FIFA has released its Best Men’s XI for 2025 as a bold new generation lines up alongside proven greats who continue to set the standard at the very top.

Unveiled during The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025, the selection rewards players who stood out across club and international football over the past year. Consistency in Europe’s elite leagues, coupled with decisive performances on the biggest stages, played a major role in shaping the final team.

Up front, Ousmane Dembélé’s return to his most devastating form earns him a place after a campaign defined by confidence, goals and match-winning moments.

Alongside him is Lamine Yamal, whose inclusion marks one of the most remarkable stories of the year. Still a teenager, the Barcelona star has moved with startling speed from exciting prospect to one of world football’s most feared attackers.

The midfield reflects balance, intelligence and invention. Pedri’s calm control anchors the unit, complemented by Vitinha’s smooth distribution and Jude Bellingham’s relentless energy and influence. Cole Palmer completes the quartet after a breakout year in which his creativity and decisive contributions made him one of the game’s standout attacking midfielders.

Defensively, power and athleticism are the defining traits. Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi offer pace and attacking threat from full-back, while Virgil van Dijk remains the commanding presence at the heart of defence. He is partnered by Pacho, whose composure and physical strength drew plaudits throughout the season.

In goal, Gianluigi Donnarumma rounds off the XI following another authoritative year, producing crucial saves in high-pressure matches and reinforcing his reputation among the world’s elite goalkeepers.

Meanwhile, Luis Enrique was named The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2025, following a landmark campaign that reshaped Paris Saint-Germain’s history.

The Spanish coach guided PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title, sealed emphatically with a 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final. Domestically, his side was equally ruthless, sweeping Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions.

PSG also impressed on the global stage. Although they finished runners-up at the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™, their journey to the final featured a series of eye-catching performances, including standout victories over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Luis Enrique’s achievements over the season included winning the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the 2024 Trophee des Champions, finishing second at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and being named the 2024/25 UNFP Ligue 1 Manager of the Year.

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria lost  2-1 to Egypt in a pre-2025 Africa Cup of Nations friendly at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday.

Head coach Eric Chelle fielded a largely experimental side in the game.

Mahmoud Saber gave Egypt the lead two minutes before the half hour mark.

The Super Eagles got their equaliser through Chidozie Awaziem late in the first half.

Awaziem nodded home Zaidu Sanusi’s free kick after the Pharaohs failed to clear their lines.

Egypt seized the initiative early in the second half, and restored their lead through Mostafa Mohammed.

The Super Eagles will travel Fez, Morocco on Thursday for the AFCON.

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Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has expressed delight to have been named the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper.

The city’s number one saw off competition from Premier League goalkeepers, including Alisson Becker, Emiliano Martinez, and David Raya, to claim the accolade.

Recall that the nominees were chosen by a panel of experts, with Donnarumma selected as the winner by an international jury comprising men’s national team coaches, men’s national team captains, football journalists, and fans who voted on FIFA’s official website.

Donnarumma, who was recognized for his exceptional year in which he won the Champions League for the first time and three domestic trophies with former club Paris St-Germain, stated that he appreciates this acknowledgement and looks ahead now to achieving more success with Man City.

Read Also:AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Invitation A Dream Come True — Nnadi

“It is a great honour to win this prestigious award, and I would like to thank everybody that voted for me.

“I feel extremely proud to have been named as the best in the world and ahead of such wonderful goalkeepers, too, who I have great respect and admiration for.

“It was an incredible year, one that will live long in my memory, and it’s touching to be recognised for my role in the success achieved over that period.

“I will truly appreciate this acknowledgement and look ahead now to achieving more success with my new club, Manchester City.”

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By CIARAN FOREMAN, SPORTS REPORTER and KIERAN GILL, MAIL SPORT REPORTER and RIATH AL-SAMARRAI, CHIEF SPORTS FEATURE WRITER

Updated: 14:07 EST, 16 December 2025

Follow Daily Mail Sport’s live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Cardiff host Chelsea at the the Cardiff City Stadium, with Kieran Gill and Riath Al-Samarrai reporting from the grounds.

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Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele has been named The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025, capping a season that will be remembered as one of the finest in the club’s history.

Ousmane Dembele, 28, an attacker, emerged as the standout performer in world football after driving PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title. Dembele was at the heart of that remarkable European run, scoring eight goals and supplying six assists as the Paris side finally conquered the continent.

His influence stretched far beyond Europe. Dembele played a central role as PSG swept to a domestic treble, lifting the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions. He also helped the French champions reach the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup, underlining his consistency across competitions and continents.

Individually, the season was equally dominant. Dembele was named Most Valuable Player in both the Champions League and Ligue 1 for the 2024/25 campaign. He finished as joint-top scorer in the French top flight and was recognised across Europe with multiple end-of-season honours.

By the numbers, his achievements during the period included winning the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the 2024 Trophee des Champions, finishing runner-up at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and securing third place with France at the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League.

He was also named UEFA Champions League Player of the Season, selected in the Champions League Team of the Season, voted Ligue 1 Player of the Year and included in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

The award was decided through FIFA’s established voting process, which considers performances between 11 August 2024 and 2 August 2025. A shortlist was first drawn up by a panel of experts before votes were cast by men’s national team coaches, men’s national team captains, football journalists and fans via FIFA’s official website.

Each voting group accounted for 25 per cent of the final outcome. Voters selected their first, second and third choices, earning nominees five, three and one point respectively. National team captains were not permitted to vote for themselves. In the event of a tie, the player with the most first-choice votes from their own group would be declared the winner.

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New Super Eagles player, Tochukwu Nnadi has named four Nigerian stars he looks up to as a professional footballer.

The four Nigerian stars, Nwankwo Kanu, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika.

Nnadi has recently been named in Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Speaking to Super Eagles media, the Zulte Waregem midfielder said: “I was always dreaming of being in the national team one day.

“I played in the Under 20. Now I’m in the Super Eagles, and I was not expecting it to be too soon. I was looking up to Nwankwo Kanu.

“I was also looking up to Wilfred Ndidi, Onyeka and also Raphael Onyedika. Those are the players I look up to.”

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Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann believes playing Ghana in an international friendly game will give the team an idea on what to expect from Ivory Coast in the 2026 World Cup.

Recall that Germany have been drawn alongside Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador in Group E.

The clash against the Black Stars is expected to take place on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Stuttgart.

Read Also:2026 WC Playoffs: Missing Osimhen In Second Half Vs DR Congo Affected Eagles –Onyeka

Reacting to the development, Nagelsmann stated that he can’t wait to face the Black Stars.

“We are very much looking forward to the clash with Otto’s team.

“Their strong transition play can give us a taste of what to expect in the World Cup group match against Ivory Coast.”

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Conor Benn says he felt little surprise when he saw the video Chris Eubank Jr released in the weeks after their rematch, showing himself motionless on a hospital bed, hooked up to machines and surrounded by medical staff. 

The footage sparked widespread concern across boxing, intensified calls for Eubank Jr to retire and prompted an outpouring of sympathy online. 

Benn, however, is unmoved by the reaction and believes the focus should be less on the image itself and more on why it was shared in the first place.

‘I heard he had IBS throughout the last parts of training camp,’ Benn said. ‘I heard it after the fight as well, or he’s got a stomach cyst or whatever it is. 

‘Ultimately, I’m not really too concerned, to be honest. I know it’s not a serious health condition. I think people need to look deeper into the reasons as to why it’s posted. There’s a certain pattern here of sympathy vote and a victim mentality.’

Benn is careful not to dismiss health concerns outright, but he is clear that, in his view, suffering is part of the profession and not something fighters should use to reframe a defeat. 

Conor Benn has hit out at Chris Eubank Jr’s ‘victim mentality’ after his defeat 

Eubank Jr shared footage of him in hospital seemingly unconscious last month (above)

The son of former two-weight world champion Nigel Benn points to his own experiences as an example of what boxers routinely endure without public complaint. 

‘You don’t see pictures of me making 152 for my fight in Vegas and I’m on the floor in a blanket, struggling to make the weight,’ he said. 

‘Ultimately it’s just part of the game. It’s part of the sport we do. We’re modern-day gladiators. You’ll never hear me moan about anything.’

He recalls entering a rematch of his own while carrying a serious injury, without once suggesting it should temper the result. 

‘For one of my fights, I tore my tendon in my last spar of camp,’ Benn said. ‘That was my rematch against the Frenchman who had put me down in the first fight. 

‘Torn tendon, asthma, all of it and I’m good. I’m not here for sympathy. You’re in the wrong game if you want the sympathy of the public. No one cares.’

Benn acknowledges that Eubank Jr, like every fighter, faced challenges in camp, but insists that choosing to fight means accepting responsibility for the outcome.

‘Nobody has a perfect camp,’ he said. ‘I had issues in the first fight as well. There were things throughout camp that were challenging and we had to work around them, but you’ll never hear me make excuses. 

‘Give the man his roses, give him his flowers, and that’s it. You either thought you were good enough to get in there on the night, or you weren’t. Either you believed it, or you were scamming the public into thinking there was going to be another fight of the year.’

For Benn, the result settled the matter. ‘Ultimately, he thought he was good enough to come in and beat me on the night,’ he said. ‘Ultimately, he wasn’t. 

‘First time around, I took his soul. I could see it. He’s not the same and he never will be the same again. I’ve got his soul right here, right here, in my hands.’

That belief underpins Benn’s view that Eubank Jr should now walk away from the sport, not out of spite, but out of pragmatism and concern. 

‘He will never get his soul back,’ Benn said when asked whether his rival could recover from the loss in November. 

‘I’m not giving it back to him. Should he retire? He should retire, yeah. He should call it a day. He’s got paid lovely for his last two fights. First fight was close, second fight he got battered in. If I was him, and I was his team, I’d call it a day.’

Despite the rivalry and obvious animosity, Benn insists his stance is rooted in the realities of boxing rather than personal malice. 

‘Do I like him? No. Do I think he’s a prat? Yes,’ he said. ‘But ultimately we’re fighters, and you want to see him leave this game without any injuries, especially not permanent injuries. It’s an unforgiving sport. We both know that first-hand. Don’t overstay your welcome.’

Eubank Jr has spoken publicly about health problems, brutal weight cuts and personal struggles, and has hinted at a possible comeback once he is ‘100 per cent’. 

Benn is unconvinced but leaves the door open if his rival insists on continuing. ‘If he wants to fight, I’ll happily beat him up at 168,’ Benn said. ‘No problem. I’ll do it for free.’

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has revealed that the club were prepared to part ways with him during the summer transfer window, despite his status as a key figure at Old Trafford.

The Portugal international was strongly linked with a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia before the new season began, with speculation gathering pace around his future.

Bruno Fernandes ultimately chose to remain at United, citing both personal reasons and his attachment to the club, but his comments suggest the decision was not as straightforward as it appeared from the outside.

“The club wanted me to go [in the summer], I have that in my head,” Fernandes said in an interview with Portuguese outlet Mais Futebol.

“I told the directors this, but I think they didn’t dare to make that decision.

“I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely like the club. The conversation with the manager also made me stay.

“But, from the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’

“It hurts me a lot. More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player they have nothing to criticise about. I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all.

“Then you see things around you, players who don’t value the club as much and don’t defend the club as much… that makes you sad.”

Fernandes, 31, provided further insight into how close he came to leaving and the emotions involved in the process.

“I knew very well that Manchester United wanted me to leave. I guess the club didn’t do so because Ruben Amorim wanted me to stay, but I could sense that even if I left, it wouldn’t be a bad thing from the club’s perspective,” he explained.

The midfielder also disclosed that he sought advice from former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo before making his final decision.

“Ronaldo gave me some advice, but the final decision was always mine. I decided to stay because I truly love this club, but loyalty isn’t valued as much as it used to be in football today,” he said.

Fernandes went on to reflect on Ruben Amorim’s early months at Manchester United, highlighting the challenges faced by the manager after his arrival.

“It was a difficult start for him. He came here after winning everything at Sporting Lisbon, only to face a team with extremely low morale,” Fernandes emphasised. “We performed well in the Europa League, but we couldn’t maintain consistency in the league.”

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Wikki Tourists head coach, Bashir Saleh, has attributed his team’s poor run of form to ineffective finishing.

The Bauchi Elephants are without a win in their last four matches in the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

Wikki Tourists have recorded five wins, six draws and six defeats in 17 matches this season.

They suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rivers United in their last match on Monday.

Saleh said that the technical crew are working tirelessly to improve the team’s performance.

“Our problem has been finishing. The technical crew is working hard to address this, and we believe improvements will come soon,” Saleh told the club’s media.

“We created enough chances to get something from the game against Rivers United. Our problem has been finishing. The technical crew is working hard to address this, and we believe improvements will come soon.”

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