Ah, January. That awkward lull after the festive chaos where football leagues heat up like leftover mince pies in a microwave. Nottingham Forest might be dreaming of Champions League nights, Atlético Madrid sits atop La Liga, and Hartlepool United, bless them, are clinging to playoff hopes in the National League. But while these clubs keep us entertained, they won’t find their players in EA SPORTS FC 25’s freshly unveiled Teams of the Year (TOTY).

Yes, EA’s annual fan-voted showcase of footballing excellence is here, spotlighting 22 elite players in men’s and women’s TOTY XIs. As usual, these squads will be immortalised in the FIFA Ultimate Team card game, driving players to gleefully spend virtual and real coins to build their dream line-ups.

2025 Men’s TOTY: The Usual Suspects & a Shocking Cameo

Real Madrid dominates the men’s XI with four players, a fitting reflection of their ongoing brilliance despite trailing Atlético in La Liga. Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, and even Aston Villa all sneak in a representative or two. And then there’s Rodri — the man hasn’t kicked a ball since rupturing his ACL in September, but his absence from Manchester City’s midfield has been so glaring it somehow earned him a spot. City’s been limping too, winning just six of their last 16 league matches. Turns out, your stock can rise even when you’re stuck on the physio’s table.

Here’s the squad that’ll soon be haunting Ultimate Team matches:

• Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/Argentina)
• Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/Netherlands), William Saliba (Arsenal/France), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid/Spain), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen/Spain)
• Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England), Rodri (Manchester City/Spain), Cole Palmer (Chelsea/England)
• Forwards: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid/Brazil), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid/France)

2025 Women’s TOTY: Barça Reigns Supreme

Meanwhile, Barcelona continues its stranglehold on women’s football, contributing four players to the TOTY, with Chelsea not far behind on three. The team is sprinkled with global talent, including two standout Norwegians — Guro Reiten and Caroline Graham Hansen — whose inclusion highlights the often-overlooked quality of Norway’s Toppserien league.

Curiously, only one American, Sophia Smith, made the cut, signalling the waning dominance of U.S. women’s soccer on the international stage.

Here’s the full squad for the women’s TOTY:

• Goalkeeper: Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC/Germany)
• Defenders: Sakina Karchaoui (Paris Saint-Germain/France), Wendie Renard (Lyon/France), Irene Paredes (Barcelona/Spain), Lucy Bronze (Chelsea/England)
• Midfielders: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona/Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/Spain), Guro Reiten (Chelsea/Norway)
• Forwards: Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona/Norway), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns/U.S.), Lauren James (Chelsea/England)

When & How to Grab These TOTY Stars

EA has staggered the release of these TOTY players to maximise hype (and wallet damage). Attackers hit the shelves today (17 January), midfielders on 19 January, and defenders with goalkeepers on 21 January. The full squads will be live in the FUT item pool from 23 to 31 January, with honourable mentions and a 12th player dropping on 24 January.

So, whether you’re chasing Bellingham’s magic or hoping to recreate Hansen’s goal-scoring frenzy, it’s time to clear your schedule and maybe your bank account.