Vincent Kompany and Branoslav Ivanovic named on shortlist for the 2014 Fifa World XI

Four Premier League players make the cut, but the list is dominated by La Liga

The Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and Chelsea's Branoslav Ivanovic are among four Premier League defenders named on the shortlist for the 2014 Fifa World XI.

Kompany is joined by his City teammate Pablo Zabaleta, while Chelsea's £20m summer signing Felipe Luis is also on the 20-player list.

The Premier League is tied with the German Bundesliga in having the second-highest number of representatives. However, both leagues are well behind Spain's La Liga, which boasted nine players, including five from Real Madrid.

One of the Real players to feature is Sergio Ramos who, along with Barcelona's Dani Alves, will be aiming to make the XI for the fourth year in succession.

Chelsea's Serbian defender Branoslav Ivanovic was also selected (Getty Images)

Four defenders will be chosen in the final team, which is voted for by 20,000 players worldwide and will be announced at the Ballon D'Or awards on January 12.

The shortlist for goalkeepers was unveiled on Monday, with Thibaut Courtois the only player based in England to make the final five.

The Belgian was joined by Real Madrid's keeper Iker Casillas, despite the 33-year-old enduring a disappointing World Cup for Spain and losing his league place to Diego Lopez.

The full shortlist of defenders:

David Alaba (Austria, Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona), Daniel Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), Jerome Boateng (Germany, Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid), David Luiz (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain), Filipe Luis (Brazil, Chelsea), Diego Godin (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany, Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanovic (Serbia, Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany, Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid), Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain), Raphael Varane (France, Real Madrid), Pablo Zabaleta (Argentina, Manchester City).