Mahrez snubbed from World XI shortlist

by Staff Reporter

Friday Sep 06, 2019. 14:00

Riyad Mahrez failed to make Fifpro’s list of 55 nominees for the 2019 Fifa World XI, despite winning five trophies in total for club and country last season.

The Algeria international was part of the Manchester City squad that won the domestic quadruple last season (Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield), before leading his nation to 2019 Africa Cup of Nations glory in Egypt.

Mahrez, who was restricted to 24 starting appearances for City last season, scored 12 and assisted the same amount in 44 matches across all competitions for the Sky Blues in the 2018/19 campaign.

Only three Africans have been included in the 55-man shortlist. Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah played an integral role in helping Liverpool to a sixth Uefa Champions League crown, while Kalidou Koulibaly was named the Serie A defender of the season.

Both Mane and Koulibaly reached the Afcon final with Senegal before losing to Mahrez’s Algeria.

Over 23 000 professional footballers from across the world took part in the nomination process.