VIDEO- The 5 FC Barcelona players named to the FIFA/FIFPro World XI

The FIFA/FIFPro World XI has a strong FC Barcelona contingent in its ranks this year. Leo Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Dani Alves and Gerard Piqué were all named to the all-star team along with Casillas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo and Falcao.

Not the first time on the FIFA/FIFPro World XI

Interestingly these five players were also in last year’s FIFA/FIFPro World XI. Messi is the Barça player to be named to the team the most times with six appearances (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012). He’s followed by Xavi, who has five appearances (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) and Iniesta, with four (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012). Finally this was Piqué and Alves’ third time on the FIFA/FIFPro World XI. The Catalan made the team in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and the Brazilian was named to the team in 2009, 2011 and 2012.

Selected by professional footballers

Since 2009, the FIFA and FIFPro have worked together to name the best team of the year, the award is called the FIFA/FIFPro World XI. This all-star team is selected by more than 50,000 professional footballers that belong to players unions around the world. Voting was conducted by secret ballot.

This year’s FIFA/FIFPro World XI is made up by the following players:

Keeper: Casillas

Defenders: Alves, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Xavi Hernández, Iniesta

Forwards: Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Falcao