Rooney & De Gea On World XI Shortlist

Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and David De Gea have both been named on the 55-man shortlist for the 2015 FIFPro World XI.

The contenders for selection were voted for by a record number of almost 25,000 professional players from more then 70 different countries around the globe, with the final team to be named at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Zurich on 11 January 2016.

Both Reds stars involved have achieved notable feats during the past 12 months. Club captain Rooney recently overtook Old Trafford legend Sir Bobby Charlton to become England's record scorer and also reached 237 goals for the Reds to go level with Denis Law on the club's all-time list.

De Gea, meanwhile, was voted both Players' Player of the Year and Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for the second season running at United after a highly impressive 2014/15 campaign. More recently, the Spanish goalkeeper put pen to paper on a new four-year contract at the Theatre of Dreams in September.

Four former Reds - Gerard Pique, Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez - are also candidates for the landmark FIFPro XI as the world players' union celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first meeting.

2015 FIFPro World XI shortlist:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Casillas (Porto), De Gea (Manchester United), Navas (Real Madrid), Neuer (Bayern Munich).

Defenders: Alaba, Boateng, Lahm (Bayern Munich), Alba, Alves, Mascherano, Pique (Barcelona), Carvajal, Marcelo, Pepe, Ramos, Varane (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Luiz, Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain), Godin (Atletico Madrid), Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Ivanovic, Terry (Chelsea), Kompany (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Thiago, Alonso, Vidal (Bayern Munich), Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic (Barcelona), Hazard (Chelsea), Kroos, Modric, Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Pirlo (New York City), Pogba (Juventus), Silva, Toure (Manchester City), Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain).

Forwards: Aguero (Manchester City), Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Costa, Lewandowski, Muller, Robben (Bayern Munich), Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain), Messi, Neymar, Suarez (Barcelona), Rooney (Manchester United), Sanchez (Arsenal), Tevez (Boca Juniors).