The highlights of world football in 2025

Perhaps the most notable surprise in world football in 2025 was PSG's Champions League triumph. The team from Parc des Princes conquered the Champions League in the same season they parted ways with their top star Kylian Mbappe—arguably the greatest player in the club’s history (excluding Messi, who only played at PSG in the twilight of his career). Many viewed this as a steep decline for the French club, marking a lost era despite massive investments from Qatar.

However, PSG underwent a true transformation. In just the final months of 2025, coach Enrique’s side defeated several “giants” such as Man City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich.

At the start of the 2025 Champions League, PSG was not highly rated, finishing only 15th out of 36 teams in the qualifying rounds. But from the playoff stage onwards, their performance improved dramatically. Under Luis Enrique’s guidance, PSG marched steadily to the final and won the title in spectacular fashion. This marked PSG’s first-ever victory in the world’s most prestigious club competition.

By winning the Champions League, PSG completed a historic treble that season. They had already secured the French league and the French Cup titles. PSG’s unexpected triumph helped redefine the identity of the French powerhouse.

Luis Enrique’s team achieved glory through collective play. Their style was not only effective but also beautiful. In 2025, they “redefined the beauty of football” through the way they conquered the Champions League.

PSG evolved from a team built on star power and stature into a squad shaped by clear tactics, style of play, and strong collective belief.

The biggest highlight of 2025 was the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which for the first time featured 32 teams and was organized similarly to the national team World Cup. The tournament was more than just a contest among the planet’s strongest clubs.

The FIFA Club World Cup was created with the goal of narrowing the gap between European clubs and the rest of the world, while providing unprecedented competitive opportunities for teams from South America, Africa, and Asia.

Despite mixed opinions, the 2025 Club World Cup clearly became an event that reshaped global football.

Chelsea’s victory in the FIFA Club World Cup was a surprise, as coach Enzo Maresca’s team was not highly favored before the tournament. Yet, with smart tactics and outstanding individual performances, they reached the summit.

Chelsea overwhelmed the powerful PSG in the Club World Cup final by employing the very tactical approach PSG had chosen. The era of “individual heroism” truly failed in top-level football in 2025.

A common thread between PSG and Chelsea is that both champions were unexpected by the vast majority of observers at the start of their tournaments. Even more interestingly, both clubs claimed their titles by pioneering a new tactical approach in elite football. The success of PSG and Chelsea came from prioritizing teamwork and tactical discipline over reliance on individual star power.

Alongside PSG’s success, Ousmane Dembélé reached the pinnacle of world football. The French forward won the 2025 Ballon d'Or, surpassing young star Lamine Yamal.

When Dembele left Barcelona for PSG, many thought his career was over. However, he surprised everyone by shining brightly and playing a crucial role in PSG’s historic treble, earning him the Ballon d'Or. This was something few global football fans could have imagined, even considering his peak years at Dortmund.

Under the guidance of strategist Luis Enrique, especially after Kylian Mbappe’s departure, Dembele was restored to his true self—a winger unbound by stereotypes and free from pressure to emulate anyone else. PSG’s style involved constant rotation and position swapping, and within this structure, Dembele consistently found ways to score and break down defenses thanks to his movement.

Notably, Dembele’s injury frequency dropped significantly in 2025. The French striker seemed to have shed the fear of injury, allowing him to play spontaneous, creative, and confident football.

One could say 2025 closed as a rare late-career renaissance for Ousmane Dembele, a player long associated with fragility over nearly a decade. Receiving FIFA’s The Best award, honoring the world’s finest player, acknowledged the value he represented that year.