The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) has published the best XI for 34 European leagues, including Croatia. The analysis, based on statistics, has provided the ideal formation for the HNL 2025/2026 season in a 4-2-1-3 formation, where five representatives dominate from champions Dinamo.

In the ideal lineup, players from six clubs found their places. The quintet from Dinamo leads the formation: goalkeeper Sergi Dominguez, defenders Josip Misic and Luka Stojkovic, and strikers Dion Drena Beljo and Arber Hoxha. Hajduk has two representatives, Zvonimir Sarlija in defense and Rokas Pukstas in midfield. The rest are goalkeeper Franko Kolic (Istra 1961), defenders Filip Kruselj (Slaven Belupo), Marko Pajac (Lokomotiva), and midfielder Toni Fruk (NK Rijeka).

The CIES selection is not subjective but relies on data from the company Impect. The player's impact is evaluated across eight segments, including aerial and ground duels, game construction, opportunity creation, and finishing. For goalkeepers, the key parameter is the difference between expected and conceded goals. The selection takes into account the performance and minutes played by the XI.

In addition to the domestic league, Croatian footballers have left their mark in other European leagues. Croatian captain Luka Modric was included in the best XI for Serie A in Italy. In the Polish Ekstraklasa, Antonio Milic of Lech found a place, and in Hungary, the left back Daniel Stefulj, a member of Györ, was among the best.