Football fans worldwide reacted with disbelief after Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Harry Kane were omitted from the prestigious 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World XI. This exclusion came despite their extraordinary performances during the 2024-2025 football season.
The final lineup, announced on November 3, featured Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, and Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal in attacking positions. Paris Saint-Germain dominated the selection with five players included in the World XI.
The Complete 2025 FIFPRO World XI
Goalkeeper:
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain, Italy)
Defenders:
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)
Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Midfielders:
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)
Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Forwards:
Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
Many football analysts questioned the absence of Haaland, Salah, and Kane given their remarkable statistics. Haaland scored 34 goals with 5 assists for Manchester City. Salah contributed 34 goals and 23 assists for Liverpool. Kane netted 41 goals and provided 14 assists for Bayern Munich.
This trio combined for 151 direct goal involvements last season. Each player served as their club’s talisman and ranked among Europe’s most influential forwards.
The FIFPRO selection is determined by votes from professional footballers globally. Team achievements like PSG’s Champions League victory often influence voting patterns. Individual statistics sometimes carry less weight than collective success in such peer evaluations.
About the Author
