The Fan-Voted Instagram Team of the Year is a snapshot of football as fans experienced it in 2025. Driven by performances, moments, and lasting impressions, this XI represents the players who dominated conversations all year. Every selection reflects what supporters saw, felt, and argued about all season long.
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Donnarumma’s selection felt inevitable. Big saves in big moments, calm under pressure, and a presence that defined matches made him the clear fan favourite between the posts. Only a few goalkeepers owned the spotlight in 2025 the way he did. When the pressure rose, so did his level.
Right Back: Achraf Hakimi
There was little room for debate when it came to right-back. Hakimi’s impact across 2025 spoke louder than any argument, blending relentless attacking intent with defensive reliability. His tally of 10 assists for club and country highlighted just how decisive he was going forward, while his discipline off the ball kept him a step ahead. Capping off a remarkable year, Hakimi’s treble-winning season earned him the African Player of the Year award, sealing his place in this XI without hesitation.
Centre-backs: Gabriel & Saliba
The centre-back conversation felt surprisingly settled once the fan votes were counted. Gabriel stood out for his physical dominance and knack for delivering in decisive moments, playing a key role in Arsenal’s title push with his aerial strength and presence in both boxes. Alongside him, William Saliba edged the vote through consistency and composure, earning fan trust with his calm defending, positional awareness, and authority at the back. While other big names were debated in the comments, this pairing reflected what fans valued most in 2025, reliability, strength, and performances that held up week after week.
Left Back: Nuno Mendes
Left-back turned into one of the closest calls in the fan vote. Marc Cucurella’s resurgence and trophy-laden year with Chelsea gave supporters plenty to think about, but in the end, Nuno Mendes edged it. Fans were swayed by his all-round development, sharp defending, explosive recovery pace, and consistent attacking threat. His growth into a complete modern full-back proved decisive, sealing his place in the XI by the narrowest of margins.
Midfield: Pedri, João Neves, Vitinha
This midfield screams modern football. Pedri’s intelligence and control, João Neves’ intensity and bite, and Vitinha’s elegance on the ball create a trio fans see as the perfect balance of flair and fight. Pedri dictated rhythm and tempo, João Neves brought relentless energy and defensive sharpness, while Vitinha stitched everything together with calm decision-making. Different profiles, one shared impact, a midfield built for control, pressure, and big moments.
Attack: Dembélé, Mbappé, Raphinha
Pure chaos up top. Dembélé’s unpredictability, Mbappé’s unstoppable output, and Raphinha’s relentless work rate and end product made this front three a nightmare and a no-brainer for the fan vote. This front three thrives on pace, movement, and constant pressure, turning games in moments rather than minutes. For the fans, the simple, fear factor, impact, and consistency made this attack an easy pick.
