Best defensive midfielder in the world: Casemiro named in FIFPro World XI

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Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has been named in the FIFPro World XI for 2022, selected in the team for the first time in his career.

The Brazilian was in attendance at an awards ceremony in Paris for the event at the FIFA Best Awards.

The FIFPro XI is voted for by players. The full XI is below, with a 3-3-4 formation presented…

• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
• Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
• Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
• Joao Cancelo (Bayern Munich on loan from Manchester City)
• Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
• Casemiro (Manchester United)
• Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
• Lionel Messi (PSG)
• Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
• Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Casemiro the best in the world

While there are a couple of debatable calls in there, for instance, Virgil van Dijk as one of the best centre-backs of the past year, there is absolutely no debate over Casemiro.

The Brazilian is the best defensive midfielder in the world, winning the Champions League for a fifth time this past year.

Now after signing for Manchester United last summer, he has led the team to win the Carabao Cup already and is helping manager Erik ten Hag to change the face of the whole club.

He looks like the most complete midfielder United have had since Roy Keane, and what’s great, is that there is so much more to come.

Casemiro was even seen berating Bruno Fernandes after the full-time whistle at Wembley for not passing him the ball and shooting instead. Despite winning 2-0. Roy Keane would have been proud.

Manchester United fans longed for so long to have a top defensive midfielder in the team. Even an 8/10 would have done. Now we have a real 10/10, the best in world football, it’s official.