No African defender is among the top twenty in the world.

No African defender is among the best 20 in the world as none made the list of 20 defenders shortlisted for the FIFA FIFPro World XI 2012, by the worldwide players’ union, FIFPro, and FIFA on Thursday.

The defender’s shortlist is part of the 55-player final shortlist to be revealed at a press conference in São Paulo on November 29.

Three days after the unveiling of the five-goalkeeper shortlist, the 20 defenders are now known and will be followed by the 15 midfielders and 15 forwards due to be announced and published on FIFA.com on November 26 and 29respectively.

The shortlisted defenders are: (home country, club)

Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona); Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur); Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus); Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea); Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona); David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea); Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United); Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United); Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund); Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea); Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City); Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid); Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona); Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid); Gerard Piqué (Spain, Barcelona); Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid); John Terry (England, Chelsea); Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris St-Germain).

The 50,000 professional footballers belonging to the players’ unions across the world that form FIFPro received voting forms to nominate their peers in a secret ballot for inclusion in their World XI – choosing the best goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards of 2012.

The final FIFA FIFPro World XI will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 7, 2013. During the televised gala, the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’Or for the best player of 2012 and the winner of the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2012 award will also be revealed.

Meanwhile, the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football award and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football award will be presented for the third time. The FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year, the FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented during the gala.