Describing the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ as star-studded would be something of an understatement.
With 32 of the game’s best teams set to compete at the inaugural edition, this historic tournament will bring together some of the beautiful game’s most exciting talents.
Here, we look at a key player from each of the 30 clubs already assured of a place at world football’s top table.
UEFA
Bradley Barcola: Paris Saint-Germain
Signed from Lyon for €45 million in 2023, this young attacker has been providing goals, assists and excitement aplenty to help PSG, and their fans, move on from the departure of Kylian Mbappe.
Julian Brandt: Borussia Dortmund
Capable of excelling in a wide role, as an attacking midfielder or further forward, this BVB mainstay looks to be hitting his peak as the Club World Cup approaches.
Diogo Costa: Porto
Still just 24, the Portugal No1’s heroics at UEFA EURO 2024 – which included saving all three Slovenia penalties in a record-breaking shootout – confirmed him as one of his position’s rising stars.
Antoine Griezmann: Atletico Madrid
Now firmly established Atleti’s all-time record scorer, the versatile Frenchman remains one of the game’s most impressive and intelligent players.
Erling Haaland: Manchester City
Ruthless and relentless, the Norwegian continues to demolish scoring records with every passing season. Pep Guardiola describes as “scary” his star striker’s rate of finding the net, and Haaland is sure to strike fear into defences at the upcoming global showpiece.
Harry Kane: Bayern Munich
The England captain, his country’s all-time record marksman, has reaffirmed his elite status in Bavaria with the highest-scoring debut season in Bundesliga history.
Orkun Kokcu: Benfica
Having starred for Turkey at UEFA EURO 2024, this savvy and sought-after attacking midfielder will be eager to show his class once again.
Karim Konate: FC Salzburg
This highly rated young Ivorian, who was the runaway top scorer in Austria’s Bundesliga last season, is seen as the latest superstar-in-the-making to roll off the prolific Salzburg production line.
Lautaro Martinez: Inter Milan
The Argentinian followed up a Scudetto-winning season in which he was Serie A’s leading marksman and MVP by topping the scoring chart at the Copa America. Already a world champion with his country, can Martinez claim a second global crown?
Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid
Having left his homeland as PSG’s all-time record scorer, the explosive Frenchman – a FIFA World Cup champion and adidas Golden Ball winner – is chasing yet more history with Europe’s most successful side.
Cole Palmer: Chelsea
Voted the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season after a dazzling debut campaign at Chelsea in which he scored 22 goals and assisted another 17, this inventive, elegant England star looks set to take the world by storm.
Dusan Vlahovic: Juventus
Having initially struggled to justify his €70 million transfer fee, the Serbian striker is now back to his best and firmly established as Juve’s attacking focal point.
