At the end of the year, there are often best XIs for the first half of the current season. But also those for the calendar year. That’s what L’Equipe is offering this Saturday regarding Ligue 1, with a best XI for 2025. Nine Paris Saint-Germain players are included: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué. We could almost add Gianluigi Donnarumma (who left for Manchester City this summer). Mason Greenwood (Olympique de Marseille) is the only player from another French club.
We won’t delve into the debate for each player chosen; it could be endless, and everyone has their own perspective on football and their own criteria for such a best XI. It still seemed difficult to do without a PSG side that had been so prominent, given their impressive performances in Ligue 1.
They aren’t top of the table at the start of the season, but they’re keeping pace with Lens despite a lack of preseason training, and they’ve also secured a top-eight spot in the Champions League so far. That’s a real achievement. Above all, Paris has a style of play and a quality within it that truly stands out. This is thanks to players who are establishing themselves among the best in the world.
Of course, the Champions League victory may also have influenced the choices, even if this is only true in Ligue 1. We thus find a relatively “average” Donnarumma in Ligue 1 last season, while several goalkeepers shone (including Lucas Chevalier and Geronimo Rulli).
