Madrid’s Riddle: Mbappe Drops Out of the Best XI, Sparks Global Debate
17 December 2025
What sparked the Best XI debate
Mbappe's absence from the FIFA Best XI sparked a broad debate, even as a Real Madrid star remains among the final candidates for FIFA's World Player award, alongside Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal.
AS, the Spanish daily known for leaning toward Real Madrid, asks why Mbappe was left out when he won the 2024-25 Golden Boot and has been among the season's most impactful players, regularly appearing in the Best XI in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
The piece adds that Mbappe's absence looked more surprising given that Jude Bellingham is included in the XI, despite a dip in form from last season, marking his third straight Best XI appearance, a choice many saw as a contradiction.
In contrast, the chatter around names like Cole Palmer (Chelsea) or Pedri (Barcelona) did not ignite the same debate, given their campaigns; Palmer shone at the Club World Cup, Pedri enjoyed a strong Barcelona season, and Vitinha earned a spot in the XI.
It continues, recalling similar cases such as Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Liverpool, who finished third in 2018 and 2021, yet missed the Best XI in both years, one of football's most debated decisions.
The 2025 Best XI lineup
The Best XI for 2025 featured the following lineup:
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Defense: Achraf Hakimi - Willian Batshu - Virgil van Dijk - Nuno Mendes.
Midfield: Jude Bellingham - Pedri - Vitinha - Cole Palmer.
Attack: Lamine Yamal - Ousmane Dembélé.
It notes that Dembélé later won the Player of the Year award in 2025 after helping Paris Saint-Germain complete a domestic treble and reach the Champions League final for the first time in the club's history.
Punchlines: If Mbappe isn’t in, is it even a XI? And yes, the trophy committee proves that drama can be as decisive as minutes on the clock.
