Controversy over FIFA's Team of the Year: Fans missed the 'Barcelona' star

2025-12-17 07:50 © ZUMAPRESS.com

FIFA, through its awards, recognized not only the coach of the year, the player of the year, but also the men's football team of the year.

The best players' starting eleven consisted of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, William Pacho, Virgil van Dijk, Nuno Mendes, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Vitinha, Pedri, Lamine Yamali, and Ousmane Dembele.

However, fans missed the "Barcelona" star Raphinha, who at one point was arguably the main favorite to win the "Ballon d'Or" award.

After this eleven was announced, even the wife of the Brazilian player posed a rhetorical question.

"Is Raphinha a basketball player?", asked the forward's significant other.

Six of PSG's quadruple winners make The Best FIFA Men's 11 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wxUDioYdSJ

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 16, 2025