trophy. Despite a poor showing at the World Cup, he remains the main man for his club.

Center Midfielder - Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)

One of the best midfielders at his position, the 37-year-old has been dominating the midfield and has been rock-solid for Real Madrid. Over the past decade, many managers have come and gone, but Modric has remained a constant mainstay for the club. He was a crucial part of the treble that Madrid won, and he also led his country Croatia from the front and helped them reach the semi-finals in consecutive World Cups.

Despite his advancing age, the 2018 Ballon d’Or Winner performances have always been outstanding for both his club and country.

Right Wing - Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain, Argentina)

When discussing the FIFPro XI, one cannot exclude Messi from the team. After a slow start to his career at PSG, Messi regained his form in 2022. His impressive stats at the World Cup demonstrate why he is still considered the best player in the world.

Messi scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists in 7 appearances at the tournament which helped him and his country to lift the cup which he eagerly desired. He was awarded the Golden Ball and narrowly missed the Golden Boot by one goal. He is clearly a major contender for the Ballon d'Or next year, potentially winning it for the eighth time.

Left Wing - Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain, France)

The 24-year-old, who has won the hearts of many, has been a topic of conversation in every household after the World Cup Final. The Frenchman single-handedly almost led France to yet another World Cup trophy. He scored a hat-trick in the final, which earned him the Golden Boot award with a total of 8 goals in the tournament.

Mbappe scored the most goals and provided most assists in the 21-22 Ligue 1 season. He is the top scorer in the 2022 calendar year, having scored 56 goals in all competitions for both club and country.

Forward - Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, France)

The season 2021-2022 was the best season for the Real Madrid striker. The Frenchman won LaLiga, scoring 27 goals and providing 12 assists, which was a career high in terms of goal contributions. He won the Champions League, scoring an impressive 15 goals throughout the tournament. He also won the Spanish Super Cup for Real Madrid in 2022.

His outstanding performances throughout the year earned him the well-deserved title of Ballon d'Or winner in 2022. Unfortunately, he was unable to participate in the World Cup due to an injury.