FIFA have announced their team of the season for 2025 today, and despite Liverpool’s struggles in the calendar year there’s room for one Red amongst the eleven players selected via a combination of fan
vote and expert panel, with captain Virgil van Dijk making the cut.
Liverpool’s title win in 2024-25 is the obvious reason why, though by that same standard one might reasonably argue Mohamed Salah deserves a place in the named-by-committee FIFA The Best Men’s XI given he delivered arguably the best season by an attacker in the history of the Premier League in 2024-25.
It was a heavily front-loaded season, of course, with most of his goals and assists coming before the calendar ticked over. Still, the same could be said for Liverpool generally and for all of their stars, including Van Dijk. Still, I suppose it’s nice for one Red to make the cut.
Joining Van Dijk in the squad are defenders Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes; midfielders Cole Palmer, Vitinha, Pedri, and Jude Bellingham; forwards Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal; and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
