Nuno Mendes and Vitinha in the XI of the year dominated by PSG
Portuguese internationals Nuno Mendes and Vitinha appear in the world ‘eleven’ of the year, a distinction awarded this Tuesday at FIFA’s The Best gala, crowning a year in which they were European champions with Paris Saint-Germain.
The left defender, aged 23, and the midfielder, aged 25, are also nominated for male footballer of the year, making these end-of-year choices part of the gala held by European football’s governing body for the first time.
The ‘eleven’ is dominated by the French and European champion, PSG, whose choices include goalkeeper Donnarumma (now transferred to Manchester City), full-back Hakimi, defender Pacho and striker Ousmane Dembelé, who in September won the Ballon d’Or, France Football’s award for the best footballer of last season.
Completing the selection, in addition to the two Portuguese who also won the Nations League with Portugal, is Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s World Club Champion, Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, and two Spanish ‘stars’ from FC Barcelona, Pedri and Lamine Yamal.