Top 10 players to watch out for at FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :June 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM

Modified at :June 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM

(Courtesy : DFL/Bundesliga)

Some of the biggest clubs around the globe will be competing for the trophy

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will get underway in the United States when Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami face Egypt’s Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Saturday.

The month-long club event will feature both well-known players and up-and-coming talents from the world’s top leagues.

Here are the top 10 players from different clubs and regions to watch out for at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025:

10. Jhon Arias (Fluminense)

Jhon Arias, winger for Fluminense. The 27-year-old helped the Brazilian Serie A squad finish 13th in the league in 2024 by scoring 14 goals in 51 games in all competitions.

Arias played a significant role in the Fluminense team’s 2023 Copa Libertadores victory. When Fluminense advanced to the FIFA Club World Cup final that year, he also took home the Bronze Ball.

Although Arias may function as an offensive or central midfielder, his favourite role is on the right wing.

The path to #FIFACWC glory. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Gh3ONFiQPe
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 4, 2025

9. Miguel Borja (River Plate)

Miguel Borja of Colombia, who scored 11 goals in Liga Profesional 2024 in Argentina, is a dependable forward for River Plate.

The 32-year-old has scored 60 goals in his more than 100 club games. In 2023, he and River Plate also won the Argentine Primera Division.

As they make their competition debut at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, South American powerhouse River Plate will mainly depend on Borja to score.

8. Salomon Rondon (Pachuca)

With ten goals and three assists in Liga MX Clasura 2024–25, Venezuelan Salomon Rondon led Mexican team Pachuca in scoring. In addition to playing for West Bromwich Albion, the 35-year-old striker helped Pachuca advance to the FIFA Club World Cup final before losing to Real Madrid.

With 36 goals in 67 games across all competitions since joining the Mexican team on a free transfer in January 2024, veteran Rondon—his country’s all-time top scorer—is a crucial member of the team.

7. Estevao (Palmeiras)

The 18-year-old left-footed winger, who is renowned for his speed and dribbling, has agreed to join Chelsea, will be one of the top youngsters hoping to cement his status.

Estevao, who has become one of South America’s most intriguing talents, will play for Palmeiras in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 for the last time after the team insisted on a stipulation in the Chelsea contract to guarantee his involvement in the tournament before he moves to Stamford Bridge.

6. Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)

Ousmane Dembele PSG Champions League — **Ousmane Dembele is one of the favourites to win 2025 Ballon d’Or award (Courtesy: Getty)**

Ousmane Dembele contributed by finishing as the league’s top scorer for the first time with 21 goals in 29 games. In addition, the 28-year-old received the Ligue 1 Player of the Season award.

Dembele had an incredible season in Europe, winning the continent’s top club competition at the end of the season and scoring eight goals in the Champions League.

PSG, who have already won the domestic treble of the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France, and French Super Cup, will look to Dembele to contribute more goals and assists them in winning their fifth trophy of their current campaign.

5. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland, who missed City’s 2023 win due to injury, will be hoping to get past the setback by winning the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 for the first time with the team.

The 24-year-old striker, who is renowned for his unrelenting goal-scoring, finished the last Premier League campaign with 22 goals, good for third place.

4. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

With 26 goals in Bayern’s championship-winning season, Harry Kane became the first player in Bundesliga history to finish as the league’s top scorer in both of his first two seasons.

England captain Kane claimed that his personal accomplishment was the “ideal conclusion” to a “brilliant season” with the Bavarians.

The Englishman will be crucial to Bayern’s prospects of winning the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 for the third time; they last did so in 2020.

3. Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)

In 52 games in all competitions, the 24-year-old scored 21 goals and provided 15 assists for the Spanish powerhouses, who came in second in the league last season.

Despite being an unfortunate runner-up at the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Vinicius, who joined Real Madrid at the age of 17, is considered one of the most promising players.

2. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

Kylian Mbappe surpassed Ivan Zamorano (37 goals in 1992–93) and Cristiano Ronaldo (33 goals in 2009–10) to become Real Madrid’s best goal scorer in a rookie season with 43 goals in 56 games in all competitions in 2024–25.

The 26-year-old will attempt to win the Club World Cup, which Real Madrid have won an unprecedented five times, to cap off an impressive rookie season in which he won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Lionel Messi, probably the greatest football player of all time and a record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is predicted to steal the show at the Club World Cup.

In their first appearance at the competition, the 37-year-old forward and captain of Inter Miami will try to lead the MLS team to the Club World Cup championship in front of their home crowd.

Messi made 25 appearances during his full debut season for Inter Miami, helping them win the MLS Supporters’ Shield in 2024 with 23 goals and 13 assists. He has played twenty games and tallied 15 goals in the ongoing 2025 MLS season.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.