Gareth Bale has been named in the 55-man shortlist for this year's Fifa World XI. The Tottenham midfielder is one of 17 Premier League players nominated for the honour, with 18 players from La Liga, 15 from Serie A, four from the Bundesliga and one from Ligue 1.
Some 50,000 footballers belonging to players' unions across the world vote in a secret ballot to nominate their peers for inclusion – choosing the best four defenders, three midfielders, three forwards and goalkeeper.
Spain's World Cup victory has led to 10 Spaniards being nominated, while England have six players on the list: Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.
The 55-man shortlist for the Fifa World XI (Premier League players in bold
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea), Júlio César (Brazil, Internazionale), Edwin van der Sar (Holland, Manchester United)
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Lyon), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Lúcio (Brazil, Internazionale), Maicon (Brazil, Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (Spain, Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Walter Samuel (Argentina, Internazionale), John Terry (England, Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil, Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, Internazionale)
Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, Internazionale), Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea), Cesc Fábregas (Spain, Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), Andrés Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Kaká (Brazil, Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, Bayern Munich), Wesley Sneijder (Holland, Internazionale), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid), Xavi (Spain, Barcelona)
Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Internazionale), Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuaín (Argentina, Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, Internazionale), Arjen Robben (Holland, Bayern Munich), Ronaldinho (Brazil, Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Manchester City), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), David Villa (Spain, Barcelona)
