FIFA have named just three Premier League stars in their team of the year as part of their Best Awards.
The XI was revealed by the governing body during a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday.
The team, in a 4-4-2 formation, includes two England internationals and has Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal – first and second, respectively, in the Ballon d’Or rankings earlier this year – as the forward line.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Chelsea star Cole Palmer are the only Premier League representatives in the side.
There is no place for Barcelona forward Raphinha, City striker Erling Haaland or Liverpool’s Mo Salah.
Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham sits alongside PSG’s Vitinha in central midfield, with Palmer on the right and Spain and Barcelona youngster Pedri on the left.
Van Dijk is the only player selected in the defence who does not ply their trade for PSG, with Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho and Achraf Hakimi all chosen.
Donnarumma, who joined City from the French giants for £26million in the summer, also appears to have been named for his performances for PSG in 2025.
The Parisian outfit dominate FIFA’s Best XI after winning the Champions League, Ligue 1 and the French Cup in the 2024/25 season.
Van Dijk’s Liverpool claimed the Premier League title last season but are struggling in the 2025/26 campaign and are already 10 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Dembele added the FIFA Best men’s player award to his Ballon d’Or crown, while Donnarumma scooped the men’s goalkeeper prize.
Hakimi, Mendes, Palmer, Pedri, Vitinha and Yamal were also nominated for the top men’s award, along with Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Raphinha and Salah.
The FIFA Best women’s player award went to Spain and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati for the third year in a row.
England manager Sarina Wiegman is women’s coach of the year for a fifth time, with the men’s equivalent going to PSG’s Luis Enrique.
Hannah Hampton was named as the FIFA Best women’s goalkeeper after helping England retain their Euros crown in the summer.
Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson and Alessia Russo all made the women’s Best XI.
FIFA, under fire for their ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup, claim the awards are based on the ‘on-pitch performance and general conduct on and off the pitch’ for players and the ‘on-pitch performance and general behaviour of their teams on and off the pitch’ for coaches.
