Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, Pep Guardiola and Bayern contingency to miss World XI ceremony

FIFA announced Friday that despite a high number of nominees for some of the most prestigious awards in football, Bayern won't have any players or managerial representation at this coming Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony:

It is of course a pity that the Coach of the Year nominee Pep Guardiola and the other FC Bayern Munich nominees for the FIFA/FIFPro World XI will not be able to attend this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or in Zurich in person.

But as the world governing body of football, FIFA understands that for sporting reasons, the club's winter break training camp must take priority. Paul Breitner, Bayern Munich legend and now an ambassador for the club, will represent the nominees at the event on Monday, 11 January 2016.

Guardiola and a large number of Bayern nominees for FIFPro's annual World XI, a collection of the best players in the planet as voted by their peers, are of course unable to attend in person due to on going training for the Rückrunde in Qatar.

Amazingly Bayern could field a starting lineup of nothing but their nominees for FIFA's team of the year. 11 of the 55 finalists all hail from the record champions.

Amongst those nominated are goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defenders David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, and Philipp Lahm, midfielders Thiago Alcantara, Xabi Alonso, and Arturo Vidal, and forwards Douglas Costa, Thomas Müller, and Arjen Robben. Pep Guardiola is also nominated for Coach of the Year.

Neuer appears to be a mortal lock for the World XI with Alaba and Boateng also strong favorites. Vidal is pegged as a wild card due to his success at this past summer's Copa America in which helped lead Chile to the tournament title.

The 2016 FIFPro World XI will be announced this coming Monday, Jan. 11.