Erling Haaland Not in FIFA World 11 but Chelsea Trio and Three Arsenal Players Recognised

Erling Haaland missed out as FIFA named its ultimate men’s XI at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 this week.

The qualifying period for both the men’s and women’s XIs ran from August 11, 2024 to August 2, 2025. Haaland scored 34 goals in 47 matches for Manchester City during this period, plus a further 11 in 10 at international level as Norway dominated World Cup qualifying.

However, Haaland was beaten to a striking spot by Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal. Dembele pipped Yamal to the 2025 Ballon d’Or award.

Two of Ballon d’Or top five omitted from 2025 FIFA World 11

Vitinha, who finished third in the Ballon d’Or voting, made it into the midfield of the 2025 FIFA World 11. However, there was no room for the players who placed fourth and fifth, as Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Barcelona winger Raphinha both missed out.

Just three current Premier League players were included in the FIFA Men’s World 11. One of them was Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was voted in based on his achievements with former club Paris Saint-Germain, where he won last season’s UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer — who scored twice past Donnarumma in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final — and Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk were the other Premier League stars selected.

2025 FIFA Men’s World 11

Player	Club	Country
Goalkeeper
Gianluigi Donnarumma	PSG (now Man City)	Italy
Defenders
Nuno Mendes	PSG	Portugal
Virgil van Dijk	Liverpool	Netherlands
Willian Pacho	PSG	Ecuador
Achraf Hakimi	PSG	Morocco
Midfielders
Jude Bellingham	Real Madrid	England
Pedri	Barcelona	Spain
Vitinha	PSG	Portugal
Cole Palmer	Chelsea	England
Forwards
Ousmane Dembele	PSG	France
Lamine Yamal	Barcelona	Spain

Arsenal and Chelsea well represented in FIFA Women’s World 11

Meanwhile, three Arsenal players and two Chelsea stars were included in the 2025 FIFA Women’s World 11, which was dominated by Barcelona.

Four of those five Arsenal and Chelsea players were also part of the England team that won UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.

Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo all starred for the Lionesses, who defeated Spain on penalties in the final in July.

There were seven Spanish players in this year’s Women’s World 11. Of those seven, six currently play for Barcelona, with Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey the only exception.

Barcelona won four of the five competitions they entered last season, lifting the Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de Espana Femenina and Copa Catalunya Femenina, but losing to Arsenal in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.

2025 FIFA Women’s World 11

Player	Club	Country
Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton	Chelsea	England
Defenders
Lucy Bronze	Chelsea	England
Leah Williamson	Arsenal	England
Irene Paredes	Barcelona	Spain
Ona Batlle	Barcelona	Spain
Midfielders
Claudia Pina	Barcelona	Spain
Patri Guijarro	Barcelona	Spain
Aitana Bonmati	Barcelona	Spain
Forwards
Alexia Putellas	Barcelona	Spain
Alessia Russo	Arsenal	England
Mariona Caldentey	Arsenal	Spain

Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati win main prizes at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025

The main individual honours at The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 were claimed by the two reigning Ballon d’Or winners.

Ousmane Dembele was named The Best FIFA Men’s Player, finishing ahead of Lamine Yamal in second. Kylian Mbappe was third, despite missing out on a place in the World 11.

Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati won The Best FIFA Women’s Player award for the third year in a row. Mariona Caldentey finished second, with two-time winner Alexia Putellas in third.

Gianluigi Donnarumma and Hannah Hampton claimed the goalkeeper awards, while PSG boss Luis Enrique and England head coach Sarina Wiegman were named the best coaches.

Santiago Montiel won the 2025 FIFA Puskas Award for his spectacular long-range overhead kick for Independiente against Independiente Rivadavia in Argentina.