The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup came to a close on Sunday, delivering a surprisingly compelling tournament that exceeded expectations. Against all odds, Chelsea emerged as champions, led by the standout performances of Cole Palmer. Following the final, DAZN released its Best XI of the tournament — but the omission of Moises Caicedo and Lionel Messi raised eyebrows across the soccer world.
Two of the most notable absences in DAZN’s starting XI were Messi and Caicedo, two South American stars who shined for their respective teams. Messi’s Inter Miami were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Paris Saint-Germain, but his individual contributions were widely praised. The Argentine played a pivotal role in helping the MLS side reach that stage, even if it wasn’t enough to prolong their stay in the tournament.
As for Caicedo, many considered the Ecuadorian to be the top midfielder of the competition. Without him, Chelsea’s midfield lacked structure and recovery. Teammates hailed Caicedo as their best player of the season, and his performance in the final against PSG was widely applauded — especially his dominance over Vitinha. Despite all that, Caicedo was left out of the Best XI, a decision many have called unfair.
DAZN’s 2025 Club World Cup best XI
The lineup features a heavy presence of players from PSG and Chelsea, which makes sense given they were the tournament finalists. Still, there were a few surprise inclusions that stood out for their exceptional play.
Moises Caicedo #25 of Chelsea FC controls the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final match between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain
DAZN’s Best XI: Bono (Al Hilal); Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea); Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Vitinha (PSG), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Cole Palmer (Chelsea); Jhon Arias (Fluminense), Gonzalo Garcia (Real Madrid).
see also
Cole Palmer lifts FIFA Club World Cup at 23: How many had Messi, Ronaldo won at the Chelsea star’s age?
Social media quickly erupted with criticism over the inclusion of Enzo Fernandez and Vitinha at the expense of Caicedo. One explanation offered was that Caicedo missed the semifinals due to yellow card accumulation, which may have influenced the final selection.
Surprise names in the squad?
One of the biggest surprises was the inclusion of goalkeeper Bono from Al Hilal. The veteran shot-stopper played five matches, conceded six goals, and kept two clean sheets. He also saved a last-minute penalty from Federico Valverde in the opening 1-1 draw and delivered a crucial stop against Savinho in a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester City in the Round of 16.
Up front, DAZN included Fluminense’s Jhon Arias and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia. Arias starred for Fluminense throughout the tournament, scoring a spectacular goal and recording an assist in the group stage against Ulsan. Garcia, meanwhile, stepped in for an ill Kylian Mbappe and quickly became one of Madrid’s most important players. He finished as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals, earning a deserved spot in the lineup.
