Thiago Silva Compares PSG Teammate Marco Verratti to Andrea Pirlo

Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva believes Marco Verratti has all the ingredients to become a world class midfielder in the mold of Italy legend Andrea Pirlo.

Verratti's rise to prominence over the past few years has seen him courted by the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid with the latter especially interested in acquiring his services.

Having claimed three Ligue 1 titles, six domestic cups and 15 caps for the Italy National Team since moving to the French capital from Pescara, Verratti is now being encouraged by teammates Silva and Blaise Matuidi.

"Marco is strong both on and off the pitch," Silva told Goal. 

"He has a unique personality. He takes a lot of responsibility on the pitch, doing things that normally a midfielder wouldn't try to do. 

"He can become one of the best players in the world, like Andrea Pirlo."

Matuidi echoed Silva's sentiments, placing Verratti at the center of PSG's transformation into a European powerhouse over the past few years.

"Marco is one of the symbols of the club," Matuidi told Goal. 

"When he came here he had never played at the highest level.

"He has grown up with us, four years have passed and we all evolved together. Playing alongside such great players also helped."

Marco Verratti can follow Andrea Pirlo to become world's best - Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva believes Paris Saint-Germain teammate Marco Verratti can emulate Andrea Pirlo and become "one of the best players in the world."

Verratti, 23, joined PSG from hometown club Pescara in 2012, and has since won three Ligue 1 titles at the heart of the French champions' midfield.

The Italy international has been linked with a move to Barcelona as a result of his fine form, and PSG skipper SIlva says the midfielder reminds him of Azzurrigreat and current New York City FC midfielder Pirlo.

"Marco is strong both on and off the pitch," former Brazil captain Silva told Goal. "He has a unique personality.

"He takes a lot of responsibility on the pitch, doing things that normally a midfielder wouldn't try to do. He can become one of the best players in the world, like Andrea Pirlo."

Ex-Barcelona midfielder Demetrio Albertini said in October that Verratti reminds him more of Camp Nou legend Xavi than Pirlo, adding: "He plays like a Barcelona player would by making short passes. He is different from Pirlo but he is still great.

"Pirlo makes the entire team play well regardless of his teammates. Marco needs the help of those around him a bit more, but that's not necessarily a bad thing."

Pirlo won the 2006 World Cup with Italy, with two Champions League trophies and two Serie A titles coming at AC Milan.

The 36-year-old midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements at the San Siro in 2011 before going on to inspire Juventus to four straight Scudettos.

World XI shortlist shows sharp fall in Premier League numbers

The number of Premier League players considered among the world's best has halved in just three years.

The 55-strong shortlist for the 2015 FIFA FIFPro World XI was announced on Thursday and contained only 10 players from the English top flight.

Back in 2012, the Premier League boasted 20 names on that list, with that sharp tail-off raising fresh questions of the current quality within the English club game.

Chelsea captain John Terry and Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney are the only English players to make this year's shortlist, as opposed to three years ago when they were among seven selected.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is another shortlisted for this year's team, with the Wales international among 12 former Premier League players named.

Manchester City make up the crux of the current Premier League representatives, with Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero shortlisted.

Reigning champions Chelsea saw Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Eden Hazard included, while Manchester United captain Rooney and David de Gea also made the 55-strong list along with Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez.

In contrast, Real Madrid alone had 12 players on the FIFA FIFPro World XI shortlist, while Bayern Munich had 11 and European champions Barcelona 10.

The award is decided by the players and involves votes from nearly 25,000 professional footballers from an estimated 70 different countries.

Players select one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, with the final World XI to be announced at the FIFA Ballon d'Or award ceremony on January 11, 2016.

FIFA FIFPro World XI shortlist:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain, Porto), David De Gea (Spain, Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica, Real Madrid), Manuel Neuer (Germany, Bayern Munich)

Defenders: David Alaba (Austria, Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain, Barcelona), Daniel Alves (Brazil, Barcelona), Jerome Boateng (Germany, Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy, Juventus), David Luiz (Brazil, Paris St Germain), 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 St Germain), John Terry (England, Chelsea), Raphael Varane (France, Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Thiago Alcantara (Spain, Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain, Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium, Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid), Luka Modric (Croatia, Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France, Juventus), Ivan Rakitic (Croatia, Barcelona), James Rodriguez (Colombia, Real Madrid), David Silva (Spain, Manchester City), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast, Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy, Paris St Germain), Arturo Vidal (Chile, Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Argentina, Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales, Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Brazil, Bayern Munich), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Paris St Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil, Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), Alexis Sanchez (Chile, Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Uruguay, Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Boca Juniors)