FIFA and FIFPro World Players' Union have revealed the 20 defenders, including one African, who have been shortlisted for the official 2016 World XI.
Click through the gallery to view all 20 nominated defenders.
Four of the 20 nominated defenders will appear in the final 2016 FIFA FIFPro XI, which will be announced during the FIFA awards gala in Zurich on 9 January 2017.
More than 25 000 professional players selected their personal World XI, and all 55 shortlisted nominees were announced on Thursday.
All four defenders who made the 2015 World XI – Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo – are again on the shortlist for this year's team.
Here are the 20 nominated defenders:
Real Madrid: Daniel Carvajal, Marcelo, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane
FC Barcelona: Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique
Bayern Munich: David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, Philipp Lahm
Paris Saint-Germain: David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Serge Aurier
Juventus: Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci
FC Barcelona/Juventus: Daniel Alves
Atletico Madrid: Diego Godin
Borussia Dortmund/Bayern Munich: Mats Hummels
Arsenal: Hector Bellerin
Read: FIFA Reveal 15 Shortlisted Midfielders For 2016 World XI
The shortlists for the goalkeepers, midfielders and forwards were also announced on Thursday.
Which four defenders would you vote into this year's FIFA FIFPro World XI? Have your say in the comments section below.
