Young Star Shines: Lamine Yamal Makes FIFPRO World XI 2025, Redefining Youth Impact

Lamine Yamal makes history in the FIFPRO World XI 2025

Lamine Yamal, Barcelona's rising wing star, has earned a spot in the FIFPRO World XI for 2025, becoming the youngest player ever named to the team at 18. His inclusion caps a season where Barça reportedly achieved domestic success and advanced deep into Europe’s premier competition.

The World XI lineup announced by FIFPRO features Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, betraying the strong demand for a goalkeeper from top-level clubs. In the back line, Nuno Mendes, Virgil van Dijk, and Achraf Hakimi are listed as the defensive foundation of the XI.

Midfield duties are handled by Vitinha, Pedri, Jude Bellingham, and Cole Palmer, blending an era of experience with youth and fearsome attacking intent. Up front, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal complete a fearsome attacking trio that mirrors Barcelona’s growth and PSG’s offensive depth this past season.

Barça’s performers, including a treble of domestic titles and a deep CL run, helped propel Yamal into the spotlight. FIFPRO notes that Yamal’s votes were the highest of the year, marking him as a standout among all players considered for the World XI.

Barça now faces Club Brugge in the Champions League’s group stage, with the fixture set for the upcoming midweek as the fourth match of the pool. This clash is framed as a test of form and team cohesion after a standout season for the Catalan side.

FIFPRO’s World XI also highlights PSG’s strong representation, with five players named, marking their largest single-club presence in a World XI since 2022 when the same club boasted three stars: Hakimi, Mbappé, and Messi.

Historically, the World XI has seen nine goalkeepers named since its inception in 2005, with Donnarumma’s inclusion this year representing a notable milestone alongside fellow legends like Casillas, Neuer, and Buffon in the pantheon of greats.

Real Madrid is noted as the club with the most World XI appearances overall, thanks in part to Mbappé and Bellingham’s selections in 2025, reflecting Madrid’s continued influence at the highest level of the sport.

Nominees for the 2025 World XI

Goalkeepers: Alisson Becker, Thibaut Courtois, Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Pau Torres, Virgil van Dijk, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, William Saliba.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić, João Neves, Cole Palmer, Pedri, Federico Valverde, Vitinha.

Forwards: Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Raphinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal.

Rest and fatigue under the microscope

A recent FIFPRO study on health and performance underlines how players face packed schedules, demanding travel, and insufficient rest between seasons. The report notes many clubs did not provide the recommended 28 days of off-season rest, and some teams offered only short pre-season breaks.

Chelsea and PSG gave their players roughly 20 and 22 days off, with pre-season camps shorter than ideal. Real Madrid and Manchester City reportedly offered even less time to rest, prompting calls for a better balance to protect players’ bodies across the long season.

Analysts point out that no other major team sport stacks calendars as densely, with international players often getting around three weeks off, compared with longer lay-offs in American sports finals. The discussion centers on ensuring players can recover and perform at peak levels rather than chasing days counted on a calendar.

On an individual level, players like Alessandro Bastoni, Fabian Ruiz, and Federico Valverde logged 70+ matches last season; Kim Min-jae endured a long run of games with minimal rests; Hakimi’s 69 matches could climb to 74 this season. Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood, now part of FIFPRO’s Players Council, emphasizes the need for meaningful rest to protect long-term performance.

Wood notes how the travel between club duties and national duty can stretch schedules to breaking points, recounting long flights and back-to-back commitments that fatigue the body. He advocates for four to six weeks of rest as a baseline to allow bodies to re-prepare for the demands of a new season.

The debate continues as FIFPRO argues for responsibility and reform from FIFA, while FIFA defends its calendar as a product of a vast, expanding global game. FIFPRO stresses that injury lists rise with crowded schedules and lengthy travel, especially for rising stars like Yamal who accumulate many games early in their careers.

Industry voices remind that the overall calendar lacks a humane rhythm for players, urging leadership to find a balance that preserves health without sacrificing competition or spectacle.

Bottom line

As the World XI celebrates its stars, the broader calendar debate continues. It’s a reminder that even the brightest talents need a break from the spotlight to stay on top of their game—and maybe a nap in the locker room wouldn’t hurt either.

Punchline time

Punchline 1: If sleep were a transfer window, every player would be on loan to bed — a permanent deal that never expires.

Punchline 2: The calendar is so crowded that even a sniper would have to take a shot at the snooze button. Sleep is the only clean sheet left for the week.