The talents of Football Ferns captain Ali Riley have received further recognition after the fullback was included on the shortlist for the 2017 FIFPro World XI.

The 30-year-old has been included alongside 54 other players from across the globe and all are in the running to be included in the World XI, which is set to be announced by FIFPro on March 8 to coincide with International Women’s Day.

More than 4,100 female players acting at the highest level in 45 countries worldwide voted for this year’s World XI. It is the third time FIFPro has organised this unique poll, which invites top female footballers to select one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers.

The five goalkeepers, 20 defenders, 15 midfielders and 15 attackers who received most votes appear on the list of 55 players.

This list includes eight women who were voted in the 2016 World XI, namely Nilla Fischer, Wendie Renard, Dzsenifer Marozsan, Carli Lloyd, Marta, Alex Morgan, Ada Hegerberg and Eugenie Le Sommer.

Riley, who was also shortlisted for the World XI the previous year, is hugely honoured to be recognised by her peers for the second time running.

"When you know the players you play with and against recognise you as one of the top players in the world, it’s a different feeling and a huge honour – it’s something I'll never take for granted,” she says.

Riley is currently in camp with the Football Ferns in Spain, where they are taking on Scotland in a pair of international friendlies. She skippered the side to a 2-0 loss in the first match on Sunday and will lead her country out again on Tuesday (11pm NZT) as the Ferns look to square the series.

The full shortlist for the 2017 FIFPro World XI is as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Katarzyna Kiedrzynek (Poland - Paris Saint-Germain)
Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden - Chelsea FC)
Sandra Paños (Spain - FC Barcelona)
Andreea Părăluță (Romania - Atlético Madrid)
Almuth Schult (Germany - VfL Wolfsburg)

Defenders:

Millie Bright (England - Chelsea FC)
Lucy Bronze (England - Olympique Lyonnais)
Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada - Ol. Lyonnais)
Anouk Dekker (The Netherlands - Montpellier)
Kristin Demann (Germany - FC Bayern München)
Nilla Fischer (Sweden - VfL Wolfsburg)
Natalia Gaitán (Colombia - Valencia CF)
Stephanie Houghton (England - Man City, photo)
Tuija Hyyrynen (Finland - Juventus FC)
Alanna Kennedy (Australia - Melbourne City FC)
Saki Kumagai (Japan - Olympique Lyonnais)
Ashley Lawrence (Canada - Paris Saint-Germain)
Elena Linari (Italy - ACF Fiorentina FC)
Amel Majri (France - Olympique Lyonnais)
Irene Paredes (Spain - Paris Saint-Germain)
Babett Peter (Germany - VfL Wolfsburg)
Wendie Renard (France - Olympique Lyonnais)
Ali Riley (New Zealand - FC Rosengård)
Line Røddik Hansen (Denmark - FC Barcelona)
Sandra Žigić (Croatia - FF USV Jena)

Midfielders:

Camille Abily (France - Olympique Lyonnais)
Karen Carney (England - Chelsea FC)
Sara Däbritz (Germany - FC Bayern München)
Daniëlle van de Donk (The Netherlands - Arsenal)
Jackie Groenen (The Netherlands - FFC Frankfurt)
Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (Iceland - VfL Wolfsburg)
Amandine Henry (France - Olympique Lyonnais)
Carli Lloyd (United States - Sky Blue FC, photo)
Victoria Losada (Spain - FC Barcelona)
Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany - Ol. Lyonnais)
Silvia Meseguer (Spain - Atlético Madrid)
Alice Parisi (Italy - ACF Fiorentina FC)
Caroline Seger (Sweden - FC Rosengård)
Marta Vieira da Silva (Brazil - Orlando Pride)
Caroline Weir (Scotland - Liverpool FC)

Forwards:

Barbara Bonansea (Italy - Juventus FC)
Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela - FSU)
Pernille Harder (Denmark - VfL Wolfsburg)
Ada Hegerberg (Norway - Olympique Lyonnais)
Jennifer Hermoso (Spain - Paris Saint-Germain)
Samantha Kerr (Australia - Perth Glory)
Eugénie Le Sommer (France - Ol. Lyonnais, photo)
Lieke Martens (The Netherlands - FC Barcelona)
Vivianne Miedema (The Netherlands - Arsenal FC)
Alex Morgan (United States - Orlando Pride)
Nadia Nadim (Denmark - Manchester City)
Ewa Pajor (Poland - VfL Wolfsburg)
Laura Rus (Romania - Sassuolo)
Shanice van de Sanden (Netherlands - Lyonnais)
Jodie Taylor (England - Melbourne City)