[Edit: You can check out the full FIFA 13 Team Of The Year with upgraded ratings here.]

EA Sports FIFA’s frontman Lionel Messi is favourite to pick up the Ballon d’Or award for a record forth year in a row with Barcelona team-mate Iniesta and Real Madrid’s Ronaldo close behind.

FIFA World XI

It’s the FIFA World XI that we’re all really interested though as each of the players chosen will receive their highest rated in form Ultimate Team card to date and not only be a beast on the pitch but also worth a fortune in the transfer market!

Last year EA Sports released the Team Of The Year in stages starting with the goalkeeper and defenders, then the midfielders followed finally by the TOTY forwards.

Each TOTY stage had a two day window in packs (including a number of Happy Hours) and we’re expect something similar in FIFA 13 (But you never know when it comes to EA).

Who Will Be In The FIFA 13 Team Of The Year?

The Team Of The Year was voted for in December to decide the best players in each position during whole of 2012.

The winners will be one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards selected from the following World XI Shortlist.

5 Goalkeepers Shortlist (Home Country / Club)

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus); Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid); Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea); Joe Hart (England, Manchester City); Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich).

20 Defenders Shortlist (Home Country / Club)

Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona); Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur); Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus); Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea); Dani Alves (Brazil, Barcelona); David Luiz (Brazil, Chelsea); Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United); Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United); 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 Piqué (Spain, Barcelona); Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona); Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid); John Terry (England, Chelsea); Thiago Silva (Brazil, Paris St-Germain).

15 Midfielders Shortlist (Home Country / Club)

Xabi Alonso (Spain / Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Spain / FC Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Spain / FC Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (England / Liverpool), Eden Hazard (Belgium / Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain / FC Barcelona), Frank Lampard (England / Chelsea), Luka Modric (Croatia / Real Madrid), Mesut Özil (Germany / Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy / Juventus), Franck Ribery (France / Bayern Munich), David Silva (Spain / Manchester City), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany / Bayern Munich), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast / Manchester City), Xavi Hernandez (Spain / FC Barcelona).

15 Forwards Shortlist (Home Country / Club)

Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City); Mario Balotelli (Italy, Manchester City); Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid); Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, Napoli); Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid); Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire, Shanghai Shenua); Samuel Etoo (Cameroon, Anzhi Makhachkala); Falcao (Colombia, Atletico Madrid); Mario Gomez (Germany, Bayern Munich); Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris St-Germain); Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona); Neymar (Brazil, Santos); Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United); Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Liverpool); Robin van Persie (Netherlands, Manchester United).

Who do you think will make the FIFA 13 Team Of The Year? (We’ll report back with the TOTY here and on Twitter and Facebook soon after it’s official!)