Club World Cup team of the groups snubs Man City stars

Club World Cup team selections always stir debate, and the 2025 edition is no different. The Club World Cup team chosen by GOAL for the group stage manages to squeeze in headline-grabbers Michael Olise and Sergio Ramos yet curiously omits every single Manchester City player, despite Pep Guardiola’s men cruising through with a flawless record. Below, we unpack how the XI was assembled, who caught the eye, and why the champions of Europe were left on the outside looking in.

Why this Club World Cup team ignored Manchester City

On paper, selecting at least one Sky-Blue regular looked inevitable. After all, City were the lone side to post nine points from nine, scoring nine goals and conceding just one. But the Club World Cup team panel prioritised standout individual displays over collective supremacy. Guardiola rotated heavily, spreading minutes across his deep squad, so no single Citizen dominated a game the way Ramos, Olise or Yassine Bounou did for their respective clubs. It is a compliment, of sorts: City’s strength was their system, not star turns.

Defence marshalled by Ramos & Bounou

Veteran centre-back Sergio Ramos reminded everyone why Paris Saint-Germain brought him back last summer. The Spaniard won 78% of his duels, scored once and made a tournament-high 19 clearances. Behind him, Al-Hilal’s Yassine Bounou saved two penalties in one match and posted a 91% save percentage. Flamengo’s Nicolás Otamendi completed the back three with an assist and relentless leadership. For full-back roles, Real Madrid’s Fran García and Benfica’s Achraf Hakimi offered pace and width, each creating seven chances in just two appearances.

Midfield masters: Enzo, Neves & De Arrascaeta

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández was everywhere, racking up more progressive passes than any other midfielder. Alongside him, Al-Hilal’s Rúben Neves dictated tempo while averaging 3.4 key passes per 90. Completing the trio is Flamengo creator Giorgian De Arrascaeta, whose vision unlocked defences repeatedly, including the no-look assist that became the tournament’s most-watched clip.

Olise leads the forward line

If any player screamed inclusion, it was Crystal Palace loanee Michael Olise, dazzling for Montevideo City Torque. The Frenchman scored twice, assisted three and completed 12 take-ons—second only to Botafogo starlet Savinho. On the right wing, Palmeiras wonder-kid Estevão narrowly missed out, edged by Botafogo’s Jefferson Savarino, whose two goals from outside the box proved decisive. Up front, Arsenal alumnus Gabriel Jesus spearheaded Palmeiras’s attack, scoring in every game.

Key stats that shaped the Club World Cup team

• Ramos: 19 clearances, 3 blocks, 1 goal
• Olise: 5 goal contributions, 12 dribbles completed
• Bounou: 91% save ratio, 2 penalty stops
• Enzo Fernández: 23 progressive passes, 4 tackles won
• Gabriel Jesus: 3 goals from 4 shots on target

Manchester City’s collective brilliance vs. individual sparkle

The glaring absence of a Sky-Blue kit in the Club World Cup team is less an indictment than an illustration of Guardiola’s egalitarian approach. Phil Foden, Julián Álvarez and Bernardo Silva each delivered moments of magic, but none eclipsed their positional peers across other clubs by the numbers. When you rotate Rodri for Mateo Kovačić or rest Rúben Dias for Josko Gvardiol, you dilute standout metrics. City’s top performer, Foden, ranked sixth for chances created; Olise, De Arrascaeta and Neves all bested him.

Selection controversies and near-misses

Vitinha’s exclusion angered Paris Saint-Germain supporters, the Portuguese midfielder topping the tournament for progressive carries. Elsewhere, Flamengo prodigy Lorran narrowly lost the final midfield slot to De Arrascaeta, although his time will come. Even Manchester City’s second-string goalkeeper Stefan Ortega had a shout, maintaining two clean sheets, yet was outdone by Bounou’s penalty heroics.

Historical context for this Club World Cup team

This is not the first time a dominant side has seen its players snubbed. In 2021, Chelsea marched to the final without a single outfielder in FIFA’s official team of the tournament. The takeaway is clear: one-off brilliance beats machine-like consistency when awards are handed out. Fans remember rabonas and last-ditch blocks more than recycled passing triangles.

Tactical trends observed

Guardiola’s fluid 3-2-4-1 sparked copycat shapes across the competition, yet the most effective blueprint turned out to be a pragmatic 4-3-3 focused on rapid transitional play. Palmeiras and Flamengo used inverted full-backs sparingly, instead empowering wingers to isolate defenders one-on-one. That environment suited Olise perfectly, while Ramos thrived in a compact back line that limited space behind.

Outlook for the knockout rounds

City remain bookmakers’ favourites, depth and experience weighing heavily over knockout football. PSG, Flamengo and Palmeiras lurk as credible threats, each possessing a talismanic performer already highlighted in this Club World Cup team. Ramos’s leadership, Olise’s unpredictability and Gabriel Jesus’s clinical edge could all flip a quarter-final on its head.

Players to watch next

Boca Juniors winger Valentín Barco has lit up South America this season and could step into the limelight if Boca reach the quarter-finals. City’s Jérémy Doku, rested for two of three group fixtures, is another primed to explode. Should he single-handedly dismantle an opponent, he will silence any chatter about City absentees in future Club World Cup team line-ups.

Final word: do individual awards really matter?

Football remains a team sport, yet individual recognition helps preserve the narrative fabric of a tournament. Fans crave a best XI to argue over; players cherish tangible proof of their efforts. While Manchester City supporters might feel aggrieved, they would trade a hundred unofficial accolades for the official trophy come July 13. If they lift the cup, few will remember the snub—except perhaps Phil Foden, quietly tallying numbers to ensure the next Club World Cup team cannot ignore him.

Opinion

GOAL’s picks reward memorable moments over metronomic efficiency, and that is absolutely fine. A competition’s magic lies in its sparks of individual genius. Still, if Guardiola’s men keep winning without hogging the limelight, we may need an entirely separate award—Best Collective—just to make peace with reality. For now, let Ramos, Olise and the rest savour their spotlight; they earned it on merit.