In a revealing insight into his footballing convictions, England manager Thomas Tuchel placed his faith in two English stars, overlooking the eventual winner to name Harry Kane and Cole Palmer as the world's finest players in the 2025 FIFA The Best awards.
Tuchel's Defiant Vote for English Talent
The recent ceremony saw Paris Saint-Germain's French winger Ousmane Dembélé claim the prestigious men's award, with Spain's Aitana Bonmatí triumphing in the women's category. However, the voting details have unveiled a fascinating dissent from the Three Lions boss. Presented with a shortlist of 11 global stars, Tuchel's top three selections notably featured Harry Kane and Cole Palmer as his number one and two choices, placing them ahead of Dembélé.
This personal endorsement from the national team manager stands in stark contrast to the final overall ranking, which aggregated votes from captains, coaches, journalists, and fans. Kane ultimately finished eighth, with Palmer placing eleventh. Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and PSG's Kylian Mbappé secured second and third places respectively.
The Global Spread of Support for Kane and Palmer
Despite their middling final positions, the duo received nominations from a diverse array of international figures. Kane amassed a total of 91 votes from captains, managers, and media. He was ranked as the absolute best player by several peers, including his Bayern Munich teammate Joshua Kimmich of Germany, Australia captain Mathew Ryan, Bayern's Alphonso Davies (Canada), and Malaysia's Matthew Davies.
Cole Palmer, the Chelsea maestro, gathered 38 votes. His most significant backing came from Thane Pora Vogel Beal of the Cook Islands, Ghana's Jordan Ayew, and Kevin Molino of Trinidad and Tobago, who all placed him at the summit of their lists. Interestingly, Harry Kane himself displayed no club or national bias in his own voting slip, selecting Ousmane Dembélé, PSG's Vitinha, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah as his top three.
Premier League Sidelined in World 11
The awards also highlighted the diminishing dominance of the English top flight in global elite selections. Only three Premier League players made the cut for the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, Chelsea's Cole Palmer, and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma—who plays his club football in France—were the sole representatives.
The team was heavily dominated by stars from PSG and La Liga. The defence featured PSG's Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, and Achraf Hakimi alongside Van Dijk. The midfield saw England's Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid partner Vitinha, with Palmer on the right and Barcelona's Pedri on the left. The attack was completed by Lamine Yamal and award-winner Ousmane Dembélé. Notably, there was no room for the likes of Manchester City's Erling Haaland, Barcelona's Raphinha, or Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
A further subplot emerged from the Portuguese camp, where the usual captain Cristiano Ronaldo was barred from voting due to a suspension incurred during Portugal's 9-1 victory over Armenia. This duty, and the voting right, fell to Bernardo Silva instead.
