Cristiano Ronaldo has been snubbed for the IFFHS Team of the Year despite the Portuguese legend finishing as the top goalscorer in 2023.
Ronaldo ended the year with 54 goals in 59 appearances for Portugal and his Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
The 38-year-old’s haul was not enough for him to be named in the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) Team of the Year.
The organisation has instead selected Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe as forwards in their eleven.
Haaland scored 50 goals to help Manchester City secure a famous Treble during 2023, with Pep Guardiola‘s side also clinching the Club World Cup in December.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been snubbed for the IFFHS Team of the Year despite scoring 54 goals
Ronaldo’s rival Lionel Messi is been included in the team with the Argentine named in midfield
PSG talisman Mbappe and Kane, who starred for both Tottenham and Bayern Munich in 2023, both netted 52 goals in all competitions.
It is a second snub for Ronaldo, who was also left out of the IFFHS’s list of the ten best footballers of 2023.
The five-time Balon d’Or winner had commented on his omission by posting several laughing faces on Instagram.
While Ronaldo has been overlooked, the 38-year-old’s great rival Lionel Messi has been included in the team.
Messi, who won the Ligue 1 title with PSG before moving to MLS side Inter Miami, has been named in an unfamiliar role.
The record eight-time Balon d’Or winner features in a four-man midfield with Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Man City duo Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri.
Erling Haaland is one of five Man City players selected in the IFFHS Team of the Year for 2023
IFFHS TEAM OF THE YEAR 2023
Goalkeeper
Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)
Defenders
Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal)
Kim Min-Jae (Bayern Munich, South Korea)
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich, Canada)
Midfielders
Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund/Real Madrid, England)
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)
Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/Inter Miami, Argentina)
Forwards
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur/Bayern Munich, England)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
De Bruyne and Rodri were crucial parts of the club’s Treble winning campaign, while Bellingham has starred for Real Madrid since his £113m summer move from Borussia Dortmund.
The team contains five Man City players in total, with Ederson chosen as goalkeeper and Ruben Dias named in a three-man defence.
Bayern Munich defenders Kim Min-Jae and Alphonso Davies complete the team selected by the IFFHS.
