Vinícius Júnior’s visible reaction to his substitution became one of the biggest talking points after Real Madrid’s 2–1 victory in El Clásico. “I’m leaving the team, it’s better if I leave, I’m leaving,” he was caught saying as he stormed off the Santiago Bernabéu turf, walking straight past Alonso and down the tunnel. He would re-emerge in time for the post-match chaos.

Tension between player and coach dates back to the summer, and the latest episode underlines that relations are strained. Vinícius is 25 and his contract with Madrid expires in 2027. The club has hesitated to offer the mammoth extension he believes he has earned. If no solution is found in the coming months, a move away from Madrid next year must be treated as a real possibility.

Arsenal
The early indications suggest that Arsenal will end their six-year wait for silverware this season, with the Gunners leading the way in the Premier League after three successive second-place finishes. They have built a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts, with set-piece proficiency and a stubborn defense. Few areas look weak, but the left-hand side is widely viewed as the most upgradeable position. Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been serviceable this season. Arsenal have been linked with Rodrygo and Rafael Leão in recent windows and could consider a major move for Vinícius in 2026, but his transfer fee and wages would be prohibitive. Likelihood rating: 2/10

Paris Saint-Germain
Viní Jr’s reported £350,000 ($464,810) a week salary would not deter PSG, nor would Madrid’s supposed asking price of £220 million ($292 million). The relationship between the two hierarchies was strained by the Kylian Mbappé saga, which concluded in 2024 when the Frenchman joined Madrid on a not-so-free transfer. Nasser Al-Khelaifi has urged Los Blancos to rejoin the football “family” amid Super League discussions, but selling a galáctico to a Champions League rival appears unlikely. PSG also have Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, Ousmané Dembélé and Bradley Barcola. Likelihood rating: 3/10

Manchester City
There have been tenuous rumours of a Man City approach, and City could monitor the situation. City have abundant resources and Pep Guardiola has called the Brazilian an “incredible” footballer, noting the Ballon d’Or outcome in 2024 when Rodri prevailed. Profit and Sustainability Rules and existing financial scrutiny make any pursuit complicated. Los Blancos can still demand a fortune while Vinícius enters the final year of his deal next summer. Likelihood rating: 4/10

The 2025 FIFPRO World XI nominees were announced on Monday and the shortlist left a number of established performers off the list. Several omissions have prompted debate over which players deserved recognition.

Harry Kane was one of the most surprising names absent. He led the Bundesliga in scoring last season, finished with 41 goals in all competitions and won his first major trophy. Kane also finished fifth in the European Golden Boot race behind Kylian Mbappé, Viktor Gyökeres, Mohamed Salah and Robert Lewandowski. The shortlist included two of those names and excluded two, making his omission notable given his scoring numbers.

The exclusion of Gabriel also raised eyebrows. “It’s honestly preference comparing Gabriel and William Saliba, but for many who watched Arsenal closely the Brazilian was arguably the better of the two last season.” The piece highlights Gabriel’s role as a defensive leader who also poses a significant threat from set pieces and notes he is being spoken of as a potential player of the season for the current campaign.

Wojciech Szczęsny was another overlooked name. He returned from retirement midseason to join Barcelona in crisis and made his debut on Jan. 4. By the end of the campaign he had added three more trophies as Barcelona completed a first domestic treble. He subsequently earned a new contract extending his stay through 2027.

Liverpool’s midfield pairing also suffered from the voting. The article points to Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch being left out and argues both had strong claims. Mac Allister missed only three Premier League games last season, contributed 10 goal involvements and was an important part of the title-winning engine room.

Finally, Moisés Caicedo was highlighted as a major snub. Caicedo played every Premier League match last season as Chelsea secured a top-four finish under Enzo Maresca, scored in the UEFA Conference League final and played a major role in Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup victory over the summer.

These five absences underline the difficult choices in assembling a World XI and why the 2025 shortlist has drawn criticism.

The debate over individual awards never quiets. A frequent critique aimed at the Ballon d’Or is that it is determined by journalists rather than those inside the game, summed up by the sceptical refrain, “What do they know?”.

Voting based on the 2024–25 season is already under way and the initial list of 26 leading men’s and women’s players has been published. The longlist reflects last season’s major honours and high-profile performances, with the reigning European champions well represented among the nominees.

Paris Saint-Germain feature prominently. Seven members of Paris Saint-Germain’s starting XI for the men’s Champions League final received nomination, a showing that underlines the influence of that successful side on this stage. Arsenal Women also register strongly on the list, while England’s triumph at the summer’s European Championships has left a clear mark, giving the nominee pool a distinct Lionesses twang.

Those 26 names will not form the final teams. More votes will be compiled to produce two definitive XIs, one for men and one for women. Each final lineup will include a goalkeeper and at least three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards, ensuring balanced formations rather than arbitrary position counts.

The finished FIFPRO World XIs will be announced on Nov. 3, 2025. Until then the process will continue to attract scrutiny, both for who is included and for who decides. The shortlist offers a snapshot of the 2024–25 season’s standout performers, but the final selections will be decisive in shaping the year’s official best elevens.