By Michael Nsikan Richard – December 17th, 2025
The 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World 11
The FIFPRO Men’s World 11 for 2025 was unveiled at the ceremony, representing peer recognition at its highest level through votes from more than 26,000 professional footballers representing 68 countries worldwide.
The voting period covered performances between July 15, 2024, and August 3, 2025, with players required to have appeared in at least 30 official matches during that timeframe.
The complete lineup features an attack-minded formation beginning with Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma behind a 4-man defense including three of his former PSG teammates, Willian Pacho, Achraf Hakimi, and Nuno Mendes, while Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk completes the defensive line.
The midfield quartet comprises Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, PSG’s Vitinha, Barcelona’s Pedri, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
The forward line features PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
Historic Achievements & Records
Several remarkable milestones emerged from this year’s selection. At just 18 years old, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal makes history as the youngest ever player selected for the FIFPRO’s Men’s World 11, breaking Kylian Mbappe’s previous record from 2018 when the French forward made the team aged 19.
The 2025 edition welcomed 6 first-time selections to the men’s team: Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Pedri, Cole Palmer, Ousmane Dembele, and Yamal. This influx of new talent represents the arrival of a new generation of elite football talent alongside established stars.
Voting Process and Significance
The FIFPRO World 11 distinguishes itself as the only global football award decided exclusively by professional players. The voting process involves FIFPRO and approximately 70 affiliated player unions distributing unique links that provide players from professional football clubs worldwide access to a secure digital voting platform.
Each participant selected 3 standout players in 4 positional categories: goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and forward.
The final 11 consists of the goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 forwards with the most votes, with the 11th spot awarded to the next highest-ranked outfield player overall.
This selection method ensures that recognition comes from those who compete at the highest level and understand firsthand who truly excelled during the evaluation period.
The ceremony in Doha served as a celebration of football excellence, bringing together the sport’s greatest players, coaches, and legends to honor both individual achievements and collective recognition through the World 11.
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