Top 10 Star to Watch in FIFA Club World CUP 2025

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 begins in the United States as Major League Soccer (MLS) team Inter Miami faces Egypt’s Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Saturday.

Notable athletes and emerging talents from top leagues globally will participate in the month-long club competition.

Here’s a glimpse at our top 10-star players destined to shine in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

Estevao (Palmeiras)

A young talent in Brazilian football, Estevao was Palmeiras’s standout player in 2024, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists, leading to a second-place finish in the Brazilian Serie A.

The 18-year-old left-footed forward, recognized for his speed and dribbling skills, is set to sign with the English club Chelsea for the 2025-26 season, having reportedly finalized a $75 million deal in June 2024.

Also Read: FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Schedule, Tickets, Stadiums, Format, All You Need to Know

Regarded as one of the most promising talents in South America, Estevao will play for Palmeiras one last time at the Club World Cup after they insisted on a clause in the agreement with Chelsea to guarantee his involvement in the tournament before moving to Stamford Bridge.

Salomon Rondon (Pachuca)

Venezuelan Rondon was Pachuca’s leading scorer in Liga MX Clasura 2024-25, netting 10 goals and providing three assists. The 35-year-old forward, who formerly played for West Bromwich Albion, also participated in Pachuca’s journey to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, where they were defeated by Real Madrid.

Veteran Rondon, the all-time leading scorer for his country, is an important asset to the Mexican club, netting 36 goals in 67 matches for them across all competitions since joining on a free transfer in January 2024.

Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)

French striker Dembele was instrumental in PSG’s commanding display leading to the 2024-25 Ligue 1 championship, with the Parisian team finishing a remarkable 19 points ahead in first place.

Dembele contributed 21 league goals in 29 matches, ending as the top scorer for the first time. The 28-year-old was also recognized as the Player of the Season in Ligue 1.

Dembele had a remarkable season in Europe, netting eight goals in the Champions League and concluding the campaign by triumphing in the continent’s top club tournament.

PSG is relying on Dembele to net more goals and assist them in securing their fifth trophy of the season, as they have already achieved a domestic treble with the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, and French Super Cup.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Haaland scored 31 goals in 44 matches for City in the 2024-25 season as Pep Guardiola’s team secured a third-place finish in the Premier League. Although they secured a spot in the Champions League for 2025-26, Haaland was dissatisfied with the team’s inability to clinch a fifth consecutive league title, describing it as “a horrific season.”

Seeking to overcome past letdowns, the Norwegian aims to secure the Club World Cup with City for the first time, having missed their 2023 victory due to injury.

Also Read: Top five footballers to play for both Manchester United and Manchester City

The 24-year-old forward, recognized for his unwavering quest for goals, finished as the third top scorer in last season’s Premier League with 22.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Kane experienced the peak of his career in the 2024-25 season, claiming his first significant trophy as Bayern Munich secured the Bundesliga championship.

The 31-year-old set Bundesliga records by being the first player to be the top scorer in his first two seasons, scoring 26 goals during Bayern’s championship-winning run.

Kane, who leads England, stated that his personal accomplishment represented the “ideal conclusion” to a “fantastic season” with the Bavarians.

The Englishman will play a crucial role in Bayern’s prospects of securing their third Club World Cup title, which they last claimed in 2020.

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

France striker Mbappe moved to Real Madrid in 2024 and made headlines in his inaugural season at the Spanish club, ending as La Liga’s leading scorer with 31 goals.

With 43 goals in 56 matches across all competitions in 2024-25, Mbappe also became the highest goal scorer for Real Madrid in a debut season, beating Ivan Zamorano’s record of 37 goals in 1992-93 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s 33 goals in 2009-10.

In addition to a successful first season, during which he claimed the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the 26-year-old aims to secure the Club World Cup, a trophy Real has won a record five times.

Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

The 24-year-old netted 21 goals and provided 15 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions for the Spanish club, which ended up second in the league.

Vinicius, who joined Real at 17, is considered one of the most thrilling prospects and was viewed as an unfortunate second place at the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

A historic eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient and arguably the best football player ever, Messi is anticipated to take center stage at the Club World Cup.

The 37-year-old forward and Inter Miami captain aims to lead the MLS team to the Club World Cup championship in front of their home supporters in their first appearance at the event.

In his inaugural season with Inter Miami, Messi made 25 appearances, netting 23 goals and delivering 13 assists, guiding the team to victory in the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2024. During the current MLS season, he has played in 20 matches and netted 15 goals.

The forward, set to celebrate his 38th birthday during the tournament, has thrust Inter Miami into the limelight since joining the club in 2023.

Miguel Borja (River Plate)

Colombia’s Borja is a dependable striker for River Plate, netting 11 goals in Liga Profesional 2024 in Argentina.

The 32-year-old has played over 100 matches for the club and scored 60 goals. He secured the Argentinian Primera Division title with River Plate in 2023.

In the Club World Cup, South American powerhouses River Plate will depend significantly on Borja to score as they embark on their tournament debut.

Jhon Arias (Fluminense)

Another Colombian to keep an eye on is the skilled and adaptable Fluminense winger Arias. The 27-year-old netted 14 goals in 51 games in all competitions for the Brazilian Serie A team in 2024, where they placed 13th in the 20-team league.

In 2023, Arias played a crucial role in the Fluminense team that claimed their first Copa Libertadores championship. That same year, he also secured the Bronze Ball when Fluminense reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Arias’s main role is as a right winger, but he is also capable of playing on the left and taking on the roles of an attacking or central midfielder.