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.

Wayne Rooney suggests the stakes for Mikel Arteta are high as Arsenal sit top of the table after nine games. The club have opened a seven-point lead over Liverpool, with Manchester City six points behind. Bournemouth are four points adrift, while Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland lie five points back.

That positional advantage has encouraged talk of a genuine title opportunity, even while questions remain about Arsenal’s ability to create open-play chances. Rooney, speaking on his podcast after Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace, reflected on the squad’s readiness. “The squad is good enough now and I think they’ve had the experiences which have got them close, but I think they’re ready for it,” he said.

Rooney then outlined the consequence he believes would follow a failed title bid. “If they don’t win it now, you’d probably see a change of manager,” he predicted.

Arteta is contracted to the club until 2027 and there has been no suggestion internally that he intends to depart before then. He was heavily involved in the contract renewals for Gabriel and William Saliba, which extended both defenders through to the summer of 2030, an indication of long-term planning under his leadership.

Gary Neville voiced a similar conviction about Arsenal’s prospects. “This has got to be them, hasn’t it?” he asked on his podcast. Neville argued the club need not rewrite the record books to secure the title. “They’re not going to have to go and get 100 points, they’re not going to have to get even 90 or 95 points to win the league, mid-80s, high 80s will win them this title, and they can do that,” he said.

Neville added that Arsenal’s consistency and defensive organisation set them apart from rivals. He listed attacking and set-piece threats including “[Eberechi] Eze,” “[Noni] Madueke,” “[Gabriel] Martinelli,” “[Leandro] Trossard” and “[Declan] Rice” and praised the balance across the squad.

Pep Guardiola has also predicted that Arsenal and Liverpool, along with a third unnamed contender, would be difficult to catch this season. The debate now centres on whether Arsenal can sustain their start and convert it into a first league title in 21 years.