Barca Boss Slams FIFA Over Winger's Snub From Best XI Of The Year: 'A Joke'

Last Updated:December 20, 2025, 20:43 IST

Hansi Flick criticizes FIFA's Best XI for excluding Raphinha despite his 20-goal Champions League season. Barcelona lead La Liga but miss Pedri González due to injury.

Barcelona's Raphinha with Marcus Rashford (AP)

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick slammed FIFA’s Best XI of the 2024-25 season for not including his team’s winger, Raphinha. Flick said it was ‘really a joke’ that the Brazilian couldn’t get into the team after a stellar year, which included chart-topping 20-goal contributions in the UEFA Champions League.

The FIFA XI, voted for by national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans, had Ballon D’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé alongside Barca’s other winger, Lamine Yamal, in the front line. Raphinha, 29, couldn’t get in ahead of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, the other two forward-minded players.

“This FIFA Best XI players is a joke, really a joke," Flick told a news conference, as quoted by AFP.

“When I see there is no Raphinha in the side, it’s unbelievable. When you see the matches he played, how many goals he scored, assists he has, it’s unbelievable. More, it’s influence (he had on) the team. This is really not fair to him. For me it’s a joke, I cannot believe he’s not in the best XI because after this season he deserved it, it’s unbelievable,’ the German coach added.

Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by Inter Milan. The Best XI was dominated by players from Paris Saint-Germain, who won the cup.

Raphinha spent most of the season out injured and his return has sparked Barcelona’s resurgence after an unconvincing start to the season. The reigning champions now sit atop La Liga and travel to Villarreal on Sunday, aiming to safeguard their lead, with second-placed Real Madrid hosting Sevilla a day earlier.

However, Barcelona will be without influential midfielder Pedri González, Flick confirmed.

“He’s not available, I’m not happy about this but it’s part of football," said the coach. “He’s injured but I think for the next game he’s ready (against Espanyol on January 3). He had a problem with the hamstrings and we take care (regarding that), the risk is too high. Maybe he could play but it’s too high, and if something happens he’s out for two months," he said.

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