11 January 2016
Just three days after being named in UEFA’s 2015 Team of the Year, Paul Pogba has also been included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI for his excellent displays over the past 12 months.
The Frenchman’s achievement was announced during tonight’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich.
This is the first time since 2007 that a Juventus player features in the world team of the year since Gigi Buffon’s appearance in the star line-up, the composition of which approximately 65,000 professional footballers represented by the international players’ union, FIFPro, have a right to vote.
Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini had also made the shortlist for this latest edition of the award that has run annually since 2005 (and in collaboration with the game’s world governing body since 2009).
Pogba played a major part in the Bianconeri’s domestic double and reaching the Champions League final with 10 goals and 11 assists to his name in all competitions during 2014/15.
In Europe’s premier club tournament, he was the youngest midfielder to produce at least 17 shots, complete at least 25 dribbles and win back possession at least 55 times over the course of the last calendar year.
The France international was also the youngest player in his position across the continent’s top five leagues to have at least 65 efforts on goal in 2015.
Pogba has also enjoyed a fine start to the New Year, setting up Simone Zaza for Juventus’ third at home to Verona before netting for the fifth time this campaign with his side’s opener on Sunday evening against Samporia.
He has thus made five key contributions (three strikes and two assists) in his last six matches between Serie A and Coppa Italia.
