Mohamed Salah has once again been overlooked on the global stage, missing out on a place in the 2025 FIFA Men’s XI.
Mohamed Salah played a pivotal role in leading Liverpool to the Premier League title, earning not only the Golden Boot but also the Playmaker of the Season and Player of the Season awards.
Despite these accomplishments, he was notably excluded from the lineup showcasing the top 11 players from last season, as announced during the FIFA Best Awards on Tuesday night.
With a staggering 57 goal contributions across all competitions, Salah outperformed nearly every forward in Europe. Yet, his name was absent from the final eleven, following his exclusion from the FIFPRO XI lineup just over a month ago.
Ousmane Dembélé, who won the Men’s Player of the Year after a quadruple-winning campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, headlined the team. The Frenchman edged out Lamine Yamal for the top individual honor.
Dembélé’s inclusion was expected, but Salah’s omission surprised many. The Egyptian not only had better stats than several players on the list but also led Liverpool through turbulent spells while maintaining consistent performances all season.
Adding to the controversy, other high-profile absentees included Raphinha, La Liga Player of the Year, and Kylian Mbappe, La Liga’s Golden Boot winner.
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The forward’s exclusion raises concerns about his consistent excellence being overlooked globally. For Salah, this snub reinforces the belief that his legacy is underappreciated.
As he prepares to lead Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah will do so without the recognition many believe he earned last season.