Following Chelsea`s recent victory in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Brazilian sports publication Lance! has released its highly anticipated selections for the tournament`s standout performers. Voted on by a panel of 23 of their journalists, these awards highlight the players and coach who made the biggest impact on the global stage.
“Cold” Palmer Takes Top Individual Honor
Unsurprisingly, the most coveted individual award, the `Craque Lance!` (roughly translates to `Lance! Star Player`), was bestowed upon Chelsea`s dynamic attacking midfielder, Cole Palmer. Known for his remarkably cool and composed finishing, earning him the nickname “Cold,” Palmer`s performance throughout the tournament saw him grow in influence, culminating in a decisive display in the final.
While perhaps not instantly electrifying from the first whistle of the competition – because, let`s be honest, few players are – Palmer steadily built momentum alongside his team. When the stakes were highest, in the final against PSG, he delivered a performance that was anything but lukewarm. His contribution of two goals and an assist in the commanding 3-0 win was pivotal in securing Chelsea`s title.
Palmer`s crucial impact and consistent quality in the knockout stages earned him 43.5% of the journalist votes for the top player award. He finished ahead of teammate João Pedro (21.7%) and Fluminense`s Jhon Arias (17.4%). His final tournament statistics underscore his effectiveness: 3 goals and 2 assists across the competition.
Lance!`s Club World Cup Team of the Tournament
Beyond individual accolades, Lance! also unveiled their `Seleção Lance!` – the Team of the Tournament. Adhering to a mandatory 4-3-3 formation for voting purposes, the selection features players from the tournament`s top-performing clubs, with Chelsea naturally having the strongest representation.
Here is the Lance! Best XI for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup:
- Goalkeeper: Fábio (Fluminense)
- Right-Back: Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
- Centre-Back: Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
- Centre-Back: Thiago Silva (Fluminense)
- Left-Back: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
- Midfielder: Vitinha (PSG)
- Midfielder: Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
- Midfielder: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- Forward: Jhon Arias (Fluminense)
- Forward: João Pedro (Chelsea)
- Forward: Pedro Neto (Chelsea)
Cementing Chelsea`s dominance in the awards, manager Enzo Maresca was also named the Best Coach of the tournament by the Lance! panel.
This selection reflects the key figures from the teams that reached the latter stages, recognizing both the established quality and emerging talents who shone on the world club stage. Chelsea`s strong presence across both the Best XI and individual awards is a testament to their successful campaign.
