Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah was a notable absentee from the 26 players nominated for the 2024 FIFPRO Men's World XI, and it's been called a "disgrace" by former Premier League manager Rene Meulensteen.

The FIFPRO Men's World XI is the only award which is determined solely by professional soccer players, but Salah was seemingly not a popular choice this year. Of the 26 players nominated, only two play soccer outside of Europe, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo making the shortlist.

The FIFPRO nominations are based off performances between 21 August 2023 and 14 July 2024. During that period, Messi, playing domestically in Major League Soccer for Inter Miami, won the Copa America with Argentina and had 30 goal contributions for club and country.

Ronaldo, playing domestically in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr, had 60 goals for club and country but failed to score a single goal for Portugal at Euro 2024. Salah had 47 goal contributions for both Egypt and Liverpool but failed to make the cut, and Meulensteen has claimed his omission is "ridiculous" while calling out Messi and Ronaldo for being selected ahead of him.

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"Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo beating Mohamed Salah to a nomination is ridiculous," Meulensteen told OLBG. "Messi and Ronaldo have had unbelievable careers but are playing in leagues that don’t have the same standard.

"Look at what Salah has been doing and isn’t even nominated? It’s an absolute disgrace. You have to question how those nominations are made."

Ronaldo was coached by Meulensteen during his first stint at Manchester United, with the Dutch coach acting as Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team assistant between 2007 and 2013. Meulensteen then had a brief spell in charge of Fulham, although his tenure lasted less than three months.

Messi has won 17 World 11 awards, more than any other professional soccer player, but is followed closely by Ronaldo, who has won 15 awards over his career. Salah was nominated for the award back in 2019, but has never been named in the World XI.

Salah's snub comes after he wasn't nominated for the Ballon d'Or award, with Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk also missing out. However, Van Dijk has been nominated for the FIFPRO Men's World XI, but stands alone as the only Liverpool player to make the shortlist. The World XI will be named on Dec. 9.

FIFPRO Men's World XI nominees

Goalkeeper: Ederson, Emiliano Martinez, Manuel Neuer
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Ruben Dias, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Antonio Rudiger, William Saliba, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Jamal Musiala, Rodri, Federico Valverde
Forwards: Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Cole Palmer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal