FIFPro, the global players’ union, announced this Monday, November 3, 2025, the ideal men’s and women’s teams for the 2024/25 season. The election took place by vote of more than 26 thousand professional athletes from 68 countries, considering performances between July 2024 and August 2025. In the men’s category, Paris Saint-Germain led with five representatives, while Lamine Yamal, from Barcelona, entered as the youngest player in history, at 18 years old. Brazilians like Raphinha and Marquinhos, initially nominated, were not selected.
The absence of Brazilian representatives marked the award ceremony for the second consecutive year in the men’s category. In the women’s category, Marta and Debinha were also left out, despite previous nominations. The vote prioritized athletes with at least 30 official matches in the men’s category and 20 in the women’s category.
Key election criteria include:
- Performance in club and national team competitions.
- Minimum participation in official games during the period analyzed.
- Exclusive votes from professional players, without influence from fans or journalists.
The process reinforces the athletes’ perspective on the season’s highlights.
This is the 2025 FIFPRO Men’s #World11, voted by players worldwide.
— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) November 3, 2025
🇮🇹 Gianluigi Donnarumma
🇲🇦 @AchrafHakimi
🇵🇹 Nuno Mendes
🇳🇱 @VirgilvDijk
🏴 @BellinghamJude
🏴 Cole Palmer
🇪🇸 @Pedri
🇵🇹 @Vitinha
🇫🇷 @DemBouz
🇫🇷 @KMbappe
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal pic.twitter.com/yDeqAfQz2y
Eligibility and voting criteria
FifPro has established clear rules for this year’s awards. Men’s players needed to play at least 30 official matches between July 15, 2024 and August 3, 2025. For women, the minimum was 20 games, between August 11, 2024 and August 3, 2025.
More than 20 thousand votes for men and around 6 thousand for women defined those selected. Each athlete nominated their ideal team, and the most mentioned formed the final lineups.
The method guarantees impartiality, focusing on collective and individual contributions.
Men’s team highlights
Paris Saint-Germain won five places in the men’s national team, highlighting the club’s collective success in theseason. Athletes such as Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes represented a solid defense, while Vitinha played in midfield with efficiency in passes and transitions.
Kylian Mbappé, now at Real Madrid, secured his sixth consecutive selection as a striker. Jude Bellingham, also from Real Madrid, received the most votes in midfield, with 11,176 mentions.
Lamine Yamal surpassed Mbappé’s previous record, set in 2018 at the age of 19. The young Spaniard contributed 18 goals and decisive assists at Barcelona.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk completed the defense with his fifth appearance, highlighting consistency in aerial duels and interceptions.
Men’s complete training
Gianluigi Donnarumma played as goalkeeper, making crucial saves in the Champions League. The defensive line included Hakimi, Van Dijk and Mendes, forming a balanced sector.
In midfield, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer debuted with precise vision of the game. Barcelona’s Pedri added creativity with 11.25 progressive passes per game.
The attack led by Yamal, Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, from PSG, had speed and lethal finishing.
Other nominees, such as Alisson, from Liverpool, received significant votes, but did not make the final team.
Brazilian absence in men
Raphinha, from Barcelona, played 42 games and scored 15 goals, but was left out by a narrow margin in the voting. Marquinhos, from PSG, contributedwith 38 matches and defensive leadership, without selection.
Lisson goalkeeper Alisson Becker was another Brazilian nominee with 35 games and important clean sheets. The absence reflects fierce competition from Europeans.
Coaches highlight that the focus on collective trophies influenced voters’ choices.
Women’s team without South Americans
The women’s team prioritized Europeans, with England leading six places. Lucy Bronze reached a record eight selections, surpassing Wendie Renard.
Chelsea dominated with three athletes: Hannah Hampton in goal, Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze in defense. Barcelona contributed Ona Batlle, Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas.
Barbra Banda, from Orlando Pride, secured her second place as a Zambian striker. Ghizlane Chebbak, Moroccan for Al Hilal, debuted as a midfielder, scoring five goals in the African Cup.
Rising female players
Hannah Hampton, Chelsea goalkeeper, celebrated her debut with saves in European finals. Manchester City’s Chloe Kelly came on as a striker with decisive goals in the Premier League.
Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas won five Ballon d’Ors together, strengthening the Spanish midfield. Arsenal’s Leah Williamson added defensive solidity.
Ona Batlle lifted three trophies with Barcelona, including League F and the Super Cup. These collective performances boosted the votes.
Historical records and milestones
Lamine Yamal broke the male precocity record at 18 years old. Lucy Bronze reached eight selections in the women’s division, an unprecedented milestone.
For the first time, two Africans entered the women’s team: Banda and Chebbak. PSG equaled records with five in the men’s game.
The vote registered a record number of participants, with 26 thousand athletes involved globally.
