The 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 was announced on November 3, 2025, celebrating the best male footballers from July 2024 to August 2025. Chosen entirely by professional players, this global award honors those who stood out for their skill, consistency, and influence on the pitch.
Organized by FIFPRO, the worldwide players’ union, the World 11 remains the only football award decided solely by footballers, making it one of the most respected recognitions in the sport.
What Is FIFPRO World 11?
The FIFPRO World 11 is a yearly “dream team” made up of the world’s top footballers, it is chosen through votes from thousands of professional players around globally. Each voter selects their best goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards, and the 11 players with the most votes make the final team.
The final lineup is first formed by selecting the goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards who receive the highest number of votes in their positions.
The World 11 is different from awards decided by media or fans, it’s chosen “by the players, for the players.” It reflects the opinions of those who truly understand what it takes to perform at the highest level.
To qualify, players must have played at least 30 official matches during the voting period, from 15 July 2024 to 3 August 2025. Votes came from over 26,000 players across 68 countries, according to FIFPRO.
The 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World 11
Goalkeeper
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy / Paris Saint-Germain → Manchester City)
A consistent shot-stopper, Donnarumma’s performances earned him his place as the best goalkeeper of the year.
Defenders
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands / Liverpool)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal / Paris Saint-Germain)
This defensive trio combines experience, pace, and reliability, with Hakimi and Mendes representing PSG’s continued dominance.
Midfielders
- Jude Bellingham (England / Real Madrid)
- Cole Palmer (England / Chelsea)
- Pedri (Spain / Barcelona)
- Vitinha (Portugal / Paris Saint-Germain)
Bellingham’s all-round brilliance, Palmer’s breakout Premier League season, Pedri’s creativity, and Vitinha’s composure helped shape the most dynamic midfield quartet of the year.
Forwards
- Ousmane Dembélé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)
- Kylian Mbappé (France / Real Madrid)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain / Barcelona)
Mbappé once again leads the attack, joined by Dembélé’s flair and Yamal’s record-breaking rise. At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal became the youngest player ever to make the Men’s World 11.
Highlights from the 2025 Selection
Five PSG players feature in this year’s lineup, proving the club’s strength in both domestic and European football.
The team mixes youth and experience, from veterans like van Dijk to emerging stars like Yamal and Palmer.
Over 26,000 professional players participated in the voting, making this one of the most democratic and authentic recognitions in football.
The formation followed FIFPRO’s traditional 1-3-4-3 setup: one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three forwards.
Why It Matters
What makes the FIFPRO World 11 unique is that it’s about players honoring their peers. It focuses on more than just performance, it values respect, influence, and the mark players leave on the game.
As FIFPRO describes it: “Voted by the players, for the players.”
In a football world filled with individual awards and fan polls, the World 11 continues to represent the purest form of acknowledgement, respect from those who share the same field.
Written by Kinjal Walantra