Modric's Bold The Best 2025 Picks: A Barcelona Star Shines Through
17 December 2025
Modric's The Best 2025 Selections
Learn about Luka Modrić's picks for The Best award, decided by captains and coaches this year in Doha.
Modrić named Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain as his top choice, followed by Ousmane Dembélé and then Lamine Yamal in third place.
The absence of recent Real Madrid teammates like Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham in his list drew attention, a nod, perhaps, to the decisive impact of Vitinha this season.
His selections, he says, reflect technical quality and balance on the pitch, with Vitinha delivering a standout season for PSG and Dembélé and Yamal continuing to impress for PSG and Barcelona.
Context and Reactions
In Doha on Tuesday, The Best ceremony highlighted these views while Modrićs long career at Croatia and Real Madrid was recalled.
Notably, Mbappe and Bellingham were not among his picks, a point that sparked discussion among fans and pundits about the choices of the Croatian icon.
Dembelé's The Best achievement adds to the Ballon dOr he won in September, reflecting his form with PSG and his role in his teams recent European successes.
A New Wave in European Football
Modrićs selections underscore a taste for technical precision and attacking menace from emerging talents.
Yamal's rising profile at Barcelona and Dembelé's leadership at PSG are highlighted alongside Vitinha midfield mastery.
Together, these choices point to a new wave of talent shaping European football, with the awards body recognizing the significance of balance and creativity on the field.
Sniper punchline 1: If Modrić's picks were a weapon, they’d be a study in surgical passes and quiet shoulder taps.
Sniper punchline 2: And if the trophy could talk, it would whisper thanks to Modrić for making the best list look easy and the rest look jealous.
