FIFPro reveals world's best football team for 2025.

2 days ago7 min read3 comments

In a stunning testament to the shifting tectonic plates of global football, FIFPro has unveiled its 2025 World XI, a lineup that feels less like a simple selection and more like a coronation of a new era. The announcement, the result of a global vote by fellow professional players, confirms what many of us have witnessed unfolding on the pitch this past year: the game’s center of gravity has decisively tilted.The squad, culled from a shortlist of 26 elite names, is a fascinating mosaic of established titans and prodigious youth, a blend that tells the story of the 2024-25 season. Between the posts stands the immovable object, Gianluigi Donnarumma, whose colossal presence for PSG and now Manchester City has redefined the goalkeeping position, a modern-day Buffon whose reflexes are matched only by his commanding aura in the box.The defensive line is marshaled by the evergreen Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, a defender whose reading of the game remains so preternaturally advanced he seems to be playing chess while others are stuck in checkers; flanking him are PSG's dynamic duo, the marauding Achraf Hakimi, whose explosive runs down the right channel are a blur of Moroccan flair, and the technically sublime Nuno Mendes, a Portuguese full-back whose defensive solidity and offensive contributions make him the complete modern defender. The engine room of this dream team is where the magic truly ignites, a midfield quartet that is pure footballing symphony.At its heart is Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, a player whose influence is so profound he draws inevitable, and not entirely unjust, comparisons to a young Zinedine Zidane—his combination of power, grace, and a killer instinct in the box is simply unparalleled in his generation. Alongside him, Cole Palmer of Chelsea has silenced any remaining doubters, evolving from a promising talent into the creative heartbeat of both club and country, his vision and dead-ball expertise a constant source of danger.Then there's Barcelona's Pedri, the metronome, a player whose touch and spatial awareness are so exquisite he seems to have an extra second on the ball, pulling the strings with a quiet intelligence that belies his age. Completing the quartet is PSG's Vitinha, the Portuguese maestro who has blossomed into a complete midfielder, dictating the tempo with a passing range that can slice open any defense.The forward line, however, is where fantasy becomes reality, a trident of pure, unadulterated velocity and trickery. On the right, Ousmane Dembélé of PSG continues to be the ultimate chaos agent, a French winger whose dribbling is a dizzying spectacle of feints and bursts, finally coupling his undeniable talent with a devastating end product.Through the middle, the inevitable Kylian Mbappé, now of Real Madrid, operates as the spearhead, a force of nature whose speed and clinical finishing have reached a terrifying new level, his legacy now inextricably linked with the all-time greats. And on the left, completing this terrifying attack, is the boy wonder, Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.At just 18, Yamal’s inclusion is the most telling sign of the times; his performances have been nothing short of revolutionary, a blend of audacious skill, preternatural composure, and a wand of a left foot that evokes memories of a young Lionel Messi. This is not just a team; it's a statement.The dominance of PSG, supplying four players, speaks volumes of their continued financial and sporting project, while the presence of three Real Madrid stars underscores their enduring allure. Yet, it is the inclusion of Yamal and Palmer, products of La Masia and the Chelsea academy respectively, that offers a hopeful nod to the enduring power of youth development. This FIFPro XI is more than a collection of the best individuals; it is a snapshot of football’s present and a tantalizing preview of its future, a future built on breathtaking speed, technical mastery, and the fearless brilliance of a new generation ready to etch their names into history.

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#Van Dijk

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#Mbappe

#Yamal