Barcelona's head coach, Hansi Flick, has launched a furious attack on FIFA, branding the governing body's prestigious 'The Best Men's XI' for 2025 a complete 'joke' after his star winger Raphinha was shockingly omitted from the lineup.
Flick's Fiery Outburst Over Omission
The German manager did not hold back during a news conference on Saturday, December 20, 2025, following the award ceremony earlier in the week. Flick expressed utter disbelief that the 29-year-old Brazilian, who was instrumental in Barcelona's domestic treble-winning campaign last season, was left out of the dream team.
"This FIFA Best XI players is a joke, really a joke," Flick stated emphatically. "When I see there is no Raphinha in the side, it's unbelievable." The team is selected through votes from national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans, with players like Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham making the cut instead.
Raphinha's Unmatched Champions League Campaign
Flick's anger is rooted in Raphinha's exceptional individual performance, particularly in the UEFA Champions League. Despite Barcelona's semi-final exit to Inter Milan, the winger finished as the competition's joint-top scorer with 13 goals and also provided the most assists with seven.
"When you see the matches he played, how many goals he scored, assists he has, it's unbelievable," Flick argued. "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."
Barcelona's Current Form and Squad Update
Raphinha's return from injury has been a catalyst for Barcelona's improved form in recent weeks after a shaky start to the season. The champions currently sit top of La Liga and face a trip to Villarreal on Sunday, aiming to protect their lead after second-placed Real Madrid host Sevilla on Saturday.
However, the squad will be without key midfielder Pedri Gonzalez for the upcoming match. Flick confirmed the Spaniard is nursing a hamstring issue. "He's not available, I'm not happy about this but it's part of football," said the coach, indicating Pedri should be ready for the game against Espanyol on January 3rd.
