Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has been named in the FIFPro World XI for the first time, however he will need to find himself in the side on multiple more occasions to match the accolades of another former player.
Palmer was one of three Premier League players to be named in the XI that is voted for by professional footballers around the world, and despite an underwhelming 2025 by his standards it was clear the England international had left an impression on his peers.
There have certainly still been some brilliant moments. Palmer starred in the Club World Cup final for the Blues as they decimated PSG in the United States.
It has been four years since Chelsea have had a player named in the side, with N’golo Kante and Jorginho both in the midfield in the season that they won the Champions League.
FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-CHELSEA
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Cole Palmer has way to go before matching John Terry’s FIFPro World XI record
John Terry’s status as one of the best defenders in footballing history was credited when he was named in the XI for five consecutive seasons.
He was first selected in 2004/05, the season where Chelsea ended their 50-year drought of winning a top-flight title, and he remained a permanent fixture all the way through the 2008/09 campaign.
Terry has been compared to Virgil van Dijk, who was named in the current side alongside Palmer, and the Dutchman has now matched his five nominations for a place in the squad.
Chelsea's English defender John Terry poses with the English Premier League trophy, as players celebrate their league title win
Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images
Terry’s multiple defensive partners in FIFPro XI
While Terry was a constant for half a decade in the FIFPro XI, his central-defensive partner continued to change.
He originally started alongside Alessandro Nesta back in 2004/05, a team which also included Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele.
For the next two seasons, Fabio Cannavaro joined him in the side, while Chelsea legend Didier Drogba also received his only ever nomination in this time.
Terry was the only Chelsea representative in the side for the next two years, and Manchester United’s domination of the Premier League over those seasons saw Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand join him at this time.