FIFPro 2025 Best XI: Naming Yamal, embarrassing Vinicius

The Professional Footballers' Association (FIFPro) has just announced the list of 26 candidates for the World Football Team of the Season 2024/25. It can be seen that all the prominent names appear, except for one notable absence: striker Vinicius.

Lamine Yamal Vinicius The Touchline 1.jpg — Lamine Yamal and Vinicus just had some 'fighting' moments in the El Clasico Real Madrid 2-1 Barca. Photo: X The Touchline

In the list, Real Madrid has 5 players - Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kylian Mbappe - but does not include Vinicius, even though he still had a relatively good season with 24 goals and 16 assists for Real Madrid in all competitions.

Vinicius was included in the 2023/24 FIFPro Team of the Year, vowing to "do 10 times more" after missing out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or (Rodri won), but in reality his form has declined.

This season, the striker has not even secured a starting position under Xabi Alonso and has often caused trouble off the pitch.

Returning to this year's list of candidates, it is understandable that the reigning Champions League champion, PSG, has 7 nominees. Messi and Ronaldo, although no longer at the peak of their form, still show great ability, with great influence at their clubs as well as at the national team level. And of course, a Lamine Yamal who creates strong emotions on the field, the owner of the Silver Ball 2025, is indispensable!

FIFPro Typical Image.jpg — The FIFPro 2024/25 Team of the Year will be announced on November 3. Photo: FIFPro

The FIFPro 2024/25 Team of the Year is voted for by professional footballers around the world, based on the candidates' performance between 15 July 2024 and 3 August 2025, with the condition of participating in at least 30 matches during that period.

The results will be announced on November 3.

Specific list of 26 candidates:

Goalkeeper

Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil)

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid, Belgium)

Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Manchester City, Italy)

Defender

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/Real Madrid, England)

Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona, Spain)

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco)

Marquinhos (PSG, Brazil)