The much-anticipated EA FC Team of the Year features players from seven clubs, yet only one from Premier League champions Manchester City made the final lineup.
Midfield maestro Rodri, who clinched the Ballon d’Or in 2024, was the sole representative of Pep Guardiola’s side.
Notably, Rodri’s inclusion comes despite being sidelined since September due to an ACL injury.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, dominated the roster with four players: Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, VinÃcius Jr., and Kylian Mbappé.
Carvajal’s selection raised eyebrows, as he too missed significant time with a knee injury, yet his performances earlier in the year proved pivotal for both club and country.
VinÃcius Jr., crowned FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year, secured his spot on the left wing.
TOTY #EAFC25 #foryou #TOTY pic.twitter.com/MbVc2OSqYf
— Ojciec Trapcio (@OjciecTrapcio) January 14, 2025
In contrast, Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, who delivered standout performances in the Premier League, were omitted.
This came as City’s performance dipped significantly in the latter half of 2024, suffering nine defeats in all competitions.
Liverpool fared better, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk earning spots. Salah, who had 32 goal contributions in 2024, and Van Dijk, who credited fans for the honour, were celebrated for their consistency.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer also made the cut, thanks to a Premier League-leading tally of goal contributions.
The defensive line was rounded out by Arsenal’s William Saliba, Aston Villa’s Emiliano MartÃnez in goal, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Alex Grimaldo.
Grimaldo, instrumental in Bayer’s historic Bundesliga title and unbeaten campaign, was a standout inclusion from Germany’s top flight.
