Ousmane Dembélé has been crowned the 2025 Best FIFA Men’s Player, edging out teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé to cap a remarkable year at club and international level. The French attacker received the award on Tuesday, adding it to the Ballon d’Or he won earlier in the season and underlining his status as the standout footballer of the year.
Okay News reports that Dembélé’s win follows a defining campaign in which he played a central role in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic first UEFA Champions League title, reinventing himself as a prolific central striker after years operating mainly on the wings. His tactical evolution and consistency in decisive matches proved crucial in swaying voters made up of national team captains, coaches, journalists and fans worldwide.
While both Dembélé and Yamal were included in FIFA’s Men’s Team of the Year, Mbappé missed out on the final XI. The selected lineup featured a strong Paris Saint-Germain presence, with Gianluigi Donnarumma named goalkeeper after also securing the Men’s Goalkeeper award, and Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes joining Virgil van Dijk in defence. Midfield places went to Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Vitinha and Pedri.
In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmatí extended her dominance by winning The Best FIFA Women’s Player award for the third consecutive year, while Luis Enrique and Sarina Wiegman were recognised as the Best Men’s and Women’s Coaches respectively. The ceremony also celebrated spectacular goals, with Santiago Montiel claiming the Puskás Award and Lizbeth Ovalle receiving the FIFA Marta Award.
