Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Pepe form the Blancos contingent, while the Bavarian quartet consists of David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, Dante and Philipp Lahm
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich both have four representatives apiece on the shortlist of defenders for Fifa’s FIFPro World XI for 2013.
Los Blancos quartet Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Pepe are all nominated, as are Bayern Munich’s treble-winners David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, Dante and Philipp Lahm.
Both Liga champions Barcelona and Europa League winners Chelsea have three contenders each. The Blaugrana are represented by Jordi Alba, Dani Alves and Gerard Pique, while David Luiz, Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic make up the Blues contingent.
Manchester City contribute two candidates in the form Argentine full-back Pablo Zabaleta and Belgium centre-half Vincent Kompany.
Elsewhere, Nemanja Vidic is Manchester United’s sole representative, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian defender Thiago Silva, Borussia Dortmund centre-half Mats Hummels and Everton left-back Leighton Baines also make the cut.
There is not a single player from Serie A on the 20-strong shortlist.
Iker Casillas featured among the goalkeepers nominated for the FIFPro team on Monday. The 15 midfielders and 15 forwards in contention will be unveiled on December 6 and 9, respectively, with the final XI set to be announced at the Fifa Ballon d’Or award ceremony in Zurich on January 13.
FIFPro World XI Shortlist of Defenders: David Alaba (Austria, Bayern Munich); Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona); Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona); Leighton Baines (England, Everton); Jerome Boateng (Germany, Bayern Munich); Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea); Dante (Brazil, Bayern Munich); Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund); Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea); Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich); David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea); Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City); Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid); Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid); Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid); Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain); Raphael Varane (France, Real Madrid); Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United); Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina, Manchester City).