Dembele Crowned World's Best After Stellar Year
French forward Ousmane Dembele has been named the Best FIFA Men's Player for 2025, capping a remarkable year for both Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team. The 28-year-old's victory at the glitzy ceremony in Qatar on December 16 comes just months after he secured the Ballon d'Or in September, solidifying his status as the planet's premier footballer.
Dembele edged out stiff competition from Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe to claim the prestigious honour. His triumph was built on a phenomenal season where he played an instrumental role in ending PSG's long wait for the Champions League trophy. The French giants routed Inter Milan 5-0 in a one-sided final last May, with Dembele central to their success.
PSG Dominance and Managerial Accolades
The Parisian club's historic European campaign was further recognised as their manager, Luis Enrique, was crowned the Best FIFA Men's Coach. Unsurprisingly, PSG players dominated the FIFA/FIFPro Men's World 11, with six of Enrique's squad making the cut: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, and the winner Dembele.
The star-studded team of the year was completed by Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, Chelsea's Cole Palmer, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, and Barcelona duo Pedri and Yamal. The award period covered performances from August 2024 to August 2025.
How the Voting Unfolded: Tuchel and Kane's Picks
FIFA has published the detailed voting records from national team captains, coaches, and media representatives, offering intriguing insights. England captain Harry Kane used his three votes to select Dembele, his PSG teammate Vitinha, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
More notably, England manager Thomas Tuchel's ballot raised eyebrows. The German tactician voted for three players he has managed: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich and England), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), and the eventual winner Ousmane Dembele (PSG). For the coach of the year award, Tuchel selected Luis Enrique, Enzo Maresca, and Roberto Martinez.
England's media voter, John Cross of The Mirror, opted for Dembele, Yamal, and Vitinha. The voting system allocates equal 25% weight to four groups: national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans registered on FIFA.com.
Bonmati and Wiegman Triumph in Women's Awards
In the women's game, Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati made history by winning the Best FIFA Women's Player award for a third consecutive year. This followed her Ballon d'Or Féminin win earlier in 2025, a year where she won a domestic treble with Barcelona and helped Spain finish as runners-up to England at Euro 2025.
The coach who masterminded that Euros victory, England's Sarina Wiegman, was named Best FIFA Women's Coach. Unable to attend in person, Wiegman delivered a heartfelt video message, stating it was an 'absolute honour' and dedicating the award to her players and staff for their 'conviction, belief and togetherness'. She saw off competition from Chelsea's Sonia Bompastor and Arsenal's Renee Slegers to claim the prize.
