Stunning Omissions in FIFPRO’s Elite Team

Football fans worldwide reacted with disbelief after Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, and Harry Kane were excluded from the 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World XI. This decision comes despite their extraordinary performances throughout the 2024-2025 season.

The final lineup, revealed on November 3, featured Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, and Barcelona’s teenage phenomenon Lamine Yamal leading the attack. Paris Saint-Germain dominated the selections with five players included.

Questionable Exclusions Despite Stellar Numbers

The absence of Haaland, Salah, and Kane appears puzzling given their remarkable statistics. According to Transfermarkt data:

Haaland delivered 34 goals and 5 assists for Manchester City across all competitions. Salah remained Liverpool’s most consistent performer with 34 goals and 23 assists. Kane outperformed both with 41 goals plus 14 assists for Bayern Munich.

Combined, the trio contributed to 151 goals last season. Each stood as their club’s talisman and among Europe’s most influential forwards.

Selection Process and Possible Biases

The FIFPRO World XI is determined by votes from thousands of professional footballers globally. Team achievements and perceived prestige sometimes outweigh individual statistics in these selections.

PSG’s UEFA Champions League victory potentially influenced voter preferences toward their squad members. This might explain the heavy representation from the French champions.

2025 FIFPRO World XI Full Lineup

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 Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

While the selected players boast undeniable quality, the omission of three of Europe’s deadliest strikers continues to fuel debates about award criteria in modern football.