Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were both named in FIFPro World XI for the 11th time... but there hasn't been an Englishman included since 2011 and only two Premier League stars have made it in last six years

Daily Mail | October 24, 2017

You know how the old saying goes: Death, taxes and no Premier League representation in the FIFPro World XI.

The star-studded line-up, voted for by footballers all over the globe, was unveiled at FIFA's 'The Best' awards in London on Monday night and - surprise, surprise - there wasn't an English top-flight player in sight.

That's become the norm over recent seasons, with the division conspicuous by its absence from all bar one of the past six editions while Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and La Liga have dominated.

Cristiano Ronaldo takes a look at his trophy after being named in the FIFPro World XI

Gianluigi Buffon, Dani Alves, Leonardo Bonucci, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Andres Iniesta; Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar were named in the FIFPro World XI at a ceremony in London on Monday night

Steven Gerrard is pictured at the 2009 awards - he has been named in the XI three times

Ronaldo is pictured with Wayne Rooney and John Terry at the 2006 awards

We can bang on about the lack of Englishmen - Wayne Rooney was the last back in 2011 - but it's not all that surprising, given England's mediocre FIFA ranking and miserable tournament record during the decade-and-a-bit that the XI has been selected.