The FIFA Best XI Sparks Debate: Four-Trophy-Less Bellingham Selected, Rafinha Misses Out Despite 38 Goals and 24 Assists

The FIFA 2025 awards ceremony is over, and the Best XI has been announced. Paris Saint-Germain claims half the spots, with their treble-winning squad well-deservedly honored. Yet, the selection of Real Madrid’s Bellingham, despite the team winning no trophies, has caused major disputes. Barcelona won the domestic treble last season (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup), whereas Real Madrid failed to secure any titles. In response, a well-known commentator voiced support for Barcelona’s key attacker Rafinha.

Zhan Jun commented: "The FIFA 2025 Best Player award going to Dembélé is well deserved and universally accepted, but leaving Rafinha out of the Best XI is hard to justify... Mbappé and Haaland both ended last season without club honors, so their exclusion is understandable, but Rafinha and Salah could easily replace Bellingham and Palmer in the lineup. What do you think? Do you agree with Zhan Jun’s opinion?"

Zhan Jun also listed Rafinha’s statistics from last season across all competitions:64 matches, 38 goals, and 24 assistsHere are Salah’s stats from last season at Liverpool:52 matches, 34 goals, and 23 assists, including 38 league games with 29 goals and 18 assists, winning the Premier League Golden Boot, assist leader, and the league titlePalmer has a Club World Cup title, while Bellingham’s Real Madrid finished trophyless, and his personal stats don’t compare favorably to Rafinha and Salah. It’s baffling how a trophy-less Real Madrid player often manages to appear in some awards and Best XI selections — truly astonishing!