Nuno Mendes, Vitinha honored as 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World 11 members

Two of Portugal’s brightest talents just got the ultimate co-sign from the people who actually know what they’re talking about: other professional footballers. Nuno Mendes and Vitinha, both plying their trade at Paris Saint-Germain, were officially recognized as members of the 2025 FIFPRO Men’s World 11, receiving their trophies during Portugal’s World Cup preparations.

It’s a first for both players.

What the FIFPRO World 11 actually means

The selection is determined exclusively by active professional footballers. More than 20,000 men’s players from 68 countries cast votes for the 2025 edition.

The FIFPRO World 11 has been an annual fixture since 2005, two decades of recognizing the game’s elite. Being selected for the first time is a career milestone that places both Portuguese internationals in rarified company.

The 2025 edition was notably kind to fresh faces. A total of ten debutants appeared across both the men’s and women’s teams, signaling a generational shift in which emerging talents are being acknowledged alongside established superstars. Mendes and Vitinha were prominently featured among those first-timers.

PSG’s record-breaking representation

Five Paris Saint-Germain players made the 2025 World 11: goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, right-back Achraf Hakimi, winger Ousmane Dembélé, and the two Portuguese honorees. That’s a new club record for the number of players recognized in a single edition of the award.

PSG’s Champions League campaign during the 2024-25 season appears to have been the kind of collective performance that elevated individual reputations across the squad.

Timing and context

The trophies were presented around June 11, 2026, while both players were on international duty with Portugal. The timing is significant: Portugal was in the middle of World Cup preparations, and receiving a global recognition award while wearing the national team shirt adds a certain ceremonial weight to the moment.

The FIFPRO awards have become increasingly important as a barometer of professional respect within football. Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which factors in journalist votes, the FIFPRO selection strips things down to a simple question: who do the players themselves think is the best?

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