Bellingham Shines Quietly: A Standout Moment in The Best XI 2025

Overview

The English midfielder Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid's rising star, achieved a notable milestone by earning a place in the FIFPRO World XI, announced today at the FIFA Awards in Qatar.

He is, for now, the only player in the last three years to maintain a continuous presence among the world's best, according to votes from his fellow professionals.

This achievement comes despite what has been a tougher year, with Real Madrid finishing empty-handed last season, Bellingham losing his starting spot with England under coach Thomas Tuchel, and a shoulder injury keeping him out for a long spell.

The Best XI 2025

The lineup of the year's best also featured the absence of several standout performers from the previous season, such as Kylian Mbappé, Rafinha, and Mohamed Salah.

This is how the XI was structured:

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Defence: Achraf Hakimi - Willian Batshu - Virgil van Dijk - Nuno Mendes.

Midfield: Jude Bellingham - Pedri - Vitinha - Cole Palmer.

Attack: Lamine Yamal - Ousmane Dembélé.

Dembele was named the 2025 Player of the Year after helping Paris Saint‑Germain to a domestic treble and the club's first-ever Champions League triumph.

And yes, the trophy cabinet may finally start collecting some dust, because apparently it’s there to remind us that even legends can have a calendar year that tests them—and still land you among football’s elite.