10 Players to Look for on the 2012 FIFPro World XI Shortlist

The 2011 version of the FIFPro World XI shortlist was announced on Thursday and, to no shock, mostly all of the names on the list are current megastars of the game.

Also included on the list were some of the game's young stars, like Neymar, Radamel Falcao, Mesut Ozil and Gareth Bale.

There are also plenty of names that should have been on the list, but as they say—there's always next year.

Here are 10 players who will definitely earn a spot on to the shortlist of 55 players for the 2012 FIFPro World XI.

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli is one of the most controversial players in world football today, but he also has a ton of talent.

After making his mark at Inter as a teenager, the Italian international transferred to Manchester City in 2010 and has been a regular in Roberto Mancini's starting XI.

Not only is Balotelli getting into the Man City team, but he is earning time with the Italian national team. The 21-year-old scored his first international goal in November against Poland and will look to put on a show on the big stage at Euro 2012.

Mats Hummels

You cannot make a list of the game's best young players without including Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels.

The German international is part of a Dortmund club that boasts a ton of young talent and was a good enough club to win the Bundesliga title last season.

Hummels may not be part of the German squad at the Euro 2012 tournament, but he could play in the Olympics and even in Serie A soon, as he has been linked with a move to Juventus.

Neven Subotic

Hummels' partner at the center of Borussia Dortmund's defense, Subotic has gained international respect as well.

The Serbian international has been at the center of Dortmund's rise to success, having been at the position with the German club since 2008.

Subotic has also been linked to a move away from the German club, but for right now, playing in the UEFA Champions League with his current club is good enough for the 22-year-old.

Alan Dzagoev

Dzagoev has been a staple in the CSKA Moscow lineup since his teenage years and is becoming a better player with every passing year.

The Russian is highly rated by the top clubs as a transfer target, and the platform presented to him in the form of Euro 2012 would be a perfect springboard for him to go into one of Europe's top leagues.

The midfielder has already made 17 appearances for Russia since 2008 and will be a fixture in the Russian lineup in both Poland and Ukraine this summer, all at the age of 21.

Andre Ayew

Another player who has been a fixture on his national team since he was a teenager is Andre Ayew.

The Ghanian international plays for Marseille in Ligue 1 and was an integral part of the club's title in the French top flight two years ago.

At 21, Ayew has already made 32 appearances for his home country and, with Michael Essien getting older and Ghana looking for a new superstar, Ayew is the perfect man to fill the spotlight for the Black Stars.

Xherdan Shaqiri

Shaqiri is one of the more underrated young players in world football because of where he plays—Switzerland.

The Swiss international has been with the country's top domestic club, FC Basel, for three season now, has already won two league titles while gaining experience in the UEFA Champions League and was a part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad as well.

Unfortunately, Shaqiri will not be showing off his talents in Poland and Ukraine this summer for the Swiss team, as they failed to qualify. Remember his name, however, because he will be around for a long time to come.

Shinji Kagawa

Another member of the young-star contingent at Borussia Dortmund, Kagawa is becoming one of the top Asian players in the game.

There were no Asian players that made the shortlist this year, and Kagawa is probably the best bet in years to come to make the list and represent Asia and Japan.

With a platform at a Bundesliga club right now to show off his talents and a potential move to a club like Manchester United, Kagawa already is, and will be, even more of an icon for Japanese football in the future.

Eden Hazard

Hazard has been one of the most sought-after young talents in the game for the past year, with Arsenal and Real Madrid rumored to be tracking the Belgian star.

After winning Ligue 1 last season and getting to the UEFA Champions League, Hazard's talents have been on display for all of Europe to see.

If you have not seen him yet, I suggest you watch this brilliant Belgian, as he has made a huge impact at Lille for the past four seasons.

Jack Wilshere

Jack Wilshere would have been on this year's shortlist had he not been out with an injury for most of the Premier League season so far.

Wilshere, at only 19, is the midfield maestro for the Gunners when he is on the pitch and is the biggest star of England's young talents—even those whom are years ahead of him in age.

There is no doubt that if Wilshere stays healthy, he will be on the shortlist next season because he is one of the top 55 players in the world now.

Thomas Muller

Muller made his impact on the international scene at the 2010 World Cup, where he was the top goalscorer in the tournament with five goals.

The Bayern Munich star will have a chance to be the leading goalscorer again, but this time it will be at Euro 2012, as he will lead a very dangerous German squad into Poland and Ukraine.