The glittering annual ceremony for FIFA's The Best awards in Doha has delivered a stark verdict on the Premier League's global standing, with just three of its stars deemed worthy of a place in the world team of the year.
PSG Dominance Defines World XI
Revealed on Tuesday, the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World XI for 2025 is a testament to Paris Saint-Germain's historic treble-winning campaign. The French giants, who secured the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France in the 2024/25 season, provide six of the starting eleven players.
The team, set in a 4-4-2 formation, features a defence almost exclusively clad in PSG's colours. Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes line up alongside Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, the sole defensive representative from England's top flight. In goal, despite his £26 million summer move to Manchester City, Gianluigi Donnarumma was selected largely for his performances with PSG last year.
Premier League Representation Dwindles
The midfield and attack underline the snub to Premier League talent. The central pairing consists of Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and PSG's Vitinha, with Chelsea's Cole Palmer on the right and Barcelona's Pedri on the left. Up front, Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé is partnered by his runner-up, young sensation Lamine Yamal, both of Barcelona.
This leaves Palmer, Van Dijk, and Donnarumma as the only three Premier League inclusions. Remarkably, there was no room for prolific forwards such as Manchester City's Erling Haaland or Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, nor for Barcelona's Raphinha, despite all being nominated for the main award.
Awards Ceremony Highlights
The team announcement was part of a wider awards night. Dembélé added the FIFA Best Men's Player award to his Ballon d'Or, while Donnarumma claimed the Best Men's Goalkeeper prize. PSG manager Luis Enrique was named Best Men's Coach.
In the women's categories, Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the Best Women's Player award for a third consecutive year. England manager Sarina Wiegman was voted best women's coach for a fifth time, and goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who helped England retain the European Championship, was named best women's goalkeeper. Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, and Alessia Russo all featured in the women's world XI.
FIFA stated that the awards are based on 'on-field performance and general conduct on and off the pitch' for players, and 'the performance and general conduct of their teams on and off the pitch' for coaches.
