Raya Named FIFPRO World 11 Goalkeeper
Arsenal's David Raya earned his first FIFPRO Men's World 11 selection, winning the goalkeeping spot ahead of Thibaut Courtois and Emiliano Martinez.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Soccer
FIFPRO named Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to the 2026 FIFPRO Men's World 11, his first inclusion in the squad. Raya received 10,278 votes, roughly 52% of the participating footballers' votes, and was the only Arsenal player selected.
Why it matters
The selection is determined exclusively by professional players, reflecting peer recognition during a season in which Arsenal are attempting to retain the Premier League title. It also marks Raya's emergence as the club's first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
Raya received 10,278 votes, approximately 52% of the participating footballers' votes, to beat Thibaut Courtois and Emiliano Martinez for the goalkeeping spot. The source does not report the total number of voting players or the vote totals of the other goalkeeper candidates.
The players
David Raya
Spanish goalkeeper who joined Arsenal from Brentford and has become the club's first-choice keeper.
FIFPRO
The global representative body for professional footballers' players' associations, which runs the annual player-voted World 11.
Arsenal
London-based Premier League club aiming to retain its league title and win its first Champions League.
The details
Raya joined Arsenal from Brentford on loan in 2023 and completed a permanent move the following summer. He recorded a clean sheet in Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Hull City on Saturday and played in Spain's World Cup campaign during the summer.
Timeline
2023: Raya joins Arsenal from Brentford on loan.
2024: Raya completes a permanent move to Arsenal.
Summer 2026: Raya plays in Spain's World Cup campaign.
November 9, 2026: FIFPRO announces the World 11 selection.
Season Trajectory
The FIFPRO World 11 is voted solely by professional players, so Raya's selection reflects peer standing rather than media judgment. It arrives as Arsenal pursue back-to-back Premier League titles after a 22-year wait for the previous one.
Raya's selection carries weight for fantasy managers and sports followers tracking goalkeeper rankings. It also signals his standing ahead of the next season's competitions.
The takeaway
Raya's rise from a loan signing at Brentford to a peer-voted world goalkeeper shows how quickly a first-choice role can be earned. Watching how he handles Arsenal's title and Champions League ambitions will test whether the honour holds.
Further reading
Explore more soccer coverage for context on Arsenal's title push and the goalkeeping race.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ArsenalNews.co.uk - Arsenal News, Transfers News & Rumours.
