FIFA officially announced the candidates for the 2025 Best Team defender position. Players such as Van Dijk, Saliba, Gabriel, and Ashraf were shortlisted.

FIFA Best Team Defender Candidates:

Kubasi (Barcelona), Cucurella (Chelsea), Alphonso Davies (Bayern), Di Lorenzo (Naples), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Dumfries (Inter Milan), Guerrero (Bayern), Achraf Achraf (Paris), Huizen (Bournemouth/Real Madrid), Konate (Liverpool) , Coulibaly (Riyadh Crescent), Conde (Barcelona), Gabriel (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris), Nuno Mendes (Paris), Otamendi (Benfica), William Pacho (Paris), Rudiger (Real Madrid), Saliba (Arsenal), Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Upamecano (Bayern), Van Dijk (Liverpool)