British quartet Gareth Bale, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry have been named among 20 defenders on the shortlist for the 2012 FIFPro World XI.
David Luiz, Patrice Evra, Branislav Ivanovic and Vincent Kompany are the other Premier League players to be nominated by fellow professionals.
Four defenders will be selected for the team, which will be announced during the Fifa Ballon d'Or Gala on 7 January.
This autumn, FIFPro sent out 45,000 voting ballots to all affiliated players unions, who in turn distributed the forms among the players.
Reigning world and European champions Spain have four defenders nominated.
Barcelona trio Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol, along with Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos, are included.
Chelsea pair Terry and Cole have made the shortlist of the World XI each year since it was introduced in 2005.
Terry, 31, was named in five consecutive World XI's between 2005 and 2009, while Cole, 31, has never made the team despite his seven previous nominations.
Blues team-mate Ivanovic, 28, is a first-time nominee, along with Alba and Borussia Dortmund's German international Mats Hummels.
Tottenham player Bale, 23, has also reached the defensive shortlist, despite playing the bulk of his games for club and country as a winger.
Nominees: Jordi Alba (Spain and Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales and Tottenham Hotspur), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy and Juventus), Ashley Cole(England and Chelsea), Dani Alves (Brazil and Barcelona), David Luiz(Brazil and Chelsea), Patrice Evra (France and Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (England and Manchester United), Mats Hummels(Germany and Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia and Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium and Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany and Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil and Real Madrid),Javier Mascherano (Argentina and Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal and Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain and Barcelona), Carles Puyol(Spain and Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain and Real Madrid), John Terry (England and Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil and Paris St-Germain).
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