Eyebrows were raised on Monday when the FifPro Women’s World XI shortlist was unveiled and several big names were missing.

The 26-player shortlist was voted for by players from around the world and is the only award decided solely by fellow footballers.

It is considered prestigious as a result but when the list dropped and five of the top 10 Ballon d’Or finishers were not included, it understandably caused a stir.

Among the notable absentees was Manchester City’s top scorer Khadija Shaw, who finished third in the Ballon d’Or.

Malawi star Temwa Chawinga and Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay were also shock omissions, along with Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen and Denmark captain Pernille Harder.

However, England trio Ella Toone, Chloe Kelly and Aggie Beever-Jones are surprise inclusions.

The world XI shortlist was voted for by 6,511 women’s footballers from 64 countries via an online system with FifPro.

The finalists are the players who received the most votes judged on their period between 4 August 2025 and 16 August 2026.

All players had to feature at least 20 times during that period to be eligible for nomination and the winners will be unveiled on Monday, 9 November (13:00 GMT).

The world XI will consist of one goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who all received the most votes in their positions.

The remaining spot will be taken by the outfield player, from any position, with the next highest number of votes.

Votes for a player in more than one position (for example, if they are named as a midfielder or a forward), are combined.

It is not the first time the shortlists have been controversial.

Last year, Arsenal and Spain midfielder Mariona Caldentey was not included in the FifPro World XI despite coming runner-up in the Ballon d’Or.

In 2024, when 7,000 women’s footballers voted, four of the top five in the Ballon d’Or were not shortlisted, including the often overlooked Graham Hansen.

Instead, five Lionesses made the cut despite not winning a major trophy that year or having any finalists in the Ballon d’Or top 10.

This time around the WSL’s Player of the Year Shaw missed out. She helped Manchester City win a league and FA Cup double as their top scorer with 21 goals in 22 games.

Meanwhile, the inclusions of England trio Toone, Kelly and Beever-Jones were controversial with all three initially failing to make the most recent Lionesses squad.

Chelsea’s Beever-Jones scored just seven goals in all competitions for club and country during the period of voting, while Toone and Kelly both struggled for form and fitness in that time.

In contrast, England team-mates Lauren Hemp of Manchester City and Chelsea’s Lauren James were in good form and impressed for their clubs but missed out.

However, Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg is in. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner did not score in the knockout stages of the Women’s Champions League and was not a guaranteed starter for Lyon in the first period of voting in what was a below-par season for her standards.

Goalkeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham, Germany), Catalina Coll (Barcelona, Spain), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea, England).

Defenders: Ona Batlle (Barcelona/Arsenal, Spain), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea, England), Ellie Carpenter (Chelsea, Australia), Emily Fox (Arsenal, USA), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City, England), Mapi Leon (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Katie McCabe (Arsenal/Chelsea, Republic of Ireland), Irene Paredes (Barcelona). Spain)

Midfielders: Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona, Spain), Ghizlane Chebbak (Al-Hilal/Free Agent, Morocco), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona, Spain), Anaele Le Moguedec (Paris FC, France), Vicky Lopez (Barcelona, Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses, Spain), Ella Toone (Manchester United, England).

Forwards: Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea, England), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid, Spain), Ada Hegerberg (OL Lyonnes, Norway), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal, England), Ewa Pajor (Barcelona, Poland), Claudia Pina (Barcelona, Spain), Alessia Russo (Arsenal, England).