This Starting XI features the best dressed players in international football.
Modern athletes are making their mark far beyond their respective sports. The rise of social media has played a major role in shaping player lifestyles, bringing moodboards, aesthetics, and fashion into the spotlight. As a result, personal style has become another avenue for players to express themselves, adding a layer of personality that extends beyond the pitch.
Much like a well-balanced football XI, where different skill sets come together to form a cohesive unit, fashion also thrives on variety and identity. In this starting XI, The GAME explores footballers who stand out off the pitch, showcasing consistency and individuality through their style.
Goalkeeper
Stole Dimitrievski (Valencia/North Macedonia)
Starting off this list is Dimitrievski who, with his tall frame, loves to layer his outfits with different types of outerwear. From coats to workwear jackets, he manages to mix them well with the right pants to keep it classy.
Full-backs
Hector Bellerin (Real Betis/Spain)
When it comes to fashion in football, Héctor Bellerín is one of the first names that comes to mind. Blending vintage pieces, designer labels, and football heritage, the Spanish fullback has built a style that avoids the obvious. He embraces experimentation, curating looks that reflect both his personality and individuality. With that, Bellerín has firmly established himself as an icon off the pitch as much as on it.
Jules Koundé (FC Barcelona/France)
Koundé has mastered the art of arriving stylishly. Not afraid to experiment and explore different pieces while staying unbothered, he has become one of the sport’s biggest fashion icons. The French defender’s experimental outfits blend designer fashion with unique pieces, while accessories elevate the look, small details popping up, stylish bags, and the confidence to rock whatever he wears.
Centrebacks
Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea/England)
Trevoh Chalobah has worked on projects with several fashion brands, including ALO and about:blank. His outgoing and trendy style aligns perfectly with these labels, proving that he knows how to put together a fit.
Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool/Netherlands)
The other half of the CB pairing is Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk. His presence alone, paired with timeless pieces, already makes a statement. A rock-solid defender and one of the greatest of his generation, VVD can also keep it classy off the pitch.
Midfield
Jackson Irvine (FC St. Pauli/Australia)
Besides being one of the Socceroos’ mainstays, Jackson Irvine is also a big fashion nerd. His love for fashion and football go hand in hand. A well-known retro football kit enthusiast, Irvine mixes them with classic denim and loafers. Effortless with a flair, and a great callback to the game that he loves.
Mads Bidstrup (Salzburg/Denmark)
Bidstrup is another player who loves his denim. He often wears his denim and dress shoes combo along with a good fitting shirt while layering it with a good outerwear. Anything that’s simple and classy proves that less is more.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool/Hungary)
Since moving to Merseyside, not only has Szoboszlai’s game improved, but his style off the pitch has elevated as well. From elegant suits to casual streetwear, his range is as impressive as his free kicks. With great-fitting jackets, straight-cut pants, dress shoes, and even a statement handbag to match, his versatility in fashion mirrors his ability to play multiple roles on the pitch. Dominik Szoboszlai definitely deserves a spot in this lineup.
Attack
Son Heung-min (LAFC/South Korea)
Class has always defined Son Heung-min’s career. Even through rough patches, he remains a constant bright spot who’s always reliable and composed. The same can be said for his style. Classic pieces and elevated basics, Son leans into clean silhouettes and timeless pieces, proving that simplicity, when done right, always stands out.
Rafael Leão (AC Milan/Portugal)
One of the most electrifying wingers in the world and he can also bring it off the pitch. Combining good pace and dribbling, he drifts past defenders like nothing. With a great bag of moves, he also has a great mix of classy outfits combining luxury and streetwear making him one of the attackers of this squad.
Nick Woltemade (Newcastle/Germany)
Up front is the Newcastle forward, who knows exactly how to use his 6’6 frame, both on the pitch and off of it. In interviews, Woltemade has mentioned that fashion is his biggest passion outside football, and it shows. His ability to blend vintage pieces with modern streetwear gives his style a distinct edge, and much like his finishing, he delivers consistently. He likes to play it with layered silhouettes and the same confidence he brings in front of the goal.
Banner Images from Jules Koundé on Instagram.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hector Bellerin and Jules Kounde are named as football’s standout fashion icons, blending vintage pieces, designer labels, and experimental accessories. Both defenders have built reputations off the pitch that rival their on-field profiles at Real Betis and FC Barcelona respectively.
Virgil Van Dijk represents the centreback position in this starting XI, favoring timeless, classy pieces that match his commanding presence as Liverpool captain and one of the greatest defenders of his generation, both on and off the pitch every single match.
Dominik Szoboszlai is known for a versatile fashion range spanning elegant suits to casual streetwear, including well-fitted jackets, straight-cut pants, and statement accessories, mirroring the multiple midfield positions he plays for Liverpool on the pitch every single match.
Son Heung-min’s fashion style is described as classic and composed, favoring elevated basics and clean silhouettes that mirror his reliable, consistent on-field reputation, even during less prolific stretches of his career at both club and international level over the years.
Nick Woltemade has said fashion is his biggest passion outside football, blending vintage pieces with modern streetwear and layered silhouettes, using his 6-foot-6 frame to stand out both on the pitch and off it while playing for Newcastle United.
