'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Since 2011, EA Sports have annually announced a FIFA Team of the Year. Lionel Messi astonishingly failed to make the cut in the latest edition, which was announced yesterday.
This is the first time that the Argentine ace has been excluded from EA Sports' Team of the Year.
This team of the world's best players is said to be selected from a pool of 70 nominees - the best footballers over the last twelve months - based on fan votes. EA Sports revealed that the FIFA 21 Team of the Year was selected after over 10 million votes were cast.
Lionel Messi was a notable absentee from the final Ultimate Team after Barcelona struggled in the 2019-20 season and continue to do so in the ongoing 2020-21 season.
Lionel Messi himself has also endured a relative slump despite scoring 14 goals and assisting 6 this season.
European treble-winning Bayern Munich were adequately represented in the FIFA 21 Team of the Year with 4 of their players making the cut. Two Liverpool players made the team after helping the Reds win the coveted Premier League trophy last season.
Here is the final team -
Manuel Neuer - Bayern Munich
Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich
Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool
Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
Joshua Kimmich - Bayern Munich
Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester City
Bruno Fernandes - Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo - Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich
Kylian Mbappé - Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi, however, could still make the team as EA Sports usually announce their Team of the Year with an additional 12th player - a player fans were upset to see missing. This year's 12th man is yet to be announced, and fans of Lionel Messi will certainly hope it's the Argentine superstar.
Messi's close friend and former teammate Neymar might also be a close competitor, with only one spot up for grabs.
Naturally, Lionel Messi's absence caused quite an uproar, with many thinking the 6-time Ballon d'Or winner should have been on the team. Many across the world took to Twitter to express their thoughts.
Twitter exploded after Lionel Messi was left out of the FIFA 21 Team of the Year
