Last season Paris Saint Germain caused a stir in the football environment and a level of recognition that has since been unparalleled Barcelona 2008-12, this work that Pep Guardiola has transferred from his head to the field with artists of the caliber Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. What was initially a great success ended up defining an era and establishing a form of play that wanted to be emulated because of the fascination it created among coaches, players and fans.
Luis Enrique’s PSG completed the 2024/25 season, the first since the departure of Kylian Mbappé, with a level of superlatives. His powerful style, with a series of passes and an intense rhythm, was devastating to most rivals. Although it was not a replica, it had some traces of that Barcelona. And the best production was in the real game: the Champions League final, in which Inter were destroyed 5-0.
When it came time for the awards ceremony, Paris Saint-Germain realized how tempting their proposal was. The trophy collection started a few months ago Ballon d’Or for Ousmane Dembele and the awards for Gianluigi Donnarumma (best goalkeeper) and Luis Enrique (coach). The best that grants the Fifa went in the same direction, with the addition that the entity denotes the 11 ideal, a formation that arises from the voices of a Expert Panel and des Amateurs from all over the world who are registered on fifa.com.
The lineup consisted mostly of PSG players: six of the eleven, distributed across the four lines. appear Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, William Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Dembélé. The squad is completed by Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Pedri (Barcelona), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
The Ideal 11 brought something new to our football: For the first time there was no Argentinian. Messi has the record of appearing for 17 consecutive years, between 2007 and 2023, when his departure from Europe to Inter Miami saw him fall a few steps in the rankings.
Last year, Emiliano Martinez He was the only Argentine representative in the lineup. In 2025 there was a gap, which was offset by another item, price Puskas (best goal), granted Santiago Montiel (Independent) for his acrobatic finish – half Chilean, half scissors – from outside the penalty area against Independiente Rivadavia (Mendoza). The recognition of a solution that is as spontaneous as it is aesthetic.
Could any Argentinian have been in the ideal 11? Does the absence say anything about the current state of the main individuals? To address these problems, we must start by getting rid of the customs that Messi has created by always being the protagonist of the most diverse awards ceremonies. Something that, even though it was commonplace, was still extraordinary. It was clear that Argentina would lose its most important individual player as time weakened Messi’s physical and athletic abilities, although it retained one many outstanding footballers, as the selection proves.
The great collective gathering and identification with a playing line empowered every PSG player selected for the ideal 11. Within the Eurocentrism that usually permeates this type of choice is the Ecuadorian defender William Pacho a place was created. It was the exception.
Some Argentinians were able to get a place in this selected eleven. They had advantages, although they also lacked the touch of elegance that opens exclusive doors. Lautaro Martinez He would have been a strong candidate to fill one of the two attacking positions had PSG not sent off Inter in the Champions League final. El Toro had its best season in European competition nine goals in 13 games, plus a collected appreciation for becoming captain and reference of the Milan team. An outstanding performance, coupled with a dose of efficiency, would have taken him further up the ladder in his seventh European season. Martínez has been in the small core of the great European goalscorers for some time. He has already made a name for himself that is only missing the shine of a major individual award. There is still time.
Couldn’t Enzo Fernández have been in Bellingham’s place? Quiet. Enzo must be calculated for the evaluation period Winning the first 32-team Club World Cup with Chelsea. And no less than a 3-0 win in the final against the struggling PSG. Although the name of the competition doesn’t stand out that much, the Argentine midfielder won that too Conference League -UEFA’s third most important European Cup-, with a goal in the final against Betis.
Fernández has established himself as an integral midfielder who covers more and more areas. He worked on his body outside of training with Chelsea to withstand the constant rigors of the Premier League. He turned to a psychologist to deal with the pressure his €121 million transfer was putting on him. He helps with the recovery and accompanies his team’s quick offensive transitions. For Scaloni it is indispensable. He had his best season since his time in Europe and he hung up the medal two international titles. Bellingham didn’t do that much, he was somewhat affected by the collapse of Real Madrid.
A companion of Enzo the Exalted Cole Palmer, He came into the starting lineup and has a profile that fluctuates between attacking midfielder and striker. Vitinha, PSG’s compass, and Pedri, a goldsmith in touch and driving in Barcelona, have well earned their place. But still, There was room for Enzo Fernández in this midfield.
Sometime, Julian Alvarez should have a place in The Best series. Last season everything was stopped when an imperceptible double touch was discovered in the foggy VAR room during the penalty kick in the definition game against Real Madrid in the Champions League. It remains to be seen whether the Spider is on the right team (Atlético de Madrid) to reach that ideal 11.
By the way, Mbappé, Golden loot (top scorer in European leagues) was excluded. He did it at Real Madrid, when he had already left a PSG team that was popping the ballot boxes.
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