Club World Cup group stage XI: A stand-in stopper, a legendary centre-back and a Premier League bound striker

The group stage of the FIFA Club World Cup drew to a close last night as thirty-two teams were whittled down to the last sixteen.

There have been plenty of standout performers across the opening round, both individually and from a team perspective, where the Brazilian sides have really shown their worth.

Here is DAZN News' pick of the best XI from the group phase of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. 

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GK: Claudio Ramos - Porto

There hasn't really been a goalkeeper to make a mark on this tournament yet, but there was high praise for Ramos' performances as he deputised for the injured Diogo Costa. 

The Porto keeper had only made six appearances for the club across the season, but pulled off a string of top saves in the club's opening game against Palmeiras. 

It earned him a clean sheet and his team a point, and while he couldn't prevent the Portuguese side from being eliminated from the competition, he did more than enough to show he is ready to be more than a back-up next season. 

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DEF: Achraf Hakimi - Paris Saint-Germain

PSG's roving right-back has pretty much picked up where he left off after the Champions League final to prove he's one of the best full-backs in the world right now. 

The Moroccan hasn't missed a single minute in the competition so far, a testament to his fitness, and got himself on the scoresheet in the French side's 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders. 

If Luis Enrique's side are going to go all the way and lift another trophy, Hakimi will have played a big part in helping his side triumph again. 

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DEF: Nicolas Otamendi - Benfica 

The World Cup winner and two-time Premier League champion has rolled back the years at the Club World Cup by helping Benfica to the last sixteen. 

Now 37, Otamendi still managed to play in all three group games in the States and even helped himself to a vital equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Boca Juniors. 

His determination and leadership remain as strong as ever as he prepares to battle Chelsea in the knockout round. 

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DF: Sergio Ramos - Monterrey 

Monterrey brought in the Spanish legend to add his leadership and experience to their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup bid, and Ramos has delivered just that. 

He began by scoring their opening goal of the tournament in the 1-1 draw with Inter, and his influence at the back and within the team has been key to the Mexicans qualifying for the knockout stage. 

With a perennial winner in their side, Ramos and his team could make life difficult for Borussia Dortmund when they meet in the last sixteen. 

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DF: Juan Pablo Freytes - Fluminense 

The experience of Thiago Silva has marshalled Fluminense's steely defence, but it's also his partner at the heart of the backline, Juan Pablo Freytes, who has impressed. 

The Argentine played in all three of the club's group matches, which included two clean sheets, and even popped up with a goal in their 4-2 win over Ulsan HD. 

He'll have his hands full with Inter Milan in the next round, but Freytes and his Fluminense team have proved to be one tough nut to crack. 

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MF: Jobe Bellingham - Borussia Dortmund 

There was always bound to be a Bellingham in this team, but it's perhaps not the brother you'd be expecting at the start of the tournament. 

Jobe started the first game for his new club on the bench, but after a cameo against Fluminense, the midfielder has shone in the two starts he made in the other two group games. 

He notched his first goal for Dortmund in their win over Mamelodi Sundowns before providing the assist for the German's winner in the final game against Ulsan HD. 

That near £30 million is already looking like money well spent. 

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MF: Enzo Fernandez - Chelsea 

It seems like Chelsea are still trying to find the right midfield balance, given the riches at their disposal, but Enzo Fernandes is making a big claim to be first choice for Enzo Maresca. 

The Argentine came off the bench to score in Chelsea's opening win over LAFC and then provided two assists in their victory against ES Tunis, which sealed their place in the last 16. 

He now comes up against his former side, Benfica, in the knockouts, where he'll be ready to run the Blues' midfield once again. 

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RW: Lionel Messi - Inter Miami 

The world had been waiting for a moment of Messi magic to light up the tournament and we got exactly that in Inter Miami's win over Porto, the game that pretty much booked their passage to the knockout phase. 

The winning free-kick was vintage Messi and provided his team with the biggest win in their history, as well as booking a date with his former side PSG in the last sixteen. 

Fans will be hoping to see even more from the Argentine icon as he tries to continue Miami's run in the competition. 

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AM: Michael Olise - Bayern Munich 

Bayern Munich took most of the headlines on the opening weekend of the tournament, as they put ten goals past plucky Auckland City and Olise was at the heart of proceedings. 

The Frenchman netted twice in the thrashing, including a goal of the tournament contender with a sweet strike from the edge of the box. 

He then followed that up by scoring the winner against Boca Juniors to send Bayern through to the next round and put himself among the joint top-scorers in the competition. 

LW: Kenan Yildiz - Juventus 

Yilmiz had already shown this season that he's a player who is becoming increasingly more important to Juventus, and he's taken that form into the Club World Cup. 

The Turkish international was on the scoresheet in Juve's opening 5-0 win over Al Ain before adding two more as the Italians beat Wydad 4-1. 

At only 20, he's really used this stage in the US to prove his worth and the tournament could be a breakout moment for the forward. 

CF: Igor Jesus - Botafogo 

Nottingham Forest fans have been keeping a keen eye on Botafogo's frontman, with rumours linking him to a move to The City Ground next season, and they would have been impressed with what they've seen. 

Jesus has already netted twice in three games for the Brazilians, including the winner in their shock win over European champions PSG, proving he's not afraid to mix it with Europe's elite. 

Strong in the air and a real handful, if he continues to net in the knockouts, Forest may not be his only suitors. 

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