FIFPro 2025 Team of the Year: Yamal included, Vinicius absent.
FIFPro announces 26 nominees for the 2024/25 World 11 award: Messi and Ronaldo are included; Real Madrid has 5 representatives but Vinicius is missing despite scoring 24 goals and providing 16 assists. Results will be released on November 3rd.
Immediately after El Clásico concluded with a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid, European football received another highlight: the list of 26 nominees for the 2024/25 World XI announced by FIFPro. Lamine Yamal was included, while Vinicius was absent—a contrast that perfectly reflects the trajectory of his recent form and the lingering impact of the game.
With Vinicius absent, Yamal takes the nomination spot.
FIFPro has confirmed the 26 names voted on by professional players worldwide for the 2024/25 World 11. The biggest highlight is the absence of Vinicius—who was part of the 2023/24 World 11. Despite scoring 24 goals and providing 16 assists for Real Madrid in all competitions last season, his form has "declined" recently and he is no longer a guaranteed starter under Xabi Alonso, in addition to off-field controversies.
Conversely, Lamine Yamal—the 2025 Silver Ball winner according to sources—appears on the list. In the recent El Clásico, Yamal was lackluster and involved in some clashes, while Vinicius was the center of attention with a moment of anger; coach Xabi Alonso confirmed after the match that he would address his player's unsportsmanlike conduct.
PSG dominates the nominations, with Real Madrid having 5 representatives.
According to the announcement, reigning Champions League champions PSG have seven nominees. Real Madrid boasts five: Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Kylian Mbappe. Messi and Ronaldo are still included, demonstrating their significant influence at both club and national team levels.
| club | Number of candidates |
|---|---|
| PSG | 7 |
| Real Madrid | 5 |
Voting format and announcement deadline
The FIFPro 2024/25 Team of the Year will be voted on by professional soccer players worldwide, based on their performance from July 15, 2024 to August 3, 2025. Each nominee must have played a minimum of 30 matches during this period. The results will be announced on November 3rd.
Here is the list of 26 candidates as announced by FIFPro.
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)
- Nuno Mendes (PSG, Portugal)
- William Saliba (Arsenal, France)
Midfielder
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Napoli, Belgium)
- Luka Modric (Real Madrid/AC Milan, Croatia)
- João Neves (PSG, Portugal)
- Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
- Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
- Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)
- Vitinha (PSG, Portugal)
Forward
- Ousmane Dembele (PSG, France)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
- Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr, Portugal)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, Egypt)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
Perspective: A vote from colleagues and a message for Vinicius
The World 11 is a picture painted by the players themselves, where the votes reflect both performance and image. Vinicius's absence—despite his 24 goals and 16 assists last season—shows the players' perception of his tumultuous year, from uncertainty about his starting place and personal controversies to Real Madrid having to give him one last chance to stay at the Bernabeu. Conversely, Yamal continues to be a symbol of inspiration in the eyes of his peers.
