In 2009, FIFA and FIFPro joined forces to honour the best 11 players of the year with the FIFA FIFPro World XI award, which was presented for the first time at the 2009 FIFA World Player Gala.

The FIFA FIFPro World XI is chosen by over 50,000 professional football players from all over the world, who have voted for the best player in each position. From 2005 to 2008, FIFPro organised its own World XI player award, with the same selection system.

In 2013, Manuel Neuer - Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, Philipp Lahm - Franck Ribery, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta - Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo were chosen as part of the FIFA FIFpro World XI.